Why We Created Solo But Supported

 

Why Autumn Is One of Our Favourite Times to Explore Cyprus

There comes a point every year when we realise we've survived another Cyprus summer.

The days are still warm, the sun is still shining and anyone visiting from the UK would probably laugh at the idea that autumn has arrived.

But we can feel it.

It starts in the evenings.

After months of heat, the temperature finally begins to drop. Sitting outside becomes enjoyable again rather than something you attempt for five minutes before retreating back into the air conditioning.

The mornings feel fresher.

And perhaps the biggest sign of all?

The girls suddenly come back to life.

Autumn has arrived in Cyprus.

And for us, that means adventure season is beginning again.

The Girls Know Before We Do

Summer in Cyprus can be hard for dogs.

During the hottest months our walks become shorter and carefully timed. Lizzie, Pippa and Charlie are far more interested in finding somewhere cool to lie down than heading off on one of our longer adventures.

Then the evenings start cooling.

Suddenly there are three dogs who appear to have remembered that walking is actually quite exciting.

We start getting up earlier again so we can take them out for longer walks. There's more sniffing, more exploring and definitely more playing.

Nobody is rushing to get home before the temperature climbs too high.

For us, those first longer walks are one of the signs that the seasons are changing.

We can explore again.

And after a long Cyprus summer, we're usually more than ready for it.

Cyprus Slowly Starts Changing Colour

At the end of summer, much of the Cyprus countryside is dry.

Months of sunshine have left the landscape golden and dusty, and sometimes it's difficult to imagine just how green the island will eventually become.

Then the rain arrives.

The transformation isn't instant.

That's what I love about it.

At first you'll notice a tiny patch of green somewhere.

Then another.

Fields slowly begin changing colour and new growth starts appearing along the sides of the roads and walking trails.

Every time we go out, something looks slightly different.

As autumn continues and the rains return, the Cyprus we've been looking at all summer gradually starts transforming into another version of itself.

And because it happens slowly, you really notice it.

Perfect Exploring Weather

One of the reasons we love autumn so much is simple.

We can go exploring again.

Autumn is also when our walking season in Cyprus really begins again.

During autumn, we generally find our nights cooling to somewhere around 15–18°C, while daytime temperatures can be around 20–25°C depending on where we are on the island.

To us, that's perfect.

It's cool enough to walk and explore but still warm enough to enjoy being outside.

And that's when our mini adventures begin again.

Whenever we get a chance, we're off.

Sometimes we have somewhere specific in mind. Other times we just head out and see where the day takes us.

A walking trail.

A village we've never properly explored.

A country road we've driven past a hundred times and always wondered where it goes.

A picnic somewhere in the mountains.

Or simply getting in the car with the girls and finding somewhere new.

After spending much of the summer planning our days around the heat, autumn feels like somebody has handed Cyprus back to us.

How to Spot a Local in Autumn

Of course, "cooler" is a matter of perspective.

This becomes particularly obvious when you're walking through a Cyprus village in autumn.

The temperature might be somewhere in the twenties.

The tourists are wandering around happily in shorts and T-shirts, thinking the weather is absolutely glorious.

Meanwhile, the locals have decided winter has arrived.

Out come the jeans.

Then the jumpers.

Before long you'll see someone dressed as though they're preparing for a particularly unpleasant January in Britain.

We've lived here long enough that we're starting to understand it.

Once you've spent months living with Cyprus summer temperatures, 20°C really does start to feel surprisingly chilly.

Although we do occasionally have to remind ourselves that people back in the UK probably aren't going to have much sympathy.

GOAT Comes Back to Life Too

Autumn doesn't just change our everyday life.

It marks the beginning of our season at GOAT Adventures Cyprus.

Summer is naturally quieter for us. Cyprus might be famous for its summer sunshine, beaches and holidays, but hiking and exploring in intense heat isn't what our adventures are about.

As the temperatures start falling, everything begins moving again.

It's also when our longer walking adventures, including the Cyprus E4, come back into their own.

The enquiries arrive.

Bookings start coming in.

The admin gets busier.

Routes need checking, plans need making and adventures need preparing.

Then the guests start arriving.

Before we know it, we're back in our familiar rhythm of admin, planning, exploring and welcoming people to Cyprus.

There's always something exciting about that time of year.

We've had the quiet of summer and suddenly we're looking at the months ahead, wondering who we're going to meet and what adventures we're going to have.

It feels like the beginning of something.

Why Visit Cyprus in Autumn?

Ask most people to picture a Cyprus holiday and they'll probably imagine summer.

Blue skies.

Beaches.

Sun loungers.

Very hot sunshine.

And if that's the holiday you want, Cyprus in summer is fantastic.

But if you actually want to explore Cyprus, we'd choose autumn.

The temperatures make it much easier to get out and see things.

You can walk.

Explore archaeological sites without feeling as though you're slowly melting.

Wander around some of Cyprus's traditional and hidden villages.

Head into the mountains.

Sit outside with a coffee.

Spend a day discovering somewhere new without having to plan everything around avoiding the hottest part of the day.

And one of the biggest advantages is that most places are still open.

Restaurants, attractions and experiences haven't disappeared for winter, so you can still enjoy everything that makes Cyprus special.

You just get to do it without quite so much heat.

A Different Side of Cyprus

Autumn is also when you begin seeing the island change.

The Cyprus of July and August isn't the same Cyprus you'll see later in the year.

The landscape changes.

The pace changes.

Even the way we live here changes.

Our mornings become longer.

Our walks become longer.

The girls have more energy.

The doors and windows stay open.

Coffee outside becomes enjoyable again.

And we start spending far more time doing what brought us to love this island in the first place.

It's also the time of year when Cyprus seems to encourage us to slow down and enjoy being outside again.

Exploring it.

Maybe that's why autumn always feels exciting to us.

It isn't the end of summer.

It's the beginning of our adventure season.

Melissa's Reflection

Living in Cyprus has changed the way I think about seasons.

I used to think of autumn as the time when summer ended. The days became shorter, the weather got worse and winter was on its way.

Here, it feels almost like the opposite.

Autumn feels like a beginning.

It's when we start walking further again. When we get back in the car just to see where a road leads. When the first patches of green appear in fields that have been dry for months.

It's when our guests begin arriving and GOAT becomes busy again.

And it's when I remember that you don't always need perfect summer weather to enjoy somewhere.

Sometimes the best time to explore is when things start changing.

So while everyone else might be mourning the end of summer, you'll probably find us pulling on our walking shoes, loading three very excited dogs into the car and heading off to see where the day takes us.

Although, judging by what we're wearing, you'll also probably be able to tell we've officially become locals.