Set in an olive grove at the foot of Mount Pelion over-looking the sea, Oliver’s Cottage offers a taste of Greece as it used to be. On the ground floor a large living room with sitting area, with two traditional Pelion size 'box' sofas which can be used as twin single beds or a double bed
Dining area, with wood-burning stove, fitted kitchen and shower room.
On the first floor, large bedroom with 2 single beds and one double bed. En suite shower room. Double doors opening onto huge balcony with spectacular sea views. 2 Further folding beds or a child's cot can be added on request.
Outside – patios to front in full sun with sea views and rear in the shade of the olive trees. Barbecue.
Ano Gatzea is a picturesque Greek village a stone’s throw from the sea. Cobbled paths lead down through the olive groves to the beaches or up the mountain where you can walk all day past tumbling waterfalls, through forests and historic villages, meeting only the occasional farmer on a mule.
Ano Gatzea is the only “station stop” on the heritage Pelion mountain railway (there are lots of other stops for goats and tortoises on the line!) Built in 1895 using muscle power and the odd stick of dynamite, this extraordinary railway line winds its way up the mountain from the sea to the mountain village of Milies. Trains run once a day in summer and at weekends in spring and autumn.
The nearest beach is Gripsana, 30 minutes’ walk through the olive groves. Nearby (3 km) is the low key resort of Kala Nera (which means “fine waters”) and The Rivera Club which offers drinks on loungers by the sea and a selection of watery sports to try. The Pagasitic Gulf, almost entirely surrounded by land is almost swimming pool still in summer and remains warm enough for swimming throughout the winter. With the ski resort of Chania only 40 minutes’ drive away. locals boast that you can “ski in the morning, swim in the afternoon”.
Mainland Greece, less developed and less visited than the islands, is a walker’s paradise. Cobbled paths link the villages and a huge network of forest trails make for superb mountain biking, taking you high onto the mountain, or even coast to coast across the peninsula from the Pagasitic Gulf to the Aegean Sea.
Thick forests of beech and chestnut are home to wild boar, martens, nightingales and jet black squirrels. The high mountain remains snow-capped until early summer, while below in the valleys fast-flowing streams and waterfalls run though olive groves full of flowers.
We provide a series of GPS-compatible self-guided walks, from gentle strolls taking under half an hour, to full-day hikes, all of which can be done from the house. These are graded from “A Piece of Cake” to “Tough”, enabling you to choose something that fits your mood and energy levels. Choose which walk you fancy doing from the photographic guide and then follow the fully described walk plan, with inset map, GPS references and photos of difficult bits.
The city of Volos, reputed to be the most beautiful in Greece, is 17 km away. A lively, airy city, Volos has a cinema, superbowl and theater as well as lots of sea front restaurants and tspouradika (ouzo restaurants) for which the area is famous (just don’t think about driving afterwards!). For more peaceful dining, try for a real taste of Greece Georgos’ café where the home-made wine will give you something to talk about.
