Staurota
1,182 m
Greece
Also known as Elati (Ελάτη), Σταυρωτάς, +1Also known as
Elati (Ελάτη) · Σταυρωτάς · Σταυρωτά
- Elevation
- 1,182 m
- Prominence
- 1,182 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- Apr–May
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1The gentler of the two short routes up Lefkada's highest peak: from about 940 m on the road above Eglouvi, across the lentil fields of the high plateau, over a small rocky saddle and up the final steep rocks to the 1,182 m summit with its cairn, flagpole and shrine box. 2.2 km and about 240 m of ascent one way, waymarked with red dots.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 3.4 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +261 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 1,182 m
- Time Up
- 1h 20m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 1h 08m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Drive up from Eglouvi towards the antennas of Mount Elati; the path leaves the road at about 940 m. Follow the footpath around the high lentil fields and up the slope to the left, over a low ridge to a plateau with a track. Go right on the track briefly, where a second track joins from the right, then straight across the plateau. Where the track is blocked, a path continues along the same line slightly lower down and climbs to a small saddle among large rocks, following red paint dots. At the saddle the yellow-and-red marked path from the road above Agios Ilias joins from the left. Climb up and slightly right on red dots, along the low ridge on the left of a small field system (do not cross the lentil fields), then up the steep rocks of the last section. A slight false summit comes just before the true top, which has a small cairn, a flagpole and a shrine box. The western side of the ridge falls in cliffs and screes. Return the same way, or descend the shorter, steeper path to the road above Agios Ilias and walk back along the quiet road. A rocky ridge walk leads on to the lower southern top. Mist and strong wind can come in quickly; in summer there is no shade or water.
Start
Road above Eglouvi941 m
- None to the trailhead; a car or taxi is needed from Lefkada town. Fit walkers can walk up from Eglouvi village on the waymarked paths.
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Road above Eglouvi → Σταυρωτά | 3.4 | 261 | 19 | 1h 20m |
Waypoints
- Trailhead: Road above Eglouvi941 m
Start of the path on the road from Eglouvi towards the Elati antennas; position from the lefkadatrails.com GPX
- Feature: Lentil plateau1,010 m
High plateau with tracks and lentil fields; approximate point from the GPX
- Col: Rocky saddle1,044 m
Small saddle among large rocks; junction with the path from the road above Agios Ilias. Approximate point from the GPX
- Summit: Σταυρωτά1,182 m
Key Passages
- Lentil fields on the high plateau
- Rocky saddle and path junction
- Steep rocks below the summit and the false summit
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 70%Overview
Stavrota (1,182 m) is the highest peak of Lefkada and the highest summit of the Elati massif in the island's mountainous centre, a rocky ridge with cliffs and screes on its west side. Short waymarked paths from the mountain roads above Eglouvi and Agios Ilias reach a summit with views from Corfu to Kefalonia.
The centre of Lefkada is a limestone upland, often called Mount Elati as a whole, made up of several summits above 1,000 m with high plateaus between them. Stavrota (also Stavrotas) is the highest of these, a long north–south ridge buttressing the western side of the massif, with steep crags and screes facing the Ionian Sea. Unlike neighbouring Mnimati, it carries no masts or buildings; the summit has a small cairn, a flagpole and a shrine box, and a lower southern top lies along the ridge.
The high plateaus around Eglouvi are farmed for the village's well-known lentils, which grow even in small fields just below the summit. From the top the view reaches north over Preveza to Paxos and Corfu, south to Ithaca and Kefalonia, and east over the islets of Meganisi and Skorpios to the mountains of the mainland.
Mountain roads climb high onto the massif from Eglouvi and Agios Ilias, so the summit is only 220–240 m above the nearest trailheads. The last part is a short climb over steep, rough rock, and the weather on the ridge can change quickly.
Climbing Notes
From either road trailhead allow about an hour up; the paths are marked with red (and yellow) paint dots but are faint in parts, so a GPS track helps. Good shoes and sure-footedness are needed for the final rocky section. There is no water and no shade: carry enough, and in summer go early or late in the day. Mist and strong winds can arrive quickly. Stay on the paths around the lentil fields. A chained sheepdog is often found by the hut on the Agios Ilias approach; detour around it. Snow can cover the summit in winter. Fitter walkers can start in Eglouvi village and link several peaks of the Elati massif in a full day.
Season
Best Apr–May- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Good
- April: Best (best window)
- May: Best (best window)
- June: Good
- July: Possible
- August: Possible
- September: Good
- October: Best
- November: Good
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Snow possible on the summit
- Feb
- Snow possible on the summit
- Apr
- Best season (spring)
- May
- Best season (spring)
- Jun
- Hot; go early or late in the day
- Jul
- Hot, no shade or water
- Aug
- Hot, no shade or water
- Oct
- Best season (autumn)
- Dec
- Short days; snow possible
Access & Permits
- Rules
- Keep to the paths around the cultivated lentil fields on the plateaus
- Getting There
Lefkada (town)
Preveza-Aktion (PVK)
- Car or taxi from Lefkada town via Karya and Eglouvi, or via Agios Ilias, to the top of the mountain road; Lefkada is joined to the mainland by a causeway and swing bridge
- No public transport to the trailheads
Hazards
- Weather