Dolina Sopote (Zagrad) - Sveta Marija (Ključevica)

Access to starting point:
We drive to Radeče, and then we follow the road by the stream Sopota upwards. Further, we drive through Njivice, Jagnjenica to the settlement Zagrad, where the described path begins at the hiking signposts. At the starting point, there aren't any parking spots.

Path description:
From the starting point, we head onto a side road with signs for Kum, Nebeška gora, and Čimerno, initially walking past individual houses. A little further, at a smaller crossroad, we turn slightly right, and then the road enters the forest, where we turn slightly right again. Further on, we ascend for quite some time along various poorer forest roads, following the blazes at crossroads or junctions. Higher up, the road forms a larger number of zig-zags, and from individual grassy areas, a beautiful view opens up of the surroundings and nearby hills. Eventually, the poorer road turns into a cart track that crosses onto steeper slopes, where we mostly ascend diagonally to the right. When the steepness eases, we leave the forest and reach the edge of a more plateau-like terrain, where the footpath disappears in a meadow. We continue through a small valley, reaching a small saddle in a few minutes, where a mountain signpost also stands. From here, a view opens up of the village Čimerno, which we reach via a cart track that leads us along a grazing fence. Upon reaching the settlement, we follow the blazes and signs for Kum and Nebeška gora at a few crossroads, quickly arriving at the church of the Holy Trinity, shortly after joining the path from Radeče.
We proceed along the asphalt road, which soon splits.
We continue on the asphalt road toward Kum (slightly left on a cart track to Nebeška gora) and gradually begin descending diagonally along the slopes of Nebeška gora, with Škratova dolina increasingly closer below us to the right. Further on, a short ascent follows, and at the homestead pr Kovačk, a path through Škratova dolina joins from the right.
We continue on the road, from which another path to Nebeška gora soon branches off to the left. When after a further shorter ascent we reach the crossroad of roads, we continue sharply right (straight - the old path which leads below the projecting roof of the nearby homestead) in the direction of Kum. From the crossroad, we few more minutes walk on the road, and then signs for Kum point us to the left on a footpath, on which we continue the ascent. Next follow few crossings, where we follow the blazes, and then we step on a macadam road which we follow to the left. After a short ascent, we on the road get to some sort of plain, where we continue right (left - Kum) in the direction of Sveta Marija and the parish house, which we bypass on the right side. From the parish house follows approximately 5 minutes of ascent on an easy to follow, but unmarked path.
Zagrad - Čimerno 1:40, Čimerno - Ključevica 0:55.
Description and pictures refer to the condition in March 2016 and June 2024.

On the way: Sveta Trojica (Čimerno) (825m)