Corfu’s 18-hole-72 par course was designed by the famous Swiss based architect David Harridine who managed to blend the natural beauty of the area with artificial hazards to make it a good but fair test to both the scratch player and the high handicapped golfer. There are three sets of tees, a large practice ground and a putting green providing facilities for all categories of player. Carts, clubs and trolleys can be hired and the club is open seven days a week and is within a 15 minute drive from Dassia. Tel: 26610 94220. There's a horse riding club here with daily treks through the surrounding countryside. Corfu Golf Club
Cricket was introduced to Corfu in 1823 during the British rule and is today a popular sport, recognised by the government as the national sport of Corfu. There is a local league and matches can be seen between local sides. Various teams from the UK and other countries annually visit the island to take part in competitions and occasionally matches are still played on The Liston in Corfu Town.
Corfu is a paradise for watersport lovers with water skiing, paragliding, windsurfing and deep sea fishing to name but a few. Most resorts have a multitude of facilities and expert tuition is available.
The sea surrounding the island is normally crystal clear providing excellent conditions for scuba diving. There are licensed diving centres on the island who offer expert tuition from fully qualified divers using first class equipment. You do not need to be a particularly strong swimmer to scuba dive and anyone over the age of 14 can participate (parental permission needed for those between 14-18). Waterhoppers is an excellent and long established scuba diving centre situated just a couple of miles away from Dassia. Waterhoppers website
Corfu’s 200km of coastline offers all types of swimming conditions for beginners and strong swimmers. Dassia's gently sloping shoreline is fine for the kids. The sea is great for snorkelling with plenty of underwater plant life and a variety of species of sea creatures on the warmer east coast. The west coast has a good rocky coastline providing underwater rocks and caves for exploring. There are a few hazardous underwater currents, so do be careful and always take note if you see any kind of warning flag on the beaches.
There are several day trips and cruises available to various parts of the island and a wide variety of boats are also available for hire. We would highly recommend a day out on Natasha, a private yacht owned and skippered by Scotsman Ed Rae. Taking up to six people, Ed will pick you up at whatever time suits you, will take you wherever you want to go and stop whenever you want to stop! Natasha's Website
There is also a beach bbq excursion from Dassia which is a good day out and a great way to top up the tan! British couple George and Debbie also offer day-long boat trips on their huge Catamaran heading up the north east coast and stopping for lunch in a traditional Greek taverna. A great day out as lively or as quiet as you choose. Symphony Website
Aqualand, Corfu's water park, is great fun for all ages. Situated in the Ropa Valley, just 20 minutes drive from Dassia, the park has a selection of slides and rides, a lazy river and a large pool with plenty of sunbathing facilities.
A great way of exploring Corfu’s countryside and treks and instructions are available for both beginners and the most experienced of riders. There are a few riding centres around the island including The Riders Club, just ten minutes from Dassia. British owner Sally and her staff offer morning and evening treks passing through olive groves and picturesque villages. A great day out for all ages and level of rider.
Cycling is yet another way to explore Corfu and there are various places with bicycles for rent. There are also guided mountain bike tours available - The Corfu Mountain Bike Shop is situated in Dassia just across the road from Shakes and offers guided tours and bikes for hire.
Walking is yet another way of exploring the island and there are literally hundreds of tracks that criss-cross Corfu’s beautiful countryside. When walking through olive groves, please take care not to walk over olive nets and respect private property. There are a few excellent walking books available giving detailed routes to follow.
Corfu has a wide variety of birds living and visiting the island and many species from western Europe can be seen here as well as birds which only exist in eastern Mediterranean areas. The Andiniotti lagoon in the north and the Korrison in the south are perfect places to visit for a wide variety of species. The majestic golden eagle, which inhabits Albania, can be spotted flying around Mount Pantokrator and Ermones, while the Dalmatian pelican, with its long pouched bill, can be seen in the Andinioti, Korrison and Chalikiopoulos lagoons. A wide variety of owls also inhabit the island.
The lush green vegetation covering the island provides a haven for a wide variety of wildlife. You may spot a wild tortoise meandering about and terrapins, toads and frogs are plentiful. There is also a variety of snakes on the island, most of them harmless, with the exception of the sand-viper, recognised by a horn on its nose, which inhabits bare, rocky terrain. There are also many lizards and, although most of them shy away from human contact, the most common you will see is the dalmation algyroides with its blue throat and orange stomach.
Most of us see insects as pests, especially mosquitoes and wasps, but there are various products to combat them. The big, black wasp, (which resembles a flying olive!) is not aggressive to humans unless you aggravate it. The sting of the large and nasty hornet can be extremely painful. One of the most exotic insects in Corfu is the praying mantis which Gerald Durrell fondly refers to as one of his ‘pets’ in his book ‘My Family and Other Animals’. It may be advisable not to upturn rocks and stones as it could be the home of a sleeping scorpion! Although they are rarely seen, their upturned tail can give a nasty sting.
The hot summers and mild wet winters have made Corfu the greenest of all the Greek islands and the island is covered in olive and cypress trees. July and August are the hottest months of the year and yet some of the islands most spectacular flowers are in full bloom then. A variety of orchids grow wild around the island and rare plants such as campanula can only be found in Corfu and parts of northern Greece. Oranges, lemons, apples, almonds, figs and apricots all grow well.
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