DESTINATIONS
Cerkno Region
GALLERY
ROUTES
Following the sound of the oldest musical instrument
LENGTH
27 km
Ascent
920 m
Descent
920 m
paved
61 %
unpaved
39 %
TRAIL TYPE
local
DIFFICULTY
difficult
ACTIVITY
mountain biking
Description
Straža – Stopnik – Šebrelje – Jagršče – Straža
This diverse route passing the site where the oldest musical instrument on Earth has been found starts in Straža and takes you along the main road towards Tolmin. From the crossroads in Straža, the road leads you 8 km down the picturesque valley of the Idrijca. In Stopnik turn left across the bridge and drive up the 4 km long and winding steep slope until you reach the village Šebrelje, embraced by mighty forests on the rolling plateau. Those wanting to enjoy the magnificent views of the area, turn left towards the Dolenja vas (Lower village), drive past the shop and the sports field, along the houses and follow the signs for the Church of St. John. There you can enjoy at the beneficent spot with a view of the Idrijca deep below, of the diverse area around you all the way to the rocky mountains near Bohinj or walk down the slope to the archeological site Divje Babe.
Take the same route back to the village centre, where you continue towards the village Jagršče. Keep on right along the paved road enriched by the lovely panorama of the nearby hills. Pass the Kurji vrh and all the way to the hunting hut at Lasce where a rest at the view-point to see the wilderness of the gorges descending towards the Idrijca Valley will reward you with the stunning images.
The road then turns into macadam (gravel), so keep left up the slope. At the junction in the forest, you have two options – the right turning leads towards the village Krnice past the Šebreljski vrh, the highest viewpoint of the plateau, offering an amazing view of the Kobariški stol, the Krn and the Črna prst, the Porezen, the Grintovec and the Kočna mountains. The left turning leads towards Jagršče, so you can follow the circular tour trail.
It continues with a 1.5 km long adrenaline descend past the uniquely positioned Pr Jerebu farmhouse. From there it takes you about 2 km along a fairly flat road till the farm Pr Močniku where you again take the turning towards Jagršče.The road first takes you down the slope through the forest and then back up the other slope past some holiday houses till the first and then soon the second chapels, dedicated to the victims of the WWII national liberation struggle. There you can take another break and walk from the chapel through the forest to the out-look at the edge of a precipice.
The path leads you on, past the picturesque Jagršče and 5 km down the winding road till you reach the main road Idrija – Tolmin. Turn left there and drive back some 100 m further to the starting point at the crossroads in Straža.
Through Natura 2000
LENGTH
16 km
Ascent
490 m
Descent
490 m
paved
93 %
unpaved
7 %
TRAIL TYPE
local
DIFFICULTY
medium
ACTIVITY
gravel
Description
Cerkno – Trebenče – Gorje – Zakriž – Ravne – Čelo – Cerkno
A circular trail takes you on the sunny slopes offering sunny slopes offering marvellous views, through Natura 2000 areas and through interesting villages with locally distinctive homesteads of the Idrija-Cerkno building type.
From the square Glavni trg in Cerkno, turn left towards Idrija and then turn right at the first crossroads in the centre (direction Poče). If you want to take the less difficult trail, pass the blocks of flats and the massive stone wall of Eta factory, through the hamlet Mostanija and up the slope towards Trebenče under the Church of St. Judoc, on the top of a quarry, pass the village Laznica, and you will reach a crossroads where you turn left towards Gorje and Zakriž. After two kilometres of flat road you will reach the Na Čičneh junction where you can either turn left and cycle through the village and back down the steep road to the starting point or continue right, pass the village till Vrh Križa junction where you turn left for Ravne.
You will reach the village after two kilometres, stay on the main road and down towards the hamlet Dolenje Ravne. After one kilometre, before the hamlet, make a sharp turning to the left past the bench onto the macadam. Pass the farmhouse, cross the brook at the old mill and immediately choose the upper left road that takes you to the junction at Gastabil archaeological area. Following a short descent, 200 m later on, turn left on the upper path that will lead you up the slope to a lone farm and from there you just have a 3.5 km long descent to Cerkno. The hairpin bends first bring you to an intersection where you take the path to the right and then soon reach the paved road that brings you to the main road at the graveyard in Cerkno. Turn left there and return back to the starting point in the centre.
Along the copper route
LENGTH
19 km
Ascent
540 m
Descent
540 m
paved
78 %
unpaved
22 %
TRAIL TYPE
local
DIFFICULTY
medium
ACTIVITY
gravel
Description
Cerkno – Novaki – Škofje – Planina pri Cerknem – Cerkno
This circular route takes you through the village Novake with a rich past and architectural heritage of the Cerkno building type and along a pleasant path across the slope Škofje, which used to be a copper ore deposit.
From the square Glavni trg in Cerkno go in the direction of Novaki and the Cerkno Ski Centre. The paved road, with a 4-km section of fairly flat road, which is very popular among recreational sportspeople, will take you past the signs for the Franja Partisan Hospital to the village Dolenji Novaki.
Climb up the road through the village for about 1.5 km and turn right towards Kopačnica on the sharp left turn you get to. Pass the holiday apartment and to the right, across the small bridge and up the paved road towards the forest. Cycle through a pleasantly cool forest and, after crossing the third little bridge about 1.5 km further, take the macadam that leads right, past an old and mossy stone wall. On the right you will be awarded with a view of Novaki and the precipice of the Mali and the Veliki Njivč Hills above the Pasice Gorge where the Franja Partisan Hospital is hidden.
Continue along the pleasant rolling path on the slopes of the Škofje and soon reach a junction, where the path towards the Ermanovec is the choice, so keep left and follow the markings. Enjoy the ever wider views of the vicinity – the villages Novaki, Poljane, Labinje come out first, until you get out of the forest to the meadows and treat yourself to a short break on the bench under the linden tree. From there you will be awarded with an amazing view of Cerkno and the surrounding hills and villages.
Straight in front you will see the Mt. Porezen, to the left the domed Kojca, lower down the valley you will notice the Šebrelje Plateau above the site Divje babe and the horizon is lined by the Alps.
After the break keep on pedaling, pass the holiday houses and the meadow till the paved road where you have to keep right and drive down the slope till you reach the main road Cerkno-Škofja Loka. Here you can either turn right and drive down towards Cerkno lying in the valley or turn left, climb up till Kladje and continue along the main route towards the region of Idrija (look at the description of the main route 1).