Myrtiotissa Beach.

This tiny yet famous beach is Corfu's unofficial nudist beach and just barely reachable by road. It has a stunning situation, nestled under some truly impressive cliffs, and the swimming and snorkelling are enlivened by a variety of rock formations. Unfortunately, the beach is being heavily eroded, but this means that the seafloor is almost level for an amazing distance from the shore, allowing even unadventurous swimmers the chance to get a wonderful view of the surrounding coast from the sea, and making it ideal for kids.

The monastery that gives the beach its name is up on the hill beyond the beach to the north (if you want to visit, please remember the standard, full-coverage dress code): before you reach it you'll come to the short track up to the only taverna - a small stall on the beach itself sells water, drinks and a variety of snacks. Alternatively, the 'Elia Restaurant' is halfway down to the beach, beside the carpark - but the track down is so steep, you're unlikely to want to pop up there in the middle of the day! Overall, Mirtiotissa is a completely different experience from most beaches, and certainly worth a visit.

Getting There:

There is now a road of sorts to Myrtiotissa (follow signs for Vatos from Pelekas, watch out for the turnoff about 1km before Vatos) but not one you'll necessarily want to subject yourself or your car to - and we do advise that you leave the car at 'Elia', since the last stretch is incredibly steep, and there is little parking on the beach. To get there on foot, take the minibus to Glyfada, and walk along the road to the right from the bus stop. Be sure to follow the road all the way down the hill, then continue along (rather than taking a turning to the beach) until you come to the very last taverna, which is tucked into the hill. The track over to Myrtiotissa runs up behind the main building of this taverna, but stop for refreshment on their shady terrace before attempting it!

The first 20m are deceptively wide, but you need to look out for the narrow path that apparently goes straight up rather than continuing along the wide section. This path is pretty clear and short, but it is exceptionally steep - proper shoes, and a reasonable level of fitness are essential. When you come to the crest of the hill, take the right fork (the left leads out to a cliff edge viewpoint) and follow it through the scrub, then past a vegetable garden towards a big red building, the 'Elia'. Here, you meet up with the 'road' and follow it down a descent almost as steep to the beaches (the first, more nudist, section is reached by a set of rough steps). The whole walk takes only 15-30 minutes, but it is strenuous, and we recommend that you don't attempt it in the middle of the day!