| alyas29. 04. 2021 13:29:18 |
Litija – through Širmanski hrib – around Kampl's hill - Veliki vrh – Podšentjur – Litija
Difficult (4/5), short (25 km), shady and remote forest tour for mountain bike.
Litija is the starting point for many cycling routes, but most are more or less known to road cyclists (e.g. to Vače/Geoss, Zasavska gora, Vel.Presko/Polšnik, Bogenšperk, Trebeljevo, Štanga and Janče), so the described tour is suitable for a good mountain bike and for those with lots of breath and stamina (or e-drive).
We start on the right bank of Sava, at the western end of old Litija - Valvazor square, opposite the pharmacy and old Plečnik's NOB monument in the direction towards Podšentjur (otherwise on the well-known road cycling route along Sava between Litija and Ljubljana), but soon after about 1.5 km from Litija before Podšentjur village we turn left for Veliki vrh. After a short valley where there are some houses on the right, the main asphalt road turns right uphill to Veliki vrh, we go straight into the narrow valley on a smaller road where along the stream from the left lie some smaller houses or cottages, and when they end, asphalt also ends, the road becomes gravel. Then for some time we ride slightly uphill along the valley, also at the only bigger junction - follow the main road along the stream left (right direction has a ramp). Further on the gradient increases a bit, steepness rises sharply after the next fork when we take the right road to Širmanski hrib, where signs accompany us on trees by the road for a while: "black falcon on yellow circle field".
When we ride out of the forest, we reach an old farm on a nice spot on top of the ridge and where for uninvited and too curious stranger amid farm life, a mega big white goose is more dangerous than the farm dog, there we join the marked hiking trail (Litija – Janče) and for a short time also markings/small hayracks to Kamplovo deželo towards Štanga.
After a short flat and past the second house, forest paths rise steeply again, follow Knafelčev red-white circles with blue line below added, symbol for TKK and so on and more or less hard uphill through Krivčev Laz all the way to the foot of Kampl's hill. I decide to bypass it (to the top bike needs carrying or pushing), so continue towards Janče or Mala Štanga. When we ride out of forest after short descent to larger local road, before Male Štange hamlet turn towards Golišče and in next two junctions continue right, left road offshoots lead to valley to Jevnica. Forest road to Golišče is gravelled and newly reinforced this year, ride to Golišče very comfortable, some bends can be shortened by shortcuts and footpaths through forest.
In upper part of Golišče then turn right towards Kresniški vrh (left to Jevnica), but before first house for Kresniški vrh, at bend by church sign choose smaller forest road downhill to Veliki vrh, not specially marked at main road. Follows nice descent past last houses in Golišče to water intake, from there forest road worse and more solitary until Veliki vrh to two houses – at village end with great view down to valley and Litija.
Follows good km asphalt and watch - when local road through village drops most steeply (just above chapel and small firehouse), turn LEFT to forest road to Podšentjur (downhill turn hard to spot if not careful!), then nice quite demanding cycling on tracks mid-hill, bit "up-down" but mostly "down", hardly meet anyone but some 4x4, so on bends don't forget possible encounter esp. narrow road. End of descent to larger scenic cultivated plain and farm, main road past farm straight down to Podšentjur, or before farm left into forest then through forest to Sp.kresniški vrh – to last house at railway crossing.
This forest path in wet lower part can be quite tricky (water flows over it), don't recommend then, if started in Litija better first option to valley at junction opposite church in Podšentjur. From here to Litija back just bit flat.
Note: If miss forest road turn in Veliki vrh to Podšentjur, continue main road, brings to valley and Litija too, but loop smaller and easier.
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