Za koridorjem - Sabotin (on ridge)

Access to starting point:
From the direction Bovec-Tolmin we drive along Soška cesta towards Nova Gorica to the traffic-light intersection above the cemetery in Solkan. Here we turn right and drive across the bridge over the river Soča into Goriška Brda.

From other directions we drive to Nova Gorica and follow the signs Bovec-Tolmin. If we drive through Nova Gorica and Solkan, then at the end of Solkan we drive left across the bridge over the river Soča into Goriška Brda. If we drive past Nova Gorica we follow the signs for Bovec-Tolmin and via the Solkan bypass we reach the traffic-light intersection above the cemetery in Solkan. Here we turn left and then immediately right onto the bridge over the river Soča into Goriška Brda.

The road starts ascending right behind the bridge. After two large bends we drive past the parking lot on our left and 500 m higher on our right we notice stairs that lead to Sabotin via the southern path. Soon after the stairs we arrive in Italy, where the road flattens. After approximately 1 km of driving through the "corridor" through Italy, the road under the overpass starts descending. At the bend we slow down, because immediately when we drive under the next overpass we arrive in Slovenia. Here we must immediately turn left onto a smaller parking lot. On our right we see stairs that lead to Sabotin on the path Za koridorjem.

Route description:
On Sabotin there are numerous paths on the Slovenian and Italian side that intertwine with each other, so on this nice and extremely interesting hill we can hike according to current inspiration.

The path Za koridorjem is less visited than the south path, which is more popular with the majority. But it is more suitable for the ascent to Sabotin from spring onwards, when the temperatures on the south slopes quickly rise to suffocating heat. The path from the beginning is not as panoramic as the south path, but it is somewhat steeper than it.

On this path too we will need good footwear and on warmer days a lot of fluid, since Sabotin is not fatal due to its height, but due to the heat.
Sabotin is a hill of special energies that will charm you in all seasons. It is most beautiful in spring when it fully blooms and in late autumn when its slopes turn red with smoke tree. In winter the sun will nicely warm us on its south slopes, in summer it is too hot there even for vipers. The most suitable time to visit Sabotin is from September to May. Later only very early in the morning or by car. To the mountain hut and refreshment hut, which are in the premises of the former guardhouse right below the summit, an asphalt road from Goriška Brda leads you. In the refreshment hut there is a mini museum, and you can arrange a guided tour of the caverns, which are illuminated and arranged.

From the parking lot we cross the road and ascend the stairs. The path already from the beginning moderately ascends through a sparse forest, which on warmer days offers some shade.

When the path after a few bends flattens for the first time, we will notice a small path on our right. It leads us to the asphalt road on the Italian side, which leads from the village Šentmaver/San Mauro to the Italian guardhouse on Sabotin. We can approach the mentioned path higher up a few more times and use it on the return.

We continue the ascent on the usual path, which ascends on a slope supported by logs and brings us in a few minutes to a cavern with an interesting arched entrance, where we turn left. If we followed the small path to the right, we arrive in a couple of steps at the road from the village Šentmaver.

The path from the cavern still ascends and after five minutes brings us to a rocky bend, from where a nice view opens onto the river Soča, which winds towards the sea, and onto the ossuary-monument to the fallen in World War I at Oslavje/Oslavia (white round building in the Italian Brda/Collio).

After a further 15 minutes we arrive at a gravel path, where there is also a bench for a short rest. The gravel path leads from the nearby bend of the asphalt road that leads to Sabotin from Goriška Brda and after a few meters joins the road that leads on the Italian side from Šentmaver. If from the hut or refreshment hut on Sabotin we no longer feel like going to the ridge, then we descend along the road to this bend, where we join the path Za koridorjem. All who arrive at Sabotin by car can park at the bend and continue on foot along the path from this description. This way you will enjoy the most beautiful part of Sabotin without major efforts.

