Troodos Mountains

It is the green heart of Cyprus, but stunning Troodos National Park has so much more for visitors than lush valleys and verdant forests.  Here are just some of the ingredients that make it one of the “must see” places on an island that has so much to offer at any time of year.

First, the unmissable mountains, the largest range on Cyprus and dominated by 6,400ft high Mount Olympus. That’s more than four times higher than Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis. There are decent roads which provide spectacular views and plenty of hairpin-bends as they climb towards the summits.

In winter those peaks are covered in snow, skiers and snowboarders gather at the ski lifts and the roads stay open. In summer the Troodos area promises a cooling escape when the temperature soars on the coast.  And in spring and autumn the weather is perfect for some serious walking and cycling.

The 35-square miles of the huge national park are criss-crossed with hiking and walking paths, some less than an hour’s stroll others a challenging route to the top of Mount Olympus. There are cycling routes too that suit mountain bikers, road cyclists or a combination of both.

Unusually, perhaps, for a Mediterranean island the Troodos Mountains have rivers, dams, waterfalls, streams and springs. There are gorgeous valleys covered in forests and vineyards.

The area is rich with charming, picture-postcard-perfect mountain villages with stone-built houses, cobbled streets and gorgeous flowers. The highest in the mountains become retreats for skiers in the winter. There are five ski-lifts to a range of slopes.

The 35-square miles of the huge national park are criss-crossed with hiking and walking paths, some less than an hour’s stroll others a challenging route to the top of Mount Olympus. There are cycling routes too that suit mountain bikers, road cyclists or a combination of both.

Unusually, perhaps, for a Mediterranean island the Troodos Mountains have rivers, dams, waterfalls, streams and springs. There are gorgeous valleys covered in forests and vineyards.

The area is rich with charming, picture-postcard-perfect mountain villages with stone-built houses, cobbled streets and gorgeous flowers. The highest in the mountains become retreats for skiers in the winter. There are five ski-lifts to a range of slopes.

Troodos village near the summit of Mount Olympus has a visitor centre with guides to the 13 nature trails that start there. Omodus, in the centre of the wine-making area, is said to be the most beautiful village in Cyprus. Prodromos is 4,500ft up and the highest village. There are more than 40 villages to choose from!

They are renowned for the frescoes in their Byzantine churches. Nine churches and one monastery are on the Unesco list of world heritage sites.

Troodos in numbers

• 2,000: maximum number of people who can use the park’s largest picnic site.
• 750: species of plants in the park, where wildlife of all kinds is protected.
• 337AD: Holy Cross Monastery dates back to then. It claims to have a piece of the rope that tied Christ’s hands to the cross.
• 40 miles: combined length of all the walking trails.
• 35 miles: spectacular cycle path around the park.