After enjoying many sun drenched holidays in Western Crete and finding it harder each time to return to the U.K. Susan and I felt the only course of action was to pull up stakes and make Crete our home.. We started building our home here in Afrata some fourteen years ago having spent much time exploring the region we fell in love with the village and its people… Our home is situated in a beautiful valley surrounded by olive groves with fantastic views of the Aegean and White Mountains to the S.E. We have both integrated into village life and where Susan spends much of her time introducing English food and learning about Cretan food with her friends in the village, I spend most mornings working with my friend Andonis on his farm learning sheep and goat husbandry and the uses of mountain greens and herbs. We now think of Afrata as home and long to be here if we travel away.
Situated high on the Rothapo peninsular only a few minutes drive from Kolimbari “Robin’s Nest” offers a unique Cretan experience for the discerning traveller looking to enjoy life in a quiet Cretan village and Afrata enhances the spirit of rural Cretan life. On entering the village square you travel down through the olive groves.Passed “Minories”taverna , a little further and you reach”Robin’s Nest”on the left. Then journey on down the mountain through lower Afrata and you will discover Afrata’s best kept secret, after travelling down through the gorge with marvellous views all around you suddenly find yourself in a beautifully romantic smugglers cove. The hotel offers one and two bedroom Villa style luxurious apartments with private balconies front and rear, all with exceptional views. The apartments are furnished and fully equipped for self catering. Bed and breakfast is also available as are any further meal requirements you may have. Much of the food offered is grown naturally in Afrata, fresh bread, cheese, milk, sausages, jam, marmalade etc are made on the premises as well as exceptional pies and pastries an extensive vegeterean menu is avaliable. Outside the pool and sundecks offer a tranquil area to chill out and enjoy a drink from the bar.
A delightful area for the walkers, Afrata and the peninsula beyond offer many interesting sights to visit, Ravdouka to the west where you can see the Ancient Church of Agia Marina or Diktynna and the Church of Agias Ioannes Gionis to the North.
For the those who prefer bird watching the peninsula abounds with many varieties of Finchies, also Eagles, Falcons and Kestrels etc; can be seen souring above the mountains and olive groves, many other species can be found all around Afrata.