From the junction at the bench we turn right and after a couple of steps arrive at the road in Italy at the 5th bend/tornante. Along it we gently ascend to the next, 6th bend. A little before the 6th bend we will notice a marked path on our left, which steeply ascends to the Italian guardhouse and from there to the summit of Sabotin. We continue to the 6th bend, where we turn onto a cart track that branches off from the road on our right, and continue in a gentle ascent crossing the south slopes of Sabotin. Along the cart track we can continue to the ruins of the church of Sv. Valentina and from there continue along the ridge, along which the south path leads. From the bench to the church it is approximately 15 min, from the church to the summit of Sabotin another 20 min of moderate walking.

Instead of going to the church, we can a few minutes earlier turn onto a small path, which a cairn on our left side directs us to. The path moderately ascends through a pine thicket, further mostly gently ascending on karst scrub right below the ridge of Sabotin. From the bench to the branch-off onto the small path it is approximately 10 min, from there to the summit of Sabotin another 15 min of moderate walking.

Which of the paths to choose depends primarily on the weather. If the weather is nice and not windy, then we choose the path to the church and further along the scenic rocky ridge, along which the border between Slovenia and Italy runs, so that we can walk with each foot in one country. The path is very panoramic in nice weather. In front of us rise the Julian Alps, right below us the river Soča and above it Sveta Gora, on our left the view reaches all the way to the sea and to Goriška Brda and Italian Brda/Collio, Friulian plain and Dolomites in the background. Behind us rises the Trnovska planota, below it the view reaches along the Vipavska dolina to Nanos and Vremščica. In the valley below us are Nova and Stara Gorica, behind them Kras and the sea.

If it is very windy, then we choose the path below the ridge on the Italian side. From this path we have a view all the time on Brda and the river Soča, which winds to the sea, in clear weather the view reaches all the way to the Dolomites. The small path below the ridge is the exact opposite of the rocky path on the ridge, as it runs through nice karst scrub, where on warm days the scents of grasses and wild herbs intoxicate us, in autumn the red leaves of the smoke tree color it.
The best is to walk the path circularly (past the church up, below the ridge down).

The path from the ridge to the valley can be extended further:

Option 1:
If we go along the ridge to the church of Sv. Valentina, then we continue along the south path past the former inscription Naš Tito. We follow the path for a few more bends until we pass the newly dug path. We continue along the old path until it turns left, while we continue straight past a larger rock, where we soon step onto the Italian side. The path gently rises and descends until it brings us to the log cabin. From here we gently descend along the cart track to the junction at the larger rock, where we continue right upwards. Left downwards we join the south path. The path along the cart track gently rises to the road that leads from Šentmaver. We continue downwards along the road to the 3rd bend/tornante, where via a small path we join the path Za koridorjem right below the cavern with the arched entrance.

Option 2:
If we go along the path below the ridge, we continue to the cart track that leads from the church of Sv. Valentina. Here instead of right towards the road and bench at bend no. 5, we turn a couple of steps left (in the direction of the church) and continue along the marked path that descends from the cart track to the right. The path in the lower part flattens and later splits into two parts. If we turn left, we join the south path below the former inscription Naš Tito. From here we continue as described under option 1.
If we go right, our path will soon start to descend very steeply on rocky terrain to the path that leads from the south path, as described under option 1. We continue right and soon arrive at the log cabin. From here we gently descend along the cart track to the junction at the large rock, where we continue right upwards. Left downwards we join the south path. The path along the cart track moderately rises to the road that leads from Šentmaver. We continue downwards along the road to the 3rd bend/tornante, where via a small path we join the path Za koridorjem right below the cavern with the arched entrance.

No problem if we forgot where to turn and arrived almost at the end of the south path. Instead of turning left onto the path that leads to the stairs on the south path, we continue straight along the marked path that leads from the village Šentmaver. After a few minutes' descent we arrive at a narrower road that leads above the corridor of the road to Goriška Brda. We continue right and cross the road to the end of the corridor. Here we join the road that leads to Sabotin from the village Šentmaver. We continue along the road right upwards only a few meters and then continue along the cart track that we see on the left side. After a few minutes of crossing the slope, we come to the Slovenian side on the path Za koridorjem. From here only a short descent to the parking lot follows.

Higher above the road corridor (behind the second wire fence) a small path also leads, but it is very overgrown in places, so it is easier and faster if we cross the corridor along the road.

The trip can be extended to the following destinations: Dom na Sabotinu

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