Walking Routes

The following walks are our normal itinerary, but may vary due to ground or weather conditions, and we add new walks periodically to those outlined below. If you book the property as a group, we can tailor the walks to your requirements, and they can be made at any level due to the variety of terrain on offer. Please note in sometimes in early spring some high areas may be inaccessible due to snow (unless the whole group is correctly equipped with winter walking equipment). 
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Saturday: Arrival day

Sunday: Malenski Vrh and Gora

A pretty and fairly gentle walk to start the week. We walk from the hotel to enjoy the panorama from the upland meadows, then visit the ancient church at Gora, with lovely views over the rolling hills and valleys. We then descend to the village of Malenski Vrh enjoying long reaching views to the south of Slovenia, walking on tracks through meadows with many interesting and unusual flowers. We visit an open door farm where we can taste homemade cordials and juices, then home via a circular route on tracks past a waterfall and through woods with many interesting mushrooms in season.

Total distance 7.5 miles/ 12 km, total ascent approx 500m

Monday:  Two lakes and two gorges:

A trip to Lakes Bled and Bohinj, including two spectacular gorge walks. We drive to the stunning Vintgar Gorge near Lake Bled, walking the length of  the gorge on a wooden walkway and path above tumbling turquoise waters. Dippers nest in the gorge and are often seen. We then drive to Lake Bohinj and after a picnic lunch on the lakeside (and maybe a swim!) walk the dramatic Mostnice Gorge starting from Devil's Bridge through the beautiful beech woods (if you prefer to stay by the lake or maybe rent a bike or canoe, that's fine). We return to Lake Bohinj  then drive a short distance to world famous Lake Bled and perhaps enjoy a slice of the famous Bled cream cake overlooking the lake before returning to the hotel (today we arrive back late so afternoon tea is not provided). Alternatively, in high season when Vintgar gorge is very crowded, we can drive straight to Bohinj over a mountain pass, and extend the Mostnice gorge walk into a superb glacial valley with herder's huts and a waterfall tumbling off the cliffs, before returning to Bohinj for a swim and visiting Lake Bled on the way home.

Total distance  5.5 miles/9 km, total ascent 100m, or 8 miles/12km for alternative route

 
Tuesday:  Blegoš:

 This is a challenging but rewarding walk from the hotel to the highest of  the Škofja Loka hills, culminating at the summit of this protected area where many wild flowers and butterflies can be seen, along with breathtaking 360 degree views of the whole area. Blegoš forms part of the Rupnik Line, which formed the fortified border between Italy and Slovenia between WW1 and WW2, and many of the old bunkers can be seen as we walk this route. On the way back, there is the option to be picked up at the base of the hill, saving the return walk and shortening the distance by approx 6km. There is also an easier route missing the summit but meeting the rest of the group at the mountain hut for refreshments.

Total distance approx 12 miles/ 18 km, (8 miles/12km for shorter route); total ascent approx 800m

Wednesday: Free day, with optional transport provided to the pretty Medieval town of Skofja Loka,  where you can spend a relaxing day visiting the town and its excellent ethnographical museum, or from here you may choose to catch one of the regular buses which run to  Ljubljana, where you can spend the day exploring the capital. Please note that today the restaurant is closed and instead you can eat dinner in a local restaurant or, even better, at an open door farm, for a true taste of authentic local Slovene cooking (not included). 

Thursday: Walk to Bukov Vrh 

This is a lovely circular walk on the opposite side of our  home valley, where the views and scenery are quite spectacular. Our route takes us through beech woods and open meadows to the church at Bukov Vrh, where panoramic 360% views await us, and we see the beautiful Julian Alps in the distance. We continue on paths through open rolling countryside, passing through several hamlets where we will glimpse a traditional way of life, and pause for a picnic lunch on the way. Still enjoying fantastic scenery we descend on good paths back to the valley, maybe stopping for a cooling drink at a farm along the way.

Distance: approx 9.5 miles/15km; total ascent: 450m

Friday: Ratitovec

Today we visit Ratitovec, part of a chain of high limestone hills leading to the boundary of Triglav National Park. We climb steadily on a good track through beech forests to a saddle, then  through upland meadows scattered with beautiful alpine flowers to Vratca, which, on a clear day, which provides one of the best viewpoints of Mount Triglav.  We then cross the saddle and ascend gently to a vast, broad ridge stretching for 10km, and are rewarded with superb dramatic views. From here we climb to the highest point, and at  1768 metres can see all of the Gorejnska region and feel we are really on top of the world, picnicing here if weather permits. With plenty of opportunity to admire the views, flowers and butterflies, we stop at a mountain hut for refreshments before returning via a different and very scenic route, descending through dramatic limestone cliffs and woods.

