Komare doline - Orlovo gnezdo (Veli Badin)

Access to starting point:
From the Ljubljana - Koper highway, take the Črni Kal exit. From Črni Kal, continue driving on the old road towards the coast, but drive along it only to the next somewhat larger junction, where we turn left towards the Sočerga border crossing. On the mentioned road, we drive past the place Kubed to the village Gračišče, where at the junction we turn left in the direction of Rakitovec, Movraž and Smokvica. From Gračišče we drive approximately another 1 km, then we arrive at a smaller junction, where we continue right onto the side asphalt road. On the mentioned road we drive another 50 m, then on the left side we notice a suitable parking space and next to it the hiking signs for the church of St. Kvirik.

Path description:
The described old path is closed in its final section for some time due to the nesting of rare bird species. The new path in the final section runs somewhat more to the left and is not technically demanding.
From the starting point, head onto the forest road towards the natural bridge, bunker and St. Kvirik. The road first ascends gently through a pine grove and bushes, then ascends somewhat more steeply and leads us for some time over partly panoramic slopes, from which a beautiful view opens towards Lačna and Gračišče. Higher, the path brings us into the more level terrain named Vela griža. Here the path, or road, levels out completely and then continues with some shorter ascents and descents above the village Lukini. Somewhat further, we bypass the summit Gradec (413 m) on the right side, and the gentle and occasionally quite panoramic path quickly brings us to the church of St. Kvirik above Sočerga.
From the chapel of St. Kvirik, continue on the marked path towards the bunker and natural bridge. The path initially follows a gentle, partly grassy cart track, along which we walk to the nearby RTV repeaters in a few minutes.
From the repeaters, the path begins to descend gradually, leading us partly over panoramic slopes, partly along and beside the occasionally precipitous ridge (the path is always kept back from the precipices). After a few minutes, we reach a small junction, where a 50 m long path to the nearby bunker (small natural window) branches off to the right, while we continue straight on the path, which, except for a few shorter ascents, mostly descends gently to moderately. Lower, we cross a strip of forest, and the path brings us to the edge of the ridge. Here the path continues to descend slightly, crossing some slightly exposed spots. The path then levels out and brings us to the precipitous viewpoint Orlovo gnezdo.
From Orlovo gnezdo, continue on the secured mountain path, which first descends to the nearby gully with the aid of a cable, then with the aid of staples. During the descent through the gully, a few more safety devices assist us, after which the path levels out and turns sharply to the left. A short traverse follows, then the path brings us to the mighty rock shelters of Veli Badin. From the rock shelters, continue in the same direction, but a little further notice the signs for the natural bridge, which direct us left. We quickly reach the mentioned bridge, continue under the arch, and then ascend back to Orlovo gnezdo along an unmarked but clearly visible path.

On the way: Sveti Kvirik (408m), Bunker (390m)