On 19th and 24th January 2015 I set off from Solkan to Škabrijel, Sv. Gora and Vodice. I started walking at OŠ Solkan. I got to the starting point by city bus. If by car, I would go to Škabrijel past the church in Solkan and park at the parking lot at the end of Solkan.
First time there was some sun, no views. Second time almost all day cloudy (only on Vodice the sun peeked out briefly), but the Julian Alps and Dolomites could be seen nicely all the way to the sea.
The path is not too strenuous. Some effort only on the ascent to Sv. Gora through a longer cavern, which we can skip and go to the top on the normal path. Path to Škabrijel (1.5 hrs) well marked. To Preval (0.5 hrs) no mistake possible. Several paths to Sv. Gora (1 hr). Trench path marked with hiking marks, normal path with blue marks. From Sv. Gora to Vodice (45 min) guided by Path of Peace marks. A few steps from the junction an unmarked trail branches off, continuing as a mule track, which in a straight line with one bend takes us to Vodice summit.
Worth taking time to see the mausoleum, nearby monument, cavern and walk along the shooting trenches.
From Vodice I went back the same path to the junction (20 min) and continued on the road towards Plave. After 5 minutes I turned left onto the mule track path to Preval. After 15 minutes of further walking I reached the spring. The mule track continues to the bend below Preval (30 min), where it joins the Solkan-Lokve road. From the bend to Solkan 2.5 km on the road, to the inn at Preval 800 m and 1 km to the junction at Preval for Škabrijel.
Walking on the road is very dangerous, so it is better to go to Solkan on the little path to which the marks direct us a few steps from the spring. The path is poorly visible and easily confused with game tracks. Faded marks are scattered quite frequently and worth following carefully, as the path during descent changes direction several times, mostly to the left, finally to the right and then straight down to the mule track crossing the slopes a bit above the Solkan-Plave road. From the spring to the mule track approx. 15 min. The mule track is well passable and gently descending crosses the slopes below Sv. Gora all the way to the former lower station of the cable car, now a restaurant (45 min). Under the cable car I crossed the road at the Solkan HE dam and after a few meters crossed back to the other side and continued to the sports center Žogica (5 min). From there on the footpath past the Solkan bridge and cemetery to the parking at the end of Solkan (10 min).
Total moderate walking 5.5 to 6 hrs. With stops and sightseeing at Vodice I needed under 7.5 hrs. Initially I also planned Sabotin, but lack of inspiration deterred me from continuing. Otherwise the ascent to Sabotin from Solkan is a separate story, as we start walking from the lowest starting point. Quickly it can be done in 2-3 hrs (both directions), but the hill is so beautiful that it is worth taking time for a separate hike. I go to Sabotin quite often, so this time the ascent with lack of colors would be just a challenge after a full day walk.
On the ascent to Škabrijel, Sv. Gora and Vodice we gain approx. 1,000 m elevation (without intermediate descents), on Sabotin an additional 500 m.
The path is long enough and mostly easy, so thoughts easily drift away to the heights. So that we are not carried too high, the Sveta Gora bells take care, every 15 min mercilessly cutting time and with muffled ringing reminding us of our last hour. Eerie.