directions to the "tank" in the mountains

thetwirlys


Joined: 11/06/2009
Posts: 43

Message Posted:
04/04/2010 20:04

Hi we tried to find this last year how do we find it? coming from esentepe area

thanks

rollinbones


Joined: 14/11/2008
Posts: 201

Message Posted:
04/04/2010 20:23

Follow all the signs to St Hillarion, as you appraoch the castle keep on the mountain road and follow it for about 6 miles... You will come to the tank which will be on your right hand side, you can't miss it as you will see the flags first. If you continue on this road past the tank you will cone to Camlibel..... a lovery pinic site, and from there you can drive past Lapta back to Kyrenia....

mersin10



Joined: 05/11/2008
Posts: 94

Message Posted:
04/04/2010 20:24

hi the twirlys.

as you get into girne go up the dualcarriageway turn right at the top for st herelion.

go past the army base to the bottom of the castle.

take the left fork towards sign for a restaurant i cant remember the name.

this road will take you right across the spine of the mountains to the tank.

if you carry on the road you can desend down to karsiyaka and take the coast road back.

its a fair run out but well worth it .

i hope your not scarred of hights. yours mersin10.

Tangerineman


Joined: 08/03/2010
Posts: 318

Message Posted:
04/04/2010 20:30

For me one of the truly great drives in the world

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
04/04/2010 20:44

This map is meant for another subject, but I've put a red dot on the spot where you'll find the tank.

http://www.allcrusades.com/BB_pics/100_tank.jpg

And if you'd miss the tank, it looks like this...

http://www.allcrusades.com/BB_pics/140_tank.jpg

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
04/04/2010 21:11

What's the story behind the 'Tank'?

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
04/04/2010 21:12

I forgot to add: there's much more to see along this road from St Hilarion castle to the Kozan restaurant than an abandoned Turkish, US made, battle tank of 1974. Exactly 6,7 km from St. Hilarion -- on your left hand -- you’ll see a rocky path leading to the Forgotten fourth Fortress, which at this point is invisible from the road...

Click this link for more info: http://www.cyprus44.com/forums/33532.asp

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
04/04/2010 21:14

RE msg 6, No1Doyen: (...) What's the story behind the 'Tank'? (...)

=> The story or the myth..?

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
04/04/2010 21:18

Bill, here's what they say about the history of "the tank"...

http://www.allcrusades.com/BB_pics/S3500706_tank_txt_web.jpg

mark64uk


Joined: 03/12/2008
Posts: 67

Message Posted:
04/04/2010 21:40

i was told it was blown up by a land mine then pushed off the road by another tank to clear the road

yorgozlu



Joined: 16/06/2009
Posts: 4437

Message Posted:
04/04/2010 22:14

msg 10;

That is correct.

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
04/04/2010 22:21

Hhans. Can you translate that link please.

thetwirlys


Joined: 11/06/2009
Posts: 43

Message Posted:
04/04/2010 23:57

thankyou all very much for your prompt replies, especially Dutch Crusader for the map we are out from the 12th april and will miss your explanation of the fourth fortress, however this gives us some more exploriong to do!

Navek



Joined: 01/06/2008
Posts: 2656

Message Posted:
05/04/2010 00:45

Hi thetwirlys,

If you're going near Camlibel,

you should visit Mavi Köşk or Blue House...

http://www.whatson-northcyprus.com/interest/guzelyurt/mavi_kosk.htm

http://essentialcyprus.com/mavi-kosk-north-cyprus/

Remember to take your passports to get in!

Think it was 2tl per person entry.

Navek

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
05/04/2010 08:00

RE msg 14, Navek: Good advice, certainly worth a visit! Ask for an English speaking guide/soldier. Some of them only speak Turkish and then you have to do with an A4 with a limited explanation of what you see.

You'll find the Mavi Köşk ("Blue Mansion") here (map): http://www.allcrusades.com/BB_pics/Cyp_west_Mavi_Koshk.jpg

Have a nice day!

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
05/04/2010 08:58

RE msg 12, No1Doyen: (...) Hans. Can you translate that link please. (...)

