Lokvica - Trstelj

Access to starting point:
On the highway through the Vipava Valley we drive to the border crossing Vrtojba, then in the larger roundabout, which is located on the Italian side of the border, we continue towards the village Miren (to the village Miren we can also come if we drive on the regional road from Šempeter pri Gorici towards Dornberk. In this case in Volčja Draga we continue right or left, if we came from Dornberk. From the village Miren we continue driving towards the village Opatje Selo. After a few hairpin turns signs for Cerje point us to the left on a macadam road which we then follow to the parking lot, that is located only a few minutes below the monument Veliko Cerje.

Path description:
From the parking lot, we continue on the macadam road closed to traffic, on which in 5 minutes of walking we ascend to the monument Veliko Cerje.
From the monument we continue right on at first a wide path in the direction of Fajti hrib. The path ahead at first slightly descends, then gently ascends over gentle and at first also quite scenic slopes. The path then passes into a mostly pine forest, where we continue with some shorter ascents and descents. After a time we cross a forest road, then we continue the ascent on a narrower and in several parts surrounded by thorns mountain path. Higher the forest thins out and a moderately steep path brings us to Fajti hrib, on which there is a smaller information board in memory of the First World War.
From Fajti hrib we descend through young pine forest (here we still have nice views) to a saddle between the already mentioned peak and Veliki vrh. On the saddle we cross a wide cart track, then we start ascending to the 463 m high Veliki vrh, which we reach after approximately 20 minutes of ascent through the forest and bushes.
From Veliki vrh follows approximately 100 elevation meters long descent, which ends on the next cart track. We continue on a marked path, which past a decaying bench leads into a dense forest, where it starts moderately ascending. After approximately 15 minutes of ascent we step on Renški vrh 449 m.
Next follows a relatively gentle descent on the path which quickly brings us to an asphalt road which we only cross. We continue the ascent in the direction of "Trstelj po vrhovih" on a quite overgrown mountain path, which after approximately 20 minutes of ascent brings us to the forested peak of Vrtovka.
From Vrtovka we continue on a path that gently descends towards the east. Already after a few minutes of descent the path brings us to a macadam road which we follow a few minutes, then blazes direct us to the right on a footpath which gradually starts to ascend more steeply. Higher the path levels out and past caverns brings us to Lešenjak.
From the top we continue in the direction of Trstelj on the path which starts descending towards the east. After a few minutes we cross a power line, then we join a poor macadam road. We follow the road a few minutes, then blazes direct us to the left on a relatively steep footpath, on which in a few minutes we ascend to Stolovec.
From Stolovec the path in a few minutes of descent brings us to a poor forest road, on which we continue approximately 15 minutes, then signs for Trstelj direct us on an ascending footpath. A moderately steep path then quickly brings us to the forepeak of Stol, which we recognize by a larger cairn, and we continue on the marked path, which for a short time descends, then in a gentle ascent brings us to the top of Stol.
From Stol we descend to a smaller saddle, where there are a bench and small cross, then on a moderately steep path in a few minutes we ascend to panoramic Trstelj.

On the way: Veliko Cerje (343m), Fajti hrib (433m), Veliki vrh (Črni hribi) (463m), Renški vrh (449m), Vrtovka (502m), Lešenjak (552m), Stolovec (563m), Stol (Črni hribi) (629m)

Trip can be extended to: Stjenkova koča on Trstelj ( 5 min)