Mountain Lifestyle: The Caves of Fragthi Bay

I couldn't help but get myself up and out of bed to witness another stunner sunrise. This time I went out onto the roof top balcony to get fully bathed in the morning glow.

A spooky layer of cloud drifted over while we were having breakfast in the summer house, but it gave some spectacular light. Despite it looking so good, be decided to save our daily swim until a bit later. I wasn't sure about this at first, but we certainly have some good swim times later on!

It was hard to leave the idyllic garden, but the exploratory curiosity of what adventures might await saw us setting off after a long breakfast.

It was just a short drive to the turn off to Fragthi Bay. Here the tarmac turned to dirt and we dropped our speed to follow around the coastline to a small parking area at the end of the track.

From here we set out on foot along the rocky coast. Just off shore is the most fantastic looking island. It's privately owned by a very wealthy family and had a super yacht parked up outside the enormous front gates! The main house is hidden in the centre of the island, but google maps gave a sneaky look around the manicured grounds, private beach, pool and tennis courts and staff houses! Wow!

In (many!) years gone by, the before a rise in sea level, the island was connected to the mainland where the enormous Fragthi caves housed various cave dwellers. Not that long ago, a complete human skeleton was excavated here and dated as being 8500 years old!

We walked through the main chambers but didn't delve too deep down any side passages.

Instead, we turned our attention to the nearby beach, just outside, there the inviting turquoise waters attracted our attentions.

There was a jetty at the end of the deserted bay, where we psyched up for a dive off the end.

The whole bay was incredibly calm, clear and peaceful. You can just make out the cave entrance on the right of the cliffs.

Clare was first to take the leap! It was actually much better than back at our beach, where you have to wade in. One quick jump and you're in! No procrastinating or turning back - the shock is short lived and from then on you're good to go! And as the water temperature is around 17 degreed Celsius, it's much less of a shock that jumping into a lake in Wales!

We were in the water for nearly half an hour, goofing around, spotting fish and swimming laps of the secluded bay. Bliss!

Rather handily, just above the bay is a cliff with a few bolted climbs on, so wrapped up in fleeces and jacket, with teeth chattering an involuntary shivering from staying too long in the water, so carried our packs up the the base of the rocks.

A few climbs later and we were back down to t-shirts and soaking up the suns rays like a pair of lizards.

The rock was pretty good even if the bolts looked a bit odd. It got us warmed up and gave us even better views from the top of the cliff.

The sun was beginning to set and the rock glowed orange as we made our way back down to the beach.

In the glow of the sun set, we spontaneously dived back off the jetty for a final swim. We'd just walked down to pick up our towels that we'd left drying, but as the water just looked so inviting, I felt compelled to jump back in! We walked away buzzing and shivering into the dusk...