Karpas - route avoiding the road closures

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
20/03/2010 20:48

As you will have seen in the press, the Dipkarpas to Karpas road is closed whilst substantial roadworks are completed. We found this out today, by trying to go the wrong route and spent an extra hour going over very rough ground and off-roading... in my Toyota Corolla Verso! Not good... clean yesterday - filthy today.. bugger!



We should have turned down towards Kaleburnu and followed the southerly route along the coast to the Karpas but missed the sign telling us the road was closed 22km ahead!



It's great down there now as the closure means fewer visitors. We saw Syria out to sea through a light mist!



Few eateries are open, so we should have taken a picnic - but didn't! found a good place in the end but it was a struggle...

TheScarlets



Joined: 14/04/2009
Posts: 877

Message Posted:
20/03/2010 21:10

sorry don't know the exact route you say but if you go through Bogaz are you OK?



Ian

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
20/03/2010 21:39

Bogas is fine, It's further on when you get to Dipkarpas village that you need to make a right towards Kaleburnu... otherwise you come unstuck and it's quite a long way back!

Maz


Joined: 29/03/2009
Posts: 1924

Message Posted:
20/03/2010 21:44

They did have warning signs when I went. You can even turn off before Kaleburnu, so just look for the diversion signs. And it is a fab road to travel. Unspoilt Cyprus - just like yesteryear. AND, joy of joy, no speed limits!!!!! Worth going along just for that. Not that I would advovcate speeding, it is just that it is such a joy not to have tokeep watching for changes n speed.

darrener2


Joined: 30/12/2008
Posts: 187

Message Posted:
20/03/2010 21:58

The first time I went to the Karpas I came upon this road and thought I had driven into another dimension. A brilliant road, but part of it wasn't marked anywhere on my detailed map. :lol:

ianwfs


Joined: 08/01/2008
Posts: 563

Message Posted:
20/03/2010 23:23

Most maps, if they show it at all, show it as a single track. I've even seen guide books say it's unsuitable for motor vehicles. It's quite good, though. Slightly confusing as you get on top of Dipkarpaz, but if you go the way that feels right, you'll be OK.



The section of the road between Avetepe and Kaleburnu is spectacular.If you have a bit of time spare, have a look at Kanakaria church, on the edge of Boltasli village. This church is famous for the theft of its mosaics, and you can read the story here http://www.whatson-northcyprus.com/interest/dipkarpaz/kanakaria/mosaics.htm

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
21/03/2010 06:47

"Slightly confusing as you get on top of Dipkarpaz, but if you go the way that feels right, you'll be OK. "



You learned navigation in the same school as I did! ;¬)



Lucky for us the number of roads to choose from on Cyprus is limited...



BTW I apologise for constantly spelling Karpaz and Dipkarpaz with an S vice a Z... don't know why I would do that other than stupidity...

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
21/03/2010 07:29

MarieB



You are right, there are signs... I missed them as explained in the first post.. I was just trying to point out that people used to driving via the now closed road should be looking for the diversion well before the 22km past Dipkarpaz mark. If you are looking about Dipkarpaz as you drive along you can easily miss the diversion signs as all four of us did! Doh!



As you say the route is lovely and having been that way now I'm pretty sure I would choose that route in preference to the newly made up road when it's open as I don't think it will be as pretty.

andrew4232



Joined: 04/07/2009
Posts: 1543

Message Posted:
21/03/2010 10:37

anyone know how long this will be going on as i will be taking some visitors up there early april

YeniTom


Joined: 29/12/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
21/03/2010 12:55

From the posts I'm not sure which stretch of road is closed.



There's a map here if it helps. http://www.karpazinfo.net/info_pages/maps.html



It shows the southerly road. If you go via the main road through Bogaz you can take the right turn at Ziyamet and go through that brilliant countryside.



Tom

swannee7


Joined: 21/08/2009
Posts: 394

Message Posted:
21/03/2010 19:44

What a good website, YeniTom. Thanks for that.

dizzycows


Joined: 12/05/2009
Posts: 2736

Message Posted:
21/03/2010 19:58

If you plan to go all day its quite a tiring jaunt..... You cannot travel very fast so what takes you normally 3hrs might take you 5!! with 2 children and parents my advise would be to have a stop over in Hotel like we did, then you can enjoy without getting frayed nerves!!... Enjoy the trip when you go, it is so very quite and has some beautiful beaches....

caulkhead


Joined: 03/01/2009
Posts: 149

Message Posted:
22/03/2010 21:13

I always turn right in Dipkarpaz. I never knew there was another road. No wonder I have never managed to find Aiyos Philion!