Eskiköy

Leaving Dalyan on Ataturk Bulvari road and head towards the roundabout. At the roundabout, the left turn takes you towards the Jardarma and the football satdia and the right turn taking towards Okcular,Ortaca and Dalaman.Go straight on towards Eskiköy.

Head towards Eskiköy, where the road bends to the right towards Eskiköy, marked A on the map below. ( a sign with red arrows indicating sharp bend) there is a track to the left about twenty five meters further on, take this track.

Hover mouse over map to see larger version

You will pass a house on your right and further on the track meets another house, take the right fork here which is the continuation of the road,marked B on the map above. You can take the track straight ahead, however, it peters out into fields, which depending on the time of year/day can be flooded for irrigation and makes your journey very muddy.

Follow the road round to the right and it eventually starts to rise up over a small hill. Turtle Dove, Black Headed Bunting and Bee Eaters have been seen here. Keep on this track go down the other side and keep going until you eventually come to a T junction, shortly after a house on your left. Take the track to the left,follow this track, marked C on the map above. You should be able to see a rocky outcrop rising out of the flat farm land surrounding it, it doesn’t really matter if you have taken the wrong track , as all tracks should lead towards this rocky outcrop. The rocky outcrop is in the background on the right of the picture below.

Eventually as you head towards the rocky outcrop the track peters out into fields. Keep heading toward the rock outcrop and you will come to a irrigation canal. Follow this to the right heading toward some large Polly Tunnels growing tomatoes.

Here you should find a little improvised wooden bridge over the irrigation canal. Cross here and head back towards the rocky outcrop which should be to your left. Explore the area around here.

Keeping the outcrop on your right, you can make your way around the outcrop clockwise to find a route which will enable you to walk to the top of the outcrop (small hill) giving good views over the lake in front of you and the farmland behind you. Depending on the time of your visit this point gives good views of the Terns that pass through the region.

The outcrop itself is a good stop off place for raptors and the Short Toed Eagle was photographed here. Other birds in this area have been Marsh Harrier, Crested Lark, Rufous Bush Robin ,Hobby,Kestrel, Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Nuthatch and Alpine Swift to name a few.

When you have finished here you can retrace you tracks and head back to Dalyan.

Hover mouse over map to see larger version

Alternatively, once you cross over the improvised wooden bridge you can follow the track to your left,marked D on the map above. This track follows the irrigation canal for about a mile and a half. When you come to the end of the track turn right marked E on the map above, and follow this road without deviation until it comes to a sort of T Junction,marked F on the map above. There is a house at the end of the road, turn right and follow the road in front of the house for a short while and then take the first road to your left, after about 200 meters, marked G on the map below , this road will lead you into Eskiköy At the main road turn right and you will find a small number of shops where you can buy a drink, you’ll need it!

Follow the road back into Dalyan which will take another forty minutes if you are walking at a leisurely pace.