I had been planning the trio trip for at least a month, thus waking up to a drizzling grey morning on the day I set the date for, I was not the one to be deterred. I packed a sandwich, a bottle of water, hot tea, and a camera, and set off for Gaberje, a small village on the way to Polhov Gradec with the trailhead towards my first goal, Katarina in the Polhov Gradec Hill Range. If you’re taking a bus, take the route 51, Ljubljana – Dobrova – Polhov Gradec (More information on city buses).
Hiking trio close to Ljubljana: Katarina, St. Jakob, Grmada
by Jerneja Fidler Pompe
If you are visiting Ljubljana, here are some of the most popular hiking destinations for a quick stretch of legs near our city, which you can do separately, or combined in an enchanting half-day tour like me the other day.
First, Katarina
The trail started as a gravel road where instead of cars I met an equally surprised Alpine ibex. If the elegant beasts usually don’t mind our presence in the mountains and even allow us to approach them as close as 20-30 metres, this almost-city fellow fled immediately upon our eye contact. Can’t say I blame the poor guy; walking alone, I too felt the urge to run as soon as I saw strange eyes looking at me from the forest. Nevertheless, the sight of a furry friend fitted nicely in the setting, the trail being a combination of solitude, peace and quiet in a thinly populated landscape.
If truth be told, once in a village called Topol with its famous St. Katherine Church from the 17th century, not a lot of visitors actually know that the barely visible trail continues even further up to a true peak of Katarina at about 770m and doesn’t end by the church. At the top, you can sit on a lonely bench and get lost in a curvy landscape, ending slowly somewhere behind the white mountains in the north.
Stats so far? A little over an hour, about 4km and 410m of elevation gain for the Katarina peak.
Second, St. Jakob
If you are to follow my lead and continue going on to the next rolling hill in line, the white church on an enchanting small hilltop named St. Jakob will be your next stop. But no worries as the trail will not take more than half an hour and 1.5km of an easy walk up and down and up again.
On a clear day, considering the small effort to arrive there, the views from both Katarina and St. Jakob peaks are indescribably rewarding, letting one see as far as Triglav in the north-west with the rest of the Alps extending across the horizon.
Third, Polhograjska Grmada
After a home-made sandwich and hot tea at the top of St. Jakob, I was excited to be off for my last goal of the day, Polhograjska Grmada or one of the highest peaks in the Polhov Gradec Hill Range. Stats ahead? A little over 5km, 280m of elevation and 1.15 hours one way. The best part? I could have gone on and on easily to yet another rolling hill ahead, and I whole-heartedly encourage you to do so; if you’re taking a bus, you can easily descend directly to Polhov Gradec and take a bus back to Ljubljana from there.
Finally, lunch back in Topol
Anyway, my stomach had been getting impatient by the minute, therefore I didn’t dally much at the top of Grmada. It was a sort of trail-running end of my trip, pushing it to a laudable pace as my mouth watered excessively by a mere thought of the best restaurant in Topol (just under the Katarina peak), Gostilna Dobnikar, and their tasty traditional dishes. All I can say is that was a perfect ending to a perfect trip. To many more of the kind!
Overall stats for the Katarina, St. Jakob and Polhograjska Grmada hiking trip? 18.5km, 751 elevation gain and loss, and 5 hours. Is it worth it? Definitely!
Jerneja Fidler Pompe
An adventurer, a dreamer, an explorer. A real mountain enthusiast. A blogger.
More about Jerneja Fidler PompeRelated stories
-
Skiing, sledding and hiking in the winter idyll on Krvavec
It happens that the second largest ski centre in Slovenia is really close to Ljubljana. Just 25 km away either by car or a direct bus from Ljubljana. Yet, it’s not just the vicinity that places Krvavec as Ljubljana’s top choice, but also its unique position on the brink of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, 30 km of ski runs, a snow park, night sledding, and, finally, stunning hiking trails.
-
Welcome to a unique Alpine pasture near Ljubljana: Velika Planina
Vast plains underneath a playground of jagged peaks, slow paths, unique oval huts for shepherds, friendly people and good food. Velika Planina, arguably the biggest and oldest shepherds’ settlement in Europe that remains active up to date, is a hiking paradise for families, photographers, and those who seek a relaxing day out in unspoilt nature.
-
Summer in the city: how to stay cool in Ljubljana?
What to do in Ljubljana when the weather is very hot? Even though most of the city's main sights are outdoors, there are quite a few options available to enjoy our city while staying cool.
-
A walk on the wild side in the Ljubljana Marshes
Up among the bush, just a few kilometers south of Ljubljana, binoculars in one hand and a camera in the other, I’m mesmerized by a beautiful sight; a herd of roe deer munching their way through rusty-colored plains. I’d planned spending a few hours exploring the Ljubljana Marshes, wetlands greatly diverse in wildlife, and ended doing a 17-km circle and returning there over the next few days. To say the least, the Ljubljana Marshes themselves were a treat and are easily my favorite place for a relaxing adventure near the capital.
