Turkey has an area of 814,000 sq Kms, is divided between two continents, has land borders with eight countries, a coastline of 8,300Kms, is bounded by three seas and has mountains that rise above 5,000m. It has all the makings of a walker's paradise, but surprisingly, prior to 1999, it had no waymarked long distance footpaths at all. Even now, it still only has two, each around 500Kms in length. That they exist at all is largely due to the efforts of Kate Clow. More information can be found on Kate's website.

The two footpaths are The Lycian Way and the St. Paul Trail and Kate has written an excellent guidebook on each. Copies can be ordered through her website.

The region of Lycia forms part of Turkey's Mediterranean coast and has lain hidden between the sea and the Taurus Mountains since pre-history. Access by land was always difficult until a coastal road was built in 1988. But even now, very little has changed once you leave behind from the the handful of resorts which dot the coastline, and the Lycian Way enables you to feel as far away from the modern world as you could possibly wish.

The footpath often follows ancient routes, sometimes passing by impressive ruins left by the Lycians who inhabited the region from around 3000BC onwards. At other times you may find yourself sharing a goat track with a local shepherd and his flock. The lifestyle is still largley rural with only occasional glimpses of modern culture especially in the more remote mountain areas.

The Lycian Way starts at Olu Deniz, just south of Fethiye and passes through spectacular scenery along its route to Hisar Candir, some 25 Kms west of Antalya. In places the mountains appear to rise straight out of the sea and present a seemingly impassable wall, but they are cut by several rivers which have formed deep gorges and fertile aluvial plains. In places the walk will take you to altitudes of 1800m with an optional climb to the summit of Tahtali Dagi at 2400m.

The Lycian Way is 500kms in length and you should allow up to five weeks if you plan to walk the whole route. But if you do not have the luxury of time it is perfectly possible to do the walk in sections. While some parts of the walk pass though remote rural areas, there is an extensive, albeit sometimes infrequent, network of local buses. You will however need to be prepared to carry supplies for up to 3 days on one section.

The Lycian Way can be walked at any time of the year so long as you take proper precautions to deal with prevailing conditions. Some sections of the walk reach altitudes of 1,800m and you can expect to encounter snow in the high mountains from December to April. Other parts take you down to sea level but these sections are uncomfortably hot for walking during July and August. There is virtually no rainfall from mid-May to the end of October, however early Spring is often a time of violent thunder storms.

With a bit of planning you can find accommodation for most nights but if your aim is to walk the whole route then come prepared to sleep at least some nights outdoors. If you walk during the dry seasons it is possible to dispense with a tent and sleep in the open.

The Lycian Way is already, rightly, regarded as one of the Greatest Walks in the World. It must not be undertaken lightly, but prepare well and you will be rewarded with an experience which will last a lifetime.

If you want local information about preparing a trip to Turkey then contact IAH Holidays who are UK specialists in organising a wide range of holidays in Turkey, and who are based in Gloucestershire.