Dolenji Novaki - Medrce

Access to starting point:
A) First, we drive to Cerkno (to here from the Idrija–Most na Soči road or over the Kladje pass), then we continue driving in the direction of the Cerkno ski area. Further on, we drive past the Gačnik inn (Gostilna v Logu), after which signs for Franja Hospital soon direct us left onto a somewhat narrower and ascending asphalt road, which we then follow to the parking lot by Bar Pasice.
B) From Poljanska Valley we drive to Hotavlje, then we follow the signs for Cerkno ski area. We follow the signs for Cerkno ski area only to Kopačnica, where from the intersection—where the road continues right towards the ski area and Leskovica—we continue straight ahead onto the road that continues along Podplečica Stream. At Joškovec homestead, where the next confluence is, we continue right, then on the partly macadam road we begin to ascend more steeply. At Mrovlje homestead the road swings to the Primorska side; after a short descent we join the main road leading from Cerkno towards the Cerkno ski area. We follow the road left downhill, but when we notice the signs for Franja Hospital, we continue right and ascend on the somewhat narrower road to the parking lot by Bar Pasice.
C) From Selška Valley we ascend to Davča, then we follow the signs for Cerkno ski area and later the signs for Cerkno. When we have already descended to the Primorska side, at the end of Dolenji Novaki settlement we turn right towards Franja Hospital. A short ascent follows and we arrive at Bar Pasice, where we park.

Path description:
From the starting point by Bar Pasice we continue in the direction of Porezen and initially walk on the path that also leads towards Franja Hospital. After a few tens of meters of walking, the path towards Pasica Gorge turns slightly right, and we continue left and along the road walk to Podnjivč homestead, where the path leads among the houses. Behind the homestead, over the footbridge we cross a stream, then we continue on a wide cart track, which at the junctions we follow in the direction of the blazes. Next follows the crossing of hill Drnova (1004 m), where the path leads with some shorter ascents and descents. When we arrive at the southwest slopes, the path descends somewhat more and brings us to the village of Poljane, where there is a marked junction.
From the junction we continue right towards Porezen (straight to Cerkno and Labinje), where we first ascend across a hay meadow, then the path enters the forest through which it begins to ascend more steeply. Initially we ascend near the scenic Trševka Stream, then the path moves somewhat away from the stream. Higher up we cross a few more cart tracks and a forest road; at 960 meters altitude we reach a marked junction, where paths from Cerkno and one from Poče join us.
We continue straight across the road onto the Labinjske lehe meadows, from where a nice view opens onto Cerkljansko, extending all the way to Krim, Snežnik and Trnovski Gozd.
On the upper part of the meadow the path turns slightly left and passes onto the slopes named Počanska gora. A gentle to moderate traverse ascent to the left follows, and we walk on a well-maintained path that on a short steep section is also well protected and in dry conditions undemanding.
After the protected section the path splits, and we continue on the lower path (right is the winter route), which continues to ascend diagonally. Later the slope becomes steeper, and the path with the aid of log steps steeply ascends for a stretch. The path quickly levels out and we reach the Hom ridge, where the path from Cerkno ski area joins from the right.
We continue in the direction of Porezen and quickly descend to Velbnik saddle, where on the left we notice the hunting hut on Šaš.
From Velbnik saddle, where a forest road leading to Dom na Poreznu hut approaches quite closely, we ascend through a narrow belt of forest, then at the crossing of the pasture fence the path splits.
We continue on the ascending path (the left path bypasses Medrce summit and is unmarked); along it in 10 minutes we ascend to the panoramic Medrce summit, from where a nice view opens onto Porezen.
Bar Pasice - Poljane 0:35, Poljane - Labinjske lehe 1:15, Labinjske lehe - Velbnik 1:15, Velbnik - Medrce 0:10.
Description and pictures refer to the condition in 2018 (October).

On the way: Bar Pasice (494m), Poljane (503m), Labinjske lehe (960m), Velbnik (1331m)

Trip can be extended to: Dom na Poreznu ( 50 min) , Porezen ( 45 min)