SVK: Súlovské Hills - Winter Hiking

That group of people working for information portal Infoglobe traveling very literally lives are reflected in the choice of gift. From my nice colleges I got last year a really great wedding gift - a weekend stay for two persons with breakfast in the picturesque Súlovské hills. When we began to think with Marek, where we spend the holiday of three kings, we did not have thing about it as long. Súlovské rocks are among the most famous rock cities and also the oldest natural reserves in the Slovak Republic. This fairy region full of bizarre shapes, rock massifs, towers, windows, gates and rock needles and fungus is spread over the village Súľov-Hradná na Pováží.  We stayed over two nights in chalet “Pohoda”, which is hidden in the heart of this picturesque environment. Apart from quality accommodation and excellent cuisine and surprised us a beautiful view from sun terrace panorama of rocks. Even in winter the chalet area ideal for walks in nature. The number of tourist pavements that are sure to choose "their" experienced hikers, but also families with children. I would, however, pointed out that, like everywhere in the mountains, there is a need to care of safety. Moving cross some sections makes difficult not only protruding tree roots, but also the erosion of disturbed ground.

At first we wanted to relax after the holidays, and gradually get in form and not suffer from strained muscles, we decided that our main Saturday's trip becomes moderately difficult, not even a half-day walk along the nature trail Súľovské rocks. According to tourist guides our journey should take one and a half to two and a half hour and if we didn’t take so many pictures and by mistake lost right way, so this time is a real even in winter.

Educational trail Súlovské rocks

Circular route of educational sidewalk begins and ends in close Súlovské Gorge, just park in front of the cottage Súlovčanka, located between the villages Jablonové and Súlov. On the nature trail leading through the most interesting part of NPR Súlovské rocks, is located 17 information panels. If there are not icy or completely snow-covered, explain the tourists everything about the natural beauty of this area. Total elevation routes reaches 290 meters of altitude. On the first two thirds of our journey we could see except cognitive pavement markings also green tourism. The relatively steep path, we climbed into the sparsely wooded slope. Along the way we had to overcome the first rock crevices, erosion notches and wooden stairs. The first break and a cup of tea from a thermos, we put the rock in the middle of town, where we opened a beautiful view of the surroundings. In addition to admiring the rock towers called organ, there is a vision and 13 m high Gothic gate. It is one of the most famous natural openings in the rock, which resembles a cranked Gothic window. We continued our tour really steep climb. The way we increasingly difficult snow and impaired orientation, because some brands we hid under the ice. In this section there are security reasons, equipment installed for tourists in the form of iron handles and ladders. But because they are under a layer of snow, our journey has become quite a nice adrenaline adventure. Safety was in the first place, so we walked slowly, carefully and constantly, we were careful to not miss the tourist path. Our reward for trying out, sometimes we walked in the snow, buried up to mid-thigh, it was interesting ruins Súlov, which is the worst castle accessible nature. From this platform, where it is located and tourism links, we once again greeted interesting view of the surroundings. Now we have waited just down the road. The first section of the meadow below the castle was still a bit troublesome. It was necessary to climb a ladder, which we almost missed due to snow and then hairpin staircase, which had luckily railing to get to the meadow. Here we left the green marker and a nature trail, this time led in parallel by the red marked trail we descended into a pleasant stroll Súlovské gorge. We walked around the rock called Smrčok mushroom, the group of rocks, we tried to recognize the owl and the owl, when what we really succeeded in involving imagination. We didn’t finish our walk in the park, but the sloping path to the church we have jumped the village Súlov – Hradná.

The cottage we arrived tired, hungry, but satisfied. Homemade soup prepared us to be happy, then we rested an hour in bed and the second part of the dinner we gave up after a good rest. I must admit that brynza halušky (Slovak traditional food) tasted like from mother. In the common room had darts, but because my exact bead is not at all accurate, the pool seemed safer and so we only played one. In the evening the weather worsened considerably, and we into the night with a glass of debating how to ride on snow and whether the morning when we left and use snow chains.

Text and photo: O. Maňáková