Mount Enos Kefalonia

Mount Ainos or Mount Enos or Black Mountain (you will find out why later) is located in the southern part of Kefalonia. It is the highest peak of the island and of all the Ionian islands, with an altitude of 1628 meters above sea level and an extension in length of ten kilometers.

It is the most powerful mountain in Kefalonia and its top is called Megalos (Great in Greek) Soros. An area still untouched with fantastic landscapes and where the heart of the island's biodiversity rich in natural beauty is located.

Mount Enos in 1962 became part of the ten Greek National Parks, covers 1200 hectares of territory and is the natural habitat for many species of flora and fauna.

It is covered by a vast expanse of unique and very rare black spruce that is found only here '(Abies Chepahlonica which is why it is called the Black Mountain) and once, in the Venetian period, they were used for the construction of ships. Unfortunately in 1797 a catastrophic fire that lasted for three weeks destroyed a large part of the wood. In the park there are many plants of wild aromatic herbs, holly, different kinds of flowers including endemic orchids and cephalonia violets and many categories of animals such as turtles, reptiles, peregrine falcons, spikes, blackbirds and an ancient native species of horses (Equus caballus) generated over time by the normal horse breed which was released in the woods during the wars, and in the absence of food, water and where to shelter have evolved into this particular variety that lives in the wild. You can meet if you are lucky near the ruins of a Pygi Shrine dedicated to Zeus and where there is a source of water. Mount Enos is also a natural seasonal refuge for some birds as it is as the crow flies with one of the major migratory routes.

A place of extreme charm where local legends revolve around it, such as the most famous one that talks about the Loukissas dragon a mammoth creature that lived among the rocks on the highest peaks, frightening the islanders.

The charm of Mount Enos, however, is also the suggestive panorama reaching the tip where, you can see the whole Kefalonia, Ithaca, Zakynthos, Lefkada and on particularly clear days also the northwestern Pelopennese. Once on top you can also leave a testimony of your visit in a book where you can write your impressions and your thoughts which is kept in a metal box.

A curious and unique excursion, in an almost fairy landscape, where everything is still as it was when it was born and where modern man fortunately has put his hand very little, leaving it almost intact. There are various routes to take for lovers of walking and trekking, with various difficulties, duration and where every now and then you will find relaxation areas to also have a picnic.

We give you some idea of the available trails if you take this valid alternative to a day on the beach into consideration. The Chionistra route, fairly easy, about six kilometers long and lasting about an hour and a half, which runs in a circle in the area. The medium difficulty Vlachata path that starts from the peak of Arias, offering breathtaking views on the south and south west side of the Ionian Sea and walking in the middle of the woods, which also takes about an hour and a half. The Digaleto route that starts from the Digaleto community and ends on Monte Megalos Soros. They are more or less five hours of walk at times a little demanding in the middle of a wild nature. And again the Melissia path in the middle of the dense black fir forest lasting about an hour and a half, and finally the four-hour Kissos path where you can visit the Petasi and Nyfi caves up to Mount Megalos Soros and enjoy the spectacular views https://aenosnationalpark.gr/.

Here is another proposal and an interesting opportunity to add to the things to do in Kefalonia, to enjoy a breath of fresh air and to hold tightly in your suitcase of memories on this multifaceted Ionian island.

Easy, follow the road towards Sami, turn to Dilageto and after about seven kilometers you will cross a dirt road that can also be traveled by car not necessarily off-road and ahead about five kilo-meters you will find the starting point of the path and the picnic area.