Žovneško jezero - Grmada (Dobrovlje)

Access to starting point:
A) From the Ljubljana–Maribor highway, take the Vransko exit, then continue driving on the parallel old road towards Celje. A little beyond the place Kapla, leave the main road and continue driving left towards Braslovče. Further we drive through Gomilsko, following the road towards Braslovče to the spot where the signs for Žovnek Castle direct us left. Further, we drive on a somewhat narrower road beside Žovneško Lake to the spot where on a power line pole we notice hiking markers for Žovnek Castle. Because at the starting point there are no appropriate parking spots, it is better to park somewhat lower on an appropriate place by the road, or we can also drive higher up the road towards Žovnek Castle and then park there on an appropriate place by the road.
B) From the Maribor–Ljubljana highway, take the Šentrupert exit, then continue driving towards Mozirje. At the place Parižlje, leave the main road and continue driving on a local road towards the place Spodnje Gorče. Here we cross the main road Gomilsko–Braslovče and continue driving towards the village and Žovnek Castle. Further, we drive on a somewhat narrower road beside Žovneško Lake to the spot where on a power line pole we notice hiking markers for Žovnek Castle. Because at the starting point there are no appropriate parking spots, it is better to park somewhat lower on an appropriate place by the road, or we can also drive higher up the road towards Žovnek Castle and then park there on an appropriate place by the road.

Path description:
From the power line pole we head right across the meadow to the edge of the forest, where on a tree we notice a somewhat larger blaze. Here the path enters the forest, and it starts to ascend relatively steeply. The path soon flattens and brings us to a wider cart track, along which we walk to a smaller junction. Here we continue left uphill (right path bypasses Žovnek Castle) and continue the ascent on a steep path, on which in 2 minutes of further walking we arrive at Žovnek Castle.
At the castle we step onto the road, along which we descend to the first junction, there we continue on the upper right road, which we follow only a few steps, since then the blazes direct us left onto an ascending cart track. Further, we ascend transversely for some time above the torrent gully, cross it higher, then ascend to the nearby macadam road, which we follow to the right. The path ahead past the NOB monument and Hunting Lodge Lovski dom pod Grmado brings us to a junction, where we continue sharply left towards Čreta. Further, we ascend for some time on a relatively panoramic road, then signs for Čreta direct us sharply left onto a cart track or wider path, which higher crosses the macadam road. The path ahead ascends briefly more through the forest, then brings us to a grassy hay meadow, along which we ascend to an isolated farmstead.
Above the farmstead we come to a smaller monument and chapel, and the path at the chapel turns right into the forest. We ascend through a belt of forest and shrubs, and the path returns to the road, which we follow to the right. Further, we walk for some time on the road, which past a larger monument and later a smaller hamlet brings us to a marked junction.
We continue straight (left Dom na Čreti) and then after a few meters right towards Dom Dobrovlje, Bezovec and Letuš. The road ahead leads past the Križnik farm, then descends to a marked junction.
This time too we continue right (straight Dom Dobrovlje and Bezovec) and continue the ascent following the signs for St. Janez and Pavel. The road, which continues across a gentle grassy slope, quickly brings us to the Planinšek farm, behind which it temporarily passes through a very narrow belt of forest. The forest ends immediately, and the path past the chapel quickly brings us to the previously mentioned church of St. Janez and Pavel.
At the church we continue right towards Grmada and continue on a gentle cart track which passes into the forest. The cart track soon ascends moderately and brings us to the summit of Grmada in a few minutes.

On the way: Grad Žovnek (409m), Lovski dom pod Grmado (510m)