Žovneško jezero - Vrhe

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

Path description:
From the power line pole, 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, where it starts to ascend relatively steeply. The path soon levels out and leads us to a wider cart track, along which we walk to a smaller junction. Here continue left uphill (the right path bypasses Žovnek Castle) and continue the ascent on a steep path, along which in 2 minutes of further walking we arrive at Žovnek Castle.
At the castle, step onto the road, along which descend to the first junction, there continue on the upper right road, which we follow for only a few steps, as the blazes then direct us left onto an ascending cart track. Further, ascend transversely for a while above the torrent gorge, cross it higher up, then climb to the nearby macadam road, which we follow to the right. The path ahead passes the NOB monument and the hunting lodge Lovski dom pod Grmado to a junction, where we continue sharply left in the direction of Čreta. Further, ascend for a while along 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 leads us to a grassy hay meadow, along which we climb to a solitary homestead.
Above the homestead we reach a smaller monument and chapel, and the path turns right into the forest at the chapel. We climb through a belt of forest and scrub, the path returns to the road, which we follow to the right. Further, walk along the road for a while, which passes a larger monument and later a smaller hamlet to a marked junction.
Continue on the left road (straight to Dom Dobrovlje, Bezovec and Letuš), which we follow for only some 10 steps, as signs for Čreta then direct us left onto a marked cart track. The path ahead ascends gently to moderately for a while, then leads us to the next NOB monument, after which the path gradually begins to descend. After a short descent, we reach a smaller hamlet, which the marked path bypasses on the left side, then in a moderate ascent over an increasingly panoramic slope, we climb to the church of the Holy Mother of God.
From the church, continue left, cross the pasture fence and the path leads us into the forest. In the forest, the path forks into two parts, we choose the right one and in some 10 steps of further walking step onto the indistinct summit.

On the way: Grad Žovnek (409m), Lovski dom pod Grmado (510m), Sveta Mati Božja na Čreti (944m)