Distance: approx 8 miles/ 12km; total ascent 850m
 

Saturday:

Sadly your week is now at a close, and you can relax around the chalet or go for a  walk (unaccompanied).  We suggest visiting a local farm or mountain hut where you can enjoy one of the local specialities for lunch  before we escort you to the airport (if taking the Easyjet flight to Stansted). We hope you have enjoyed your taste of Slovenia and that one day we will welcome you back to Pri Lenart!

 EXAMPLES OF ALTERNATIVE WALKS WHICH MAY BE DONE DURING THE WEEK:

Stari Vrh ski slopes

Today we walk directly from the hotel up the hill of Stari Vrh, with lovely views over our village and the rolling hills and valleys to the far south, opening up as we approach the mountain cottage where we pause to admire the fantastic scenery to the distant mountains and the border with Austria, and perhaps taste a delicious home made fruit schnapps! We then descend through the meadows which in the winter form the ski resort of Stari Vrh and follow a path through meadows and woods which leads to the beautiful ruined church of St Valentin, followed by a picnic lunch overlooking the mountains and valleys. We return to the hotel through more woods and meadows via the village of Cetena Ravan.

Walking distance: approx 8 miles/12km; total ascent 450m 

 Walk to Zabrekve to visit the charcoal burners' villages

Today we visit the Šelska Dolina valley, famous for its tradition of charcoal burning. We walk on good tracks through ancient beech woods and see several traditional villages, and hopefully watch the process of charcoal making, unchanged for centuries, before climbing gently to the church at Muhov Vrh, enjoying spectacular views almost the whole way. We return through open meadows, and follow a good path back down next to a brook running through the shade of the trees back to the starting point.

Distance approx  9 miles/14km; total ascent 550m

Exploring the Velika Planina

We walk on the high plateau known as Velika Planina today. Although a slightly longer drive away, this is a worthwhile trip as it is the largest plateau of its kind in Slovenia and combines the opportunity to enjoy beautiful scenery, see interesting traditional wooden buildings and in the late spring and early summer, spot rare flowers. We take a cable car to near the top of the plateau, then continue on foot, visiting the traditional herdsmans' settlement, built completely of wood, where the farmers live during the summer grazing season and sell their home made dairy produce. After a brief pause at the little wooden church of Mary of the Snows, we walk right around the edge of the Planina with amazing views in all directions, from the capital  Ljubljana to the south to the Alps in the north. There are several different opportunities to stop for some refreshments and just relax in the clear mountain air. On our return to the base by cable car we visit Kamnik, a beautiful medieval market town with a very interesting historic centre.

Distance: approx 7.5 miles/12km, total ascent 350m

Walk to Ermanovec

This is a fairly long and very scenic walk to the high hills of Slajka and Ermanovec. Leaving the hamlet of Hotavlje, we climb quite gently to the summit of the first hill, Slajka, ending with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains in all directions and a pause in a mountain hut for refreshments. The walk continues on a high path to the summit of Ermanovec at 1026 metres, where more spectacular views await. We descend to another mountain hut and then return via a circular route to the valley floor. There are beautiful views for most of this lovely walk.

Distance: approx 9.5 miles/ 15km, total ascent 650 metres

 WALK DIFFICULTY AND FITNESS LEVELS

Our accompanied walks are of moderate length and difficulty. Most of the walks are on well marked paths and tracks, through woodland, upland meadows and on high rounded hilltops (up to nearly 1800m). Paths are generally good, but some are quite steep in places.  To enjoy the accompanied walks we recommend that you are comfortable walking at a steady pace for around 4 hours. Walks generally include around 600 metres ascent (on one day up to 800 metres ascent), which involves walking steadily uphill for an hour or more - but the rewards are great in terms of views, and there is always a mountain hut for rest and refreshments at the top of the longer ascents! Generally one ascent will take you to a flattish area where the views are spectacular, and from there the rest of the walk is quite level or in descent.

EQUIPMENT

Approximately 8 weeks before departure we will send you holiday notes and a suggested list of equipment to bring with you. If you have any questions prior to booking please contact us and we will be happy to help.