Four great cycle routes on Lefkada, Greece

Start: Vassiliki village
Finish: Vassiliki village
Distance: 26 kilometres
Height gain: 731 metres
Duration: 3 hours
Difficulty: Intermediate
Fitness level: Moderate

Starting from sea level in the village of Vassiliki you'll be able to see your final goal, twin radio masts that seem to be within relatively easy reach. Winding your way up towards the twin masts along a track we call ‘the elevator’ you'll soon realise where the origins of the name as you look back at how far you’ve come.

From here you reach the next village of Agios Petros where you are rewarded with a welcoming café, the last safe house on your journey. You then continue up on the road through a pine forest before turning off into the unknown. Powering on for a short while rewards you with astounding views of the olive groves that lie far below and Vassiliki with its picturesque bay until you finally reach the towers where you will begin the start of the journey back to the village below. Dropping over the far side of the mountain you look out to the deep blue as you take on a technical and rocky descent passing ancient Greek ruins. After a short time back on the road you circumnavigate the headland and begin the final descent down ‘the scar’ back into the basin returning well exercised and ready for some lunch at a waterside taverna.

Start: Vassiliki village
Finish: Vassiliki village
Distance: 15 kilometres
Height gain: 326 metres
Duration: 2 hours
Difficulty: Expert
Fitness level: Moderate

This ride is aptly named after the Z-shaped scar on the side of the mountain. Leaving Vassiliki town you climb up to the next village of Kontarina on a tarmac road. From here you leave the comfort of the road for a steep and technical ascent, taking in spectacular views across the water to the Greek mainland and the island of Kefalonia. Once you have reached the 300m+ summit it’s time to descend the iconic switch backs carved onto the mountain with breath-taking scenery all around and views to Vassiliki and its turquoise shores. It’s worth bringing your camera for this unforgettable ride.

Start: Vassiliki
Finish: Vassiliki
Distance: 57 kilometres
Height gain: 1478 metres
Duration: 6 hours
Difficulty: Expert
Fitness level: High

Considered to be the Everest of mountain biking on the island of Lefkada, this ride takes you to the highest point at a staggering 1158m. Once you've warmed up your legs through the scenic low-lying orange groves and vineyards, the ride becomes a real test of endurance. Winding up through the hillside towns of Sivros and then Agios Ilias the landscape becomes more and more barren and the challenge of the ride more apparent. Once you've reached the highest point, you'll be able to see the White Church in the near distance, which is the final point of this monumental climb. Throughout this traverse you pass the scenic mountain town of Eglouvi and a limestone quarry before meandering up the last part of your pilgrimage to the White Church, a modest piece of architecture with well-preserved artwork held within.

After an extended rest taking in the stunning surrounds whilst munching on a chocolate croissant or three, it’s time to start the descent down towards the west coast passing through the village of Chortata before completing the ride plummeting down ‘Spider Alley’. After this monster of a ride you’ll want to grab a spot on the beach and relax for a while.

Start: Agios Petros
Finish: Vassiliki
Distance: 12 kilometres
Height gain: 254 metres
Duration: 1 hour
Difficulty: Expert
Fitness level: Low

This is a ride that gives you great bang for your buck, from the village of Agios Petros you find yourself taking on some of Lefkada’s most technical single track. After completing a well-designed skill section, you wind your way through twist and turn taking on loose berms and ever larger and steeper drops. Towards the bottom, the track continues to increase in difficulty and is not for the faint hearted as you blast over roots and rocks before a final ladder drop on to the fire access road below. A short ride through the groves at the back of Vassilki takes you back to the beach, and although it’s not one of the longest rides you’ll feel a certain sense of achievement.