Dismissed by at least one local historian as an insignificant modern hamlet, Lophos derives its name from the archaic word for ridge, suggesting a more illustrious origin. Certainly it is now a substantial village with a large, if not very elegant church.

Sitting up there on its high terraced ridge, it enjoys a splendid isolation, only recently reduced by the completion of a tar-sealed road from Alassa. It forms the focal point of a fine sixteen-kilometer circuit, which opens up panoramas of the high interior of the island.

Take the Lophos turn off from the Troodos road just north of Alassa. Park near the dirt road signposted to Ayios Georgios. Already you will have had the opportunity to enjoy the sight of the terraced contoured ridges and valleys above Kouris.

Now you set out, descending a gentle incline past light pine woods and vineyards that overlook the upper river valley. Soon the villages of Ayios Georgios, Lania and Monagri come into sight. Beyond the white chalk land on which you walk the dark igneous mass of the Troodos ophilites bulk massively against the skyline, perhaps still showing their winter snow cover.

In the valley bottom near Ayios Georgios are the ruins of an old mill and a khan that is reputed to have continued operating into the twentieth century. The remains of an old bridge jut into the river. This marks the crossing place of the military road from Plemidia to Troodos, whose construction was started n 1878, the year the British came to Cyprus as part of the deal with the Turks to keep the Russian fleet out of the Mediterranean. The Frenchman, Rimbaud was supposed to have been involved in the survey work.

Just beyond Ayios Georgios, you join the tar-sealed road leading to Silikou along the line of the military road, Walk a bit of history here, up to the village where the last of the Lusignans took refuge when the Turks invaded in 1570. A little way before entering the village, a pleasant stopping place is offered by a circle of comfortable, if decrepit benches arranged under the shade of a spreading walnut tree at the rear of the church.

Having rested here a while, continue up into Silikou, past several dirt tracks on both sides. On entering the village itself, turn left at the second paved road. This soon heads out onto a very pleasant high-level traverse that looks over the valley to Lania and Monagri. Views back from here include vineyards in front of the village with the forested slopes of Chionistra as a backdrop.

Presently the head of a deep valley with cliffed outcrops is reached. A small patch of poplars has established itself in a sheltered spot before the road starts its serpentine ascent to Lopohos, its sides lined by miniature ‘holly leaved’ oaks.

A long zigzagging climb is now in prospect, but the gradient is quite tolerable. Engage ‘low gear’, but don’t get your head down to the extent of missing the fine views back to Adelphi in the northeast, and up the valley where the radar installations on top of Troodos can be seen.

Your approach to Lophos might well be heralded by the tolling of the bells or by sonorous voice of the priest intoning his welcome over the P.A system. Look up ahead and the village comes into view along the lane. Soon you are among its cobbled alleys, its ruins and its recently restored houses, which form a strangely contrasted mélange.

A paved road has found its way to the place, and Lophos has moved into a new era of agro-tourism.
You can pass through Lophos in various ways. Go left and up the narrow lanes and you will eventually come out onto the spectacular ridge from which it gets its name. A good farm track runs out along this ridge, giving wonderful views but his is a dead end. Instead follow the paved road that circles the houses, with benches at various points. This leads to the road down to Alassa.

Alternatively you may be attracted to the church, which for all its plainness, does house a pair of rare wooden exapteriga and a sixteenth century icon, which called down the wrath of the Madonna on a artist who attempted to restore it. To return from the church continue out of the village until you meet the dirt road to Perapedhi and Aios Theodoros.

Turn left on reaching this and again you will eventually come to the road back down to Alassa. The route down leads through old terraced farmland; much of it is now abandoned. The bare terraced slopes give an almost model like effect, especially into the evening when the sun, slanting across from the west, highlights the contour walls. The road descends past a concrete church and in the distance; far down to the right you can catch a glimpse of Ayia Marina in the valley and soon after you will return to your car.