Predmeja (tunnels) - Kucelj (on Čaven) (Srednječavenska pot)

Access to starting point:
From the highway Razdrto - Nova Gorica we take the exit Ajdovščina and follow the road ahead towards the village Lokavec (to Lokavec we come from the center of Ajdovščina, or from the old road Ajdovščina - Nova Gorica, where at the settlement Cesta we turn right). From Lokavec we continue driving on the ascending winding road in the direction of Predmeja. We follow the mentioned road to the mountain signposts for Čaven, Veliki rob and Kucelj (signposts are located between the quarry and tunnels, road sign approx. 10 km). We park a few tens of meters lower on a parking lot by the road.
To the starting point we can also come from Godovič, over Črni vrh and Col to Predmeja. In this case from Predmeja we descend towards Ajdovščina and then soon after the third tunnel we park.

Path description:
From the parking lot we first walk to the signposts, then head onto the Srednječavenska pot. The path, which goes straight into the forest, first ascends moderately, then continues crossing the slopes towards the south. Wide and well-made mountain path, soon passes onto steep slopes (danger of falling rocks) and gradually turns more and more to the right. A little further, beautiful views open up from the path on Nanos and Vipava valley, and the path gradually transitions into rockier terrain. A bit further ahead the path again enters dense forest, where it begins to descend gently. After a short gentle descent we reach a junction, where we continue straight (left down to Lokavec, right up to the Koča na Čavnu hut) along the path which, although it runs at about 900 m altitude, takes on the appearance of a true high mountain path. The path from mostly pine forest brings us to scree, from which a nice view opens onto the valley, and on the right side we see steep rocky cliffs. At the end of the scree the path enters the ridge of the eastern forepeak of Mala gora, where with the aid of a steel cable we cross a wide and partly exposed ledge. At the end of the ledge a nice view opens onto the Slano blato landslide above Lokavec, and we continue along the Srednječavenska pot, which turns even more to the right, where it begins to descend gently through a belt of scrub. After a short descent the path levels out, and beside it we notice a large rocky spur and next to it a pleasant bench for a short or longer rest. The path, continuing through the forest, soon brings us to the next junction.
This time we continue right towards Mala gora and Čaven (left down to Stomaž, straight ahead the Srednječavenska pot continues) along the path, which begins to ascend more steeply. After a few minutes of steep ascent the gradient eases and the path brings us onto the unvegetated grassy slopes of Mala gora, where we also reach the next junction. Here we continue left (straight up to Koča na Čavnu) along the path, which mostly traverses the slopes to the west. After about 10 minutes of walking from the junction the path descends and brings us in a few steps to the Koča na Mali gori hut.
From the Koča na Mali gori hut we continue towards Kucelj and Čaven. A few steps further a cart track joins from the left, coming from the nearby hunting hut. We continue ahead along the cart track, from which soon a path branches right to the Koča na Čavnu hut.
Here we continue straight along the cart track, which then brings us to the path from the Koča na Čavnu hut towards Kucelj. Here we continue left along the path which first runs almost horizontally, then begins to ascend. This path soon leads us out of the forest, where we already see Kucelj ahead. Only a further 10 minutes of ascent follows on the panoramic summit slope of the mountain.

On the way: Mala gora (1034m)

Trip can be extended to: Veliki Rob (1 h)