Overview
Starting at one of the well-known painted churches of the Troodos Mountains, Panayia Asinou, this 83km cycling trail through the villages surrounding Nicosia and the Adelfoi forest offers a challenge for advanced cyclists.
The starting point is at the junction on the outskirts of Lakatamia, where the trail heads west for about half a kilometre before reaching the Lakatamia bicycle path on the banks of the Pediaios River. The path ends on Ayios Georgios Street, then turns right and west to reach the traffic lights on the Nicosia–Palaichori road. Almost exactly opposite the traffic lights lies the road that leads to the village of Ayioi Trimithias and onto Palaiometocho and Meniko.
From Meniko, the route follows a dirt road before reaching the paved road just outside the village of Kato Moni. From there, Mitsero quarry is visible to the southeast and the Troodos Mountains to the southwest. From Kato Moni, the route heads north on the Peristerona–Platanistasa road. It climbs for a short distance before turning right towards the village of Ayia Marina. From Ayia Marina, it passes through the village of Ayios Georgios and past the Kapoura picnic site and the villages of Kannavia and Spilia. There is a dirt road at the entrance—and to the right—of Spilia leading to Asinou and the area where the anticolonial EOKA movement was most active. The dirt road then travels north through the Adelfoi forest for 23km, leading to the church of Panayia Asinou. An alternative road for Asinou is the 9km forest road just after the Kapouras picnic site to the west.
Some 3km along a paved road after Asinou is the village of Nikitari. From there, road signs lead back to Nicosia through the villages of Vyzakia and Orounta. This part of the road is not paved. From Orounta, the route turns north onto the Peristerona–Platanistasa road towards Kato Moni for the return journey to Nicosia. An alternative, less complicated route is via Orounta and Peristerona, and then back to Nicosia along the main Nicosia–Morphou road.
ROUTE DETAILS
Start Point: Ayios Mamas grade separated junction
End Point: Asinou
Total Distance: 83km
Height Gain: 975m
Road Conditions: A variety of surfaces.
