Küçükada

A Village Named for Isolation

Küçükada sits at roughly 540–764 metres elevation on the southern slopes above the coastal district of Bulancak. The name — meaning 'Small Island' — is a striking one for a landlocked village; its neighbour to the north is called Büyükada ('Big Island'), suggesting that both settlements were once perceived as islands of habitation amid an unbroken sea of forest. Records from 1925 list the village under an older name, Adaköy ('Vow Village'), hinting at a votive or dedicatory origin that has faded from local memory.↗↗

The village once supported a much larger community: the population peaked above 1,500 in the 1960s and has since declined to around 330, as younger residents moved to Bulancak or the larger cities along the coast. Despite its shrinking numbers, Küçükada remains a living settlement with its own muhtar (headman) and elected council of elders, typical of Turkish village governance.↗

Getting There

Küçükada lies roughly 6 km (as the crow flies) south of Bulancak town centre, though the driving route is longer. The village connects to the Bulancak–Kovanlık–Aydındere provincial road via an 8.8 km branch road that passes through Büyükada village. Concrete road improvements funded under the 2018 KÖYDES rural investment programme have made access significantly easier than in past decades.↗↗↗

The nearest airport is Ordu-Giresun, approximately 18 km to the northwest, and Giresun city centre is about 22 km away. The village is 13.8 km from the Black Sea coast, a reminder that the road between the shore and these highland settlements climbs steeply through hazelnut orchards and mixed deciduous forest.↗

What to Notice

This is a working agricultural village in the heart of Turkey's hazelnut belt. The surrounding terraced slopes and small kitchen gardens — producing cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, and apples alongside the dominant fındık (hazelnut) crop — represent the quintessential Black Sea highland farming landscape. Giresun Tombul Hazelnut is a geographically protected product of this province, and any visit between August and September may coincide with the intense harvest season.↗

The village's setting in the Pontic Alps foothills means lush, humid woodland on all sides. In summer, temperatures rarely exceed the mid-20s Celsius — a marked contrast to the hotter coast below — while winter lows hover just above freezing. The cool, misty mountain air and constant green of the surrounding forest are the village's chief natural assets.↗

Nearby Explorations

Küçükada itself has no designated attractions, but the broader Bulancak district offers several points of interest within a reasonable drive. The Efendioğlu Hanyanı Nature Park lies about 15 km away and is a good spot for forest walks. The weekly Kovanlık market, some 10 km distant, offers a taste of rural commerce. Bulancak town's historic harbour, the 5th-century Acısu rock-cut church, and the Paşakonağı highland plateau are all accessible from this part of the district. For hikers, the Karagöl Dağı scenic loop and routes along the old mule paths through neighbouring villages provide moderate day walks through the same forested landscape that surrounds Küçükada.↗↗

Practical Notes

There are no hotels, restaurants, or tourist facilities in Küçükada. Visitors should base themselves in Bulancak town and drive up for a short excursion, or treat the village as a waypoint on a broader exploration of the Bulancak highlands. The roads are narrow but paved in concrete since the 2018 improvements; a standard car is sufficient in fair weather. The village has no mobile coverage guarantee, so plan accordingly.↗↗