Katafyki

Crag Summary

This gets 5 stars because it could not be kid-friendlier (deck-chairs, a dry river bed to explore, a swing!) and the routes are just how I like them… looong and vert! You might be frustrated if you want to climb hard grades though.

We climbed in the first ‘Welcome’ area which was indeed, extremely welcoming – there was a nice combination of accessible 5s and then thought-provoking, interesting 6s. The rest of the canyon promises even more climbs including multi-pitches.

• Style: single and also multi-pitch sport
• Parking: 37.41971, 23.21399
• Topo and Approach details:
  • Excellent write-up and description from Olympus Mountaineering – if interested in multi-pitches have a search on the site as they have written up some specific routes
  • The Crag has descriptions and route names
  • There is a big sign at the crag which clearly shows the climbing areas with a route-list. Many of the individual routes then have names painted on the rock or have plaques.
• We visited on: Wednesday, 20th November 2024
• Who else was there: a couple of other climbing pairs – loads of room to spread out along the canyon and we had the Welcome area to ourselves.

Nearby

Nearby seaside town Ermioni made for a lovely low-key stop – a seafood lunch, a paddle in the sea and a play in the palground.

Franchthi Cave made for another excellent stop, park at a beautiful beach (it was wild and windy the day we visited) and make a small coastal walk to the cave which has evidence of prehistoric human settlement from 38,000BC. We did not climb, but there is some to be had here… not sure whether the routes in/around the cave are advisable/permissible… but few easy routes to be had on the left outside the cave

Suncastle crag and Thermissia Castle are further nearby crags that we did not manage to climb at.

• I had a quick look at Suncastle it is indeed VERY sunny, a convenient micro-crag with a lovely view – would make a nice family outing on a COOL day.
• Friends visited Thermissia and highly recommended the ‘route ‘Corner’ route – this crag looks stunning and a good excuse to return to the area!