WALKING HOLIDAYS IN SLOVENIA
Sitting at the crossroads between Italy and Croatia, Slovenia is an under-the-radar stunner that’s got good looks and charm in equal measure. From the glittering shores of Lake Bled to the lofty peaks of the Julian Alps, our Slovenia walking holidays take you through a beautiful landscape big on natural treasure.
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Discover Lake Bled
Lake Bled is Slovenia’s crowd-pleaser. Though it’s less than a mile wide, what it lacks in size it makes up for in scenery. Draped in forested mountains, Bled’s still-as-a-millpond waters are punctuated only by the 171ft church spire of the tiny namesake isle at its centre. With a strollable two-hour route around the shoreline, there are photo-worthy views to be had from almost any angle.
While it’s Mother Nature’s handiwork that gets all the praise here, manmade wonders like Bled Castle only add to Lake Bled’s attractiveness. Crowning a 100-metre-high cliff-face above the lake, this 11th century medieval fortress looks lifted straight from the pages of a fairytale. Gaze out from atop the ramparts or browse the museum to find out the role it played in Slovenia’s past. And if you fancy stretching your legs to get there, you’ve got a trio of trails to choose from, each of varying difficulty.
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Awe-inspiring walking routes
The showpiece of any Slovenia walking holiday is Triglav National Park. And the scenic rewards are huge – not least those to be found in Vintgar Gorge. Almost a mile’s worth of wooden walkways crisscross the Radovna River and snake around waterfall-splashed pools that come in every shade of green and blue. The headline-grabber is the 16m-high Šum Waterfall.
Equally standout are the hiking opportunities in the Julian Alps. Walk through the alpine meadows of the Krma Valley and into the high forests west of Lake Bled and you’ll reach Debela Peč – arguably Triglav National Park’s best vantage point. Elsewhere, you can take a cable car to the upper reaches of Mount Vogel and cap a seven-mile trail to the summit with views over the snowy 2,864-metre peak of Mount Triglav – Slovenia’s tallest mountain.
Visit Slovenia’s capital
No trip to Slovenia would be complete without a visit to the nation’s compact capital, Ljubljana. Having restricted traffic through the city centre in favour of green spaces and cycling routes, it’s earned a reputation as being one of Europe’s most eco-friendly and liveable cities. Walk along the banks of the Ljubljanica River, drop in at a waterside café for a slice of Slovenian walnut cake, or ride the funicular railway to the spectacular Ljubljana Castle – it’s a city that’s easy to love.
