Skalnica - Frančiškov hrib (path through trenches)

Access to starting point:
A) We drive to Nova Gorica, then continue driving towards Tolmin and Kobarid. We follow the main road towards Tolmin only to Solkan, where at the traffic-light intersection we continue right in the direction of Sveta Gora and Grgar. The ascending road then leads past the Solkan quarry, then a little higher it turns sharply to the right and brings us to the Skalnica inn, behind which we continue slightly left in the direction of Sveta Gora. Further on, we drive on a narrower asphalt road, alongside which we park in a suitable place by the road (best still before the first cross, which we will notice on the left side of the road).
B) From Tolmin or Most na Soči we drive on the main road towards Nova Gorica, then only a little before Nova Gorica, more precisely at the traffic-light intersection in Solkan, we turn left in the direction of Sveta Gora and Grgar. The ascending road then leads past the Solkan quarry, then a little higher it turns sharply to the right and brings us to the Skalnica inn, behind which we continue slightly left in the direction of Sveta Gora. Further on, we drive on a narrower asphalt road, alongside which we park in a suitable place by the road (best still before the first cross, which we will notice on the left side of the road).
C) From Goriška Brda we drive to Solkan, where at the first intersection after the new Solkan bridge we continue straight in the direction of Sveta Gora. The ascending road then leads past the Solkan quarry, then a little higher it turns sharply to the right and brings us to the Skalnica inn, behind which we continue slightly left in the direction of Sveta Gora. Further on, we drive on a narrower asphalt road, alongside which we park in a suitable place by the road (best still before the first cross, which we will notice on the left side of the road).

Path description:
From the spot where we have parked, we first walk to the first cross, from there we continue slightly left on the marked footpath that leads to Sveta Gora. After about 50 meters from the cross we will arrive at a smaller junction, where we continue right on the path through the ditches (straight to Sveta Gora - easy path).
The path through the ditches splits again just a few meters further on, and we continue right into the cavern (slightly left path that bypasses the first and second cavern). Further on, a headlamp will be useful, and due to the low ceiling in places and the danger of falling rocks, a helmet as well. On the other side of the first cavern, the path turns slightly to the left and ascends moderately through the forest. Higher up we arrive at the second cavern, which is relatively short. When we exit it we return to the path that bypassed the first two caverns and which is a few minutes shorter.
Further on the path becomes steeper, it leads along and beside the former military trenches. Slightly higher we arrive at a nice viewpoint, which is only a few steps from the path (from the viewpoint a nice view opens up of both Solkan bridges, Nova Gorica and Sabotin). Above the viewpoint the path flattens, then it comes very close to the asphalt road that leads to Sveta Gora.
At the place where we come very close to the road, we will notice the entrance to the third 260-meter-long cavern. Here we put on the helmet and lamp again and descend into the cavern, which is also indicated by the mark above its entrance. The path through the cavern is initially quite slippery and relatively steep, since besides the thick steel cable, pegs assist us at several places. Higher up the path or cavern flattens, and all the safety gear ends as well. A few more minutes of walking follow and the path brings us out of the cavern, where we join the path from Grgar.
Here we continue right and continue the ascent on the path that ascends transversely through the forest. Further on the path leads us past a few smaller caverns, then temporarily ascends somewhat more steeply and brings us to Frančiškov hrib, from which a nice view opens up.

Trip can be extended to: Vodice ( 55 min) , Sveta Gora ( 10 min)