There are many abandoned villages in Cyprus, but I must confess the Mathikoloni is my favorite. When its chalk foundations began to shift there was nothing for it but to leave, but such was the magnificence of the setting that the inhabitants could not bring themselves to move far.

So the new village, complete with its concrete church, its bungalows and its solar heating panels still sits high on the slopes on Petralona with the dark brooding mass of |Limassol Forest opposite, just 400 meters from the old site. A modest and self-effacing place though, it hides from view, and the old village still dominates the scene from most angles.

This is a walk of about 12 kilometers, through carried terrain – forest, farmland and scrub, entirely on forest and farm tracks. It passes through Limassol Forest, a mini Troodos, and onto chalky vineyards and meadows of Petralona. To get there, drive along the Yermasoyia road through Akrounda along the west bank of the reservoir. Just beyond Akrounda, take the first dirt road on the left, soon after the football pitch.

The walk can start anywhere along this road, but if you wish to avoid repeating too much of the outward journey on the return, drive on up a steep concrete section and park at the top near a road junction.

Start out on the gentle downhill of the left branch through open woodland and sparse scrub with the occasional wild olive tree. The ground is composed of crumbling red and orange rock. Road cuttings reveal innumerable veins and dykes penetrating in all directions. These are the supply lines for the pillow lavas that you will probably have noticed on the roadside on leaving Akrounda. They bear witness to the origin of the area on a spreading oceanic ridge.

But to the walk… Stay on the road until you come to a clear fork with a third lesser track leading off to the left. After a longish, but fairly easy climb you will find yourself on a beautiful road that contours the forest with panoramas in all directions. Behind you the scarp of Koryphi, tilted by the massive earth movement that lifted Limassol Forest out of the sea, can be seen.

It forms a backdrop to the reservoir, while beyond a triangle of sea shimmers between the hills. Across the valley, the chalks of Petralona support vivid grasses at this time of year, apart from a small area of deeply gullied chalk badlands in the direction of Apsiou, and there up ahead you will see the tiny church of Amryou Monastery.

For the nature lover the flowers are already responding to the recent rain. Tiny purple romulea blossom leafless in the very roads; there are friars cowl, and the asphodel is out. Elsewhere bunches of dark tulip-like leaves show where the sea squill will appear in autumn, long after the leaves have withered and died. Scattered pines give light shade to rock rose and prickly broom.

The road continues contouring the valleys below a deep gorge prohibits an early crossing. Continue for about 4 kms to he meeting of four ways. Along the way two roads lead off down into the valley. The first if these may be used as an escape route, taking you back by the vole to the car, but you will not then visit Mathinkoloni, At the cross roads the route goes down into the valley by a series if hairpins, through attractive carob and olive groves.

You come into a verdant area of orange groves with an ancient ruin and some irrigation works. A road takes off to the left, but keep right until you reach a ford. Crossing it with dry feet is a tricky operation, but normally it can be done.

Having crossed the ford go left and soon you will come to an eroded dyke in pillow lava, soon after which you pass over onto the chalk land. There is a collection of huts that house a multitude of dogs whose musical aspirations exceed their talent. They are however securely tethered and soon the cacophony is left behind.

The track climbs steadily through the grassy terraces with almond trees scattered about. High on the hill go left for Mathikoloni and after a sharp short climb you will find yourself in the village. Go right on reaching the village, then left twice to find the road leading down to the old village, where there is a signpost indication Akrounda 5kms. At the signpost a grass road will take you up to the old church from where are fine views of Limassol Forest.

From here you can see much of the route you followed in and the mountain road to Dierhona, while to the right Kyparichna and Koryphi dominate the skyline.

Descend the old cobbled street through the ruins of the village and take the concrete track downhill. There are various sidetracks, but keep to the main one past the churchyard and down. Keep right at the only significant fork. You will descend through the terraced country; first chalk then, lower down, the lavas. At the bottom is a streambed where tall canes rustle in the breeze.

Follow the road, ignoring any side turnings and soon you will reach the track that you took on the outward journey. Now, its just a few hundred meters to your car.