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Wednesday 02 May 2012: Kasımlar - Damla - Kesme - Çaltepe

A lovely village breakfast, then a short hop in the minibus to takes down the steep stretch of road from the top to the bottom of the village of Kasımlar, where we started our onwards descent on foot heading for the bridge over the river Köprüçay. Grey skies overhead, cuckoos calling in the woods, flowers by the roadside. A stroll through meadows and fields, right past the front door of the farm, and on up to the spring/water fountain and cemetery at Yukarı Fındık Kabristanlıgı, 5km from Kasımlar, 7km to go to Kesme.

After a stroll through sheep and goat grazing shrub land, it was up, up, up up along pine forested and rock strewn gully, with rockfaces towering above. We emerged into a green expanse of upland meadow, the perfect setting for a shepherd hut complete with frog filled pond. A great place for a bit of a rest and refuel, with amazing limestone rock formations in the valleys ahead, and stunning views out across to snow covered mountain ridges.

It had been a morning full of flowers: Orchids, Squill / Scilla, Daphne, Daisies, Pansies, Violets, Grape Hyacinth, Clover, Star Thistles / Knapweed, Primroses, Borage (Alkanna aucheriana).

Rested, and entertained by the local goats, we weaved our way down through the karst fairyland, and along bare rock ledges where lizards sunbathed.

We lunched at the spring and natural stone bridge at Damla, where a mother and daughter were looking after sheep, goats and cows. Across the Köprütaş bridge, Mike led us through the mysterious remnants of an ancient civilisation, with a paved pathway leading to a cave with carved portico, and stone building blocks bore carved Manx-like symbols. Skirting clockwise round the hilltop, passing ancient threshing circles, we had stunning views out over the mountain ranges and of the shining minarets of Kesme in the valley below, both demanding lots of photos, none of which really do either any justice.

A tricky bit of navigation for the initially steep descent distracted us from the scenery, and the rain just about held off for our final drop down into another limestone wonderland, parallel ridges of rock looming over alleys of grass, which then widened out encompass freshly ploughed fields on the outskirts of Kesme.

Refreshed by tea, we left Kesme in the minibus, pausing at a village house where ladies were hand spinning goats' hair. Reaching the outskirts of Çaltepe, we turned off the road and drew up at Erdinc and Emine's new chalets, complete with en suite bathrooms and al fresco dining. Lovely, albeit a little cool under cloudy skies. After a wash and putting the camera batteries on to recharge, time for tea and chat before dinner was served - plenty of excellent stuffed aubergine for me. More chat around the fire once night fell, but not a late night with those lovely new beds calling....

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