WALKING/CYCLING ROADS
Çamlık-Meryemana
Distance: 7.5 km
Duration: 2 hours 30 mins
Starting point elevation: 235 m
Highest point: 540 m
Endpoint elevation: 404 m
Difficulty level: 2
Coordinates:
Starting point GPS: 37°53’09.24”N / 27°22’49.82”E
Peak point GPS: 37°54’05.44”N / 27°20’55.22”E
Endpoint GPS: 37°54’31.28”N / 27°20’11.95”E
Transportation to the beginning of the course: In order to get to Çamlık, 89 km from Konak, by a private vehicle, follow the Konak – Gaziemir road and exit to the İzmir – Aydın highway. Take the Selçuk road from the Belevi intersection. Going south from the district center, you will reach Çamlık in about 8 km. If you choose public transportation, come to the Tepeköy station with the İZBAN train. Take the bus numbered 770 to Selçuk from the transfer station here. If you choose to take the TCDD trains to Selçuk, take the Aydın train from the Basmane Station. You can get to Şirince from the town center with minibuses.
Structure of the course: After the olive road at the beginning, you pass a river which dries out in the summer, along the route that continues with in-forest pathways and forest fire lanes. The tractor road, going through the olive groves, continues on the Sultaniye village asphalt road; entering the stone quarry road. The House of Virgin Mary is reached by the 3-4 meter wide forest road following the rocky road at the end.
Details of the course: The course starts at the point where you turn right 170 m from the door of Çamlık Steam Locomotive Open Air Museum. Hiking through the olive road for about 250 m, the in-forest pathway continues for about 250 m. You enter the 4 meter wide soft soil fire lane. At the entrance of this road, there is an olive grove to the left. Climbing for 300 m you turn left and 400 m further entering the fire lane going down to the right.
After the stream pass at the end of the fire lane, the course continues through the olive groves for 1.3 km. The dirt tractor road connects to the Sultaniye asphalt road after about 1.1 km. Continuing on the asphalt road for about 1 km and by turning right and advancing 800 m, you enter the stone quarry road to the left.
Although there are olive groves to your left and the stone quarry to your right, 450 m further, the road you are walking on will bring you the rocky road bearing the characteristics of the Efes – Mimas road. The 1-2 m rocky road is about 1.5 km in length. At half point, the dirt road is vertically passed. The 3-4 m wide village dirt road met towards the end meets another dirt road 390 m later. Proceeding 1.8 km to the right, you end up at an asphalt road. You reach the House of Virgin Mary in 26° m. If you advance to the left of the dirt road, take the first right and turn to the farthest right again in 300 m, you will directly end up at the House of Virgin Mary.
Alternative routes connected to the course: It connects to the fire lane – Sultaniye asphalt – stone quarry road. The road begins at the entrance to the fire lane on the northernmost part of the hill on the west of Çamlık. 1.3 km further along the east – west direction, you enter the Sultaniye asphalt. 1.7 km later you reach the stone quarry and the road connects to the main route.
Cycling and olive roads: There is a 3m wide, approximately 250 m long olive road with a dirt surface at the beginning of the course. There is a cycling road parallel to the course between the beginning and end points. The cycling route starting from Çamlık, reaching the stone quarry once the Sultaniye road is entered, continues on from the road on the right, connecting to the main route at the point where the route forks to reach the House of Virgin Mary by going around the hill.
Water resources: There are no water resources along the route.
Camping sites: There are no camping sites along the route.
Shopping and accommodation: As there are no residential areas along the route, shopping must be done in the markets at the Çamlık village center. There are guesthouses and hotels in Selçuk.
Natural and historical values:
Structure of the course: After the olive road at the beginning, you pass a river which dries out in the summer, along the route that continues with in-forest pathways and forest fire lanes. The tractor road, going through the olive groves, continues on the Sultaniye village asphalt road; entering the stone quarry road. The House of Virgin Mary is reached by the 3-4 meter wide forest road following the rocky road at the end.
Details of the course: The course starts at the point where you turn right 170 m from the door of Çamlık Steam Locomotive Open Air Museum. Hiking through the olive road for about 250 m, the in-forest pathway continues for about 250 m. You enter the 4 meter wide soft soil fire lane. At the entrance of this road, there is an olive grove to the left. Climbing for 300 m you turn left and 400 m further entering the fire lane going down to the right.
After the stream pass at the end of the fire lane, the course continues through the olive groves for 1.3 km. The dirt tractor road connects to the Sultaniye asphalt road after about 1.1 km. Continuing on the asphalt road for about 1 km and by turning right and advancing 800 m, you enter the stone quarry road to the left.
Although there are olive groves to your left and the stone quarry to your right, 450 m further, the road you are walking on will bring you the rocky road bearing the characteristics of the Efes – Mimas road. The 1-2 m rocky road is about 1.5 km in length. At half point, the dirt road is vertically passed. The 3-4 m wide village dirt road met towards the end meets another dirt road 390 m later. Proceeding 1.8 km to the right, you end up at an asphalt road. You reach the House of Virgin Mary in 26° m. If you advance to the left of the dirt road, take the first right and turn to the farthest right again in 300 m, you will directly end up at the House of Virgin Mary.
Alternative routes connected to the course: It connects to the fire lane – Sultaniye asphalt – stone quarry road. The road begins at the entrance to the fire lane on the northernmost part of the hill on the west of Çamlık. 1.3 km further along the east – west direction, you enter the Sultaniye asphalt. 1.7 km later you reach the stone quarry and the road connects to the main route.
Cycling and olive roads: There is a 3m wide, approximately 250 m long olive road with a dirt surface at the beginning of the course. There is a cycling road parallel to the course between the beginning and end points. The cycling route starting from Çamlık, reaching the stone quarry once the Sultaniye road is entered, continues on from the road on the right, connecting to the main route at the point where the route forks to reach the House of Virgin Mary by going around the hill.
Water resources: There are no water resources along the route.
Camping sites: There are no camping sites along the route.
Shopping and accommodation: As there are no residential areas along the route, shopping must be done in the markets at the Çamlık village center. There are guesthouses and hotels in Selçuk.
Natural and historical values:
- Çamlık Steam Locomotive Open Air Museum
House of Virgin Mary: The House of Virgin Mary at the end of the route is one of the most visited sites in belief tourism. It is supposed that the construction of the holy building on Bülbül Mountain took place in 4 A.D. It is believed that after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, St.John, finding it unfavorable for Virgin Mary to stay in Jerusalem, fled her here.