=> Sorry Bill, I wrote down the translation some time ago but lost it. Maybe one of the TC members of C44 (Yorgozlu?) can help us with the translation?

batgirl


Joined: 04/02/2009
Posts: 676

Message Posted:
05/04/2010 09:24

From my understanding (third party) when the turkish army landed at escape beach they came under intense fire from a gun emplacement high up in the mountain, two tanks were dispatched via the mountain goat tract as it was at the time starting in Karsiyaka towards Kozonkoy which is now avery pleasent route to follow now. the first tank hit a land mine which blew oww the left hand track which still lies there today.the crew were recovered unharmed by the second tank which then pushed the first one out of the way to its position now and then proceeded

batgirl


Joined: 04/02/2009
Posts: 676

Message Posted:
05/04/2010 09:30

on to destroy the gun emplacement proberbly saving hundreds of lives . the inscription details the names /ages/ranks of the two crews and describes /praises their heroic action and is a place of "pilgrimage" during the annual anniversary of the intervention

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
05/04/2010 09:33

Thanks, Batgirl!

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
05/04/2010 10:11

More to see on the road from St Hilarion to Kozan Restaurant (great for a picnic! you can hire a BBQ for 10-15 lira there). From my lecture this Wednesday: "West of the peak Prophitis Elias (888 meters high) http://www.allcrusades.com/BB_pics/100_tank.jpg was a church on a hilltop dedicated to the saint Elias. This has long since been destroyed, probably because it was also a pre-74 location for a Greek Cypriot National Guard posting, possibly the 251:st infantry. A concrete foundation base – possibly a bunker - with typical army coat-of-arms painted on is still visible."

sporty


Joined: 06/12/2007
Posts: 685

Message Posted:
05/04/2010 10:14

ive yet to venture up on top of that mountain range,from what i gather from the posts,there is a road going right across the mountain range from st.hillarion and then you can turn down to Kariyasaka after youve passed the tank,is the road half decent to drive along or is it a dodgy little track?i may take my father for a drive up there in a few wks time when im over.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
05/04/2010 10:17

And more (just 500 metres past the Forgotten Fourth Fortress, on your right hand): "Here are also some of the few remains of old buildings you find along this mountain road. This was the location of a Greek Cypriot National Guard company camp through the troublesome years 1964-1974. There are still some old rusty Soviet built relicts lying around that up until summer 1974 were the main body of transportation for the National Guard. You can even in the surrounding terrain still find hurriedly dug defence shelters and lots of shrapnel, probably from mortar grenades, indicating that the fighting might have been fierce in this area in 1974 (during the Turkish Intervention and Peace Operation). And to conclude this area description: some places look like a Greek Cypriot defence position, but they may be much older, maybe even medieval – the question is: if they are medieval, what was their purpose..?"

batgirl


Joined: 04/02/2009
Posts: 676

Message Posted:
05/04/2010 10:23

In the past few years it has gone from a dodgy mountain track to a tarmac road but it is precarious at times with sharp/blind turns but the experiance is well worth the effort,week days are best as you may not see another vehicle in either direction if there is cloud cover then you can sometimes be looking down from above - enjoy

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
05/04/2010 10:25

RE msg 21, sporty: (...) is the road half decent to drive along or is it a dodgy little track? (...)

=> The road is renewed in several places (although here and there are still some holes) and now much easier to drive than a couple of years ago. You'll find plenty of parking places to enjoy the view to the sea on your right and the Mesoaria plain on your left. From St Hilarion castle to Kozan Restaurant it's exactly 21 kilometres. There's no food or drinks available before the Kozan Restaurant. It's a bending road - and I don't want to patronize you - be careful because you'll meet TC's en tourists...

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
05/04/2010 10:26

Batgirl, it looks like we're writing about the same road...

sporty


Joined: 06/12/2007
Posts: 685

Message Posted:
05/04/2010 10:32

Thanks guys,its on my to do list now!

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
05/04/2010 10:54

Don't miss this on the St Hilarion to Kozan Restaurant road..!

http://www.allcrusades.com/BB_pics/110_72.jpg

http://www.allcrusades.com/BB_pics/120_72.jpg

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
05/04/2010 11:54

A view from the Kozan Restaurant: http://www.allcrusades.com/BB_pics/S3500701_72.jpg



Really a fine place, under he trees, for a great picnic/BBQ: http://www.allcrusades.com/BB_pics/S5001126_72.jpg



Reservations of tables, charcoal, meat and whatever you may need (it may be busy on Sundays), call Savaş : mobile: 05338457070.

sporty


Joined: 06/12/2007
Posts: 685

Message Posted:
05/04/2010 14:10

Thanks for putting the photos up Hans,it just reminds me of just how stunning NC is.

Lapta2


Joined: 04/09/2009
Posts: 47

Message Posted:
05/04/2010 17:26

We did a jeep adventure last year that goes to the tank, the surrounding vilages and you also visit mavi kosk. It was a great way to travel across the top road, in the open jeep and you also go on the tracks down the sides to get there! Details are on the web http://www.cyprusactive.com/jeepadventure.html