Podgrad - Debenji vrh (via old castle Osterberg)

Access to starting point:
From the east Ljubljana bypass highway, we go to the exit Ljubljana - east and we continue driving on the road Zaloška cesta in the direction of Zalog. Further, we drive on the main road towards Podgrad. In the settlement Podgrad we turn right through the underpass under the railway track and then we continue on a relatively narrow road in the direction towards Besnica and Janče. Only a little before the end of the settlement Podgrad we park on a parking lot on the left side of the road. In case if the parking lot is occupied, we can here turn right on a cart track by the information board and over a small wooden bridge cross the stream. And there is also some space for parking.

Path description:
From the parking lot, we first cross the main road and past the information board which describes the path Ostrovrharjeva pot we go on a cart track and through a small wooden bridge we cross the stream Besnica. The cart track turns to the left and it brings us to a crossroad.
Sharply right on a cart track or a macadam road leads the path Ostrovrharjeva pot by which there is also a signpost, slightly to the right also a shortcut branches off, which higher joins the path Ostrovrharjeva pot, and we continue straight on a gentle cart track. Gentle cart track then brings us to a grassy clearing on which we will also notice a hunting observatory. We still continue on a cart track which we can at this spot due to frequent mud also bypass on a footpath which runs by the edge of the clearing. After the clearing, the path brings us to a crossing where left slightly downwards a path towards the second part of the path Ostrovrharjeva pot branches off.
At the crossing, we continue straight on a cart track which here starts ascending steeper. The cart track then soon turns a little to the right and by the path, we will also notice a narrower footpath which mountain bikers use for a descent. We are still ascending on a cart track which in few hairpin turns ascends through the forest. A relatively steep cart track then brings us to a crossroad where we join the path Ostrovrharjeva pot.
At the crossroad where there is also a sign of the path Ostrovrharjeva pot we continue left and we quickly come to the saddle below old castle Osterberg, where there are also few benches and information board.
To the left, there is only a short ascent to the top where there are ruins of the castle. In case if we ascend to the castle, we then return to the saddle and we continue on the right path past benches. A relatively narrow footpath is from the crossing moderately ascending through the forest and at first runs towards the west. The path then turns to the left and it brings us to a crossing where a diagonal path branches off to the right towards the ridge on which leads the path from Zalog.
We continue on the left path, which further for some time crosses slopes on the eastern side of the ridge. A little later our path reaches the ridge, where it joins the mentioned path from Zalog. We continue left on the ridge and in the last part of the path follows a little steeper ascent where we will by the path notice a cross or a chapel in a hollow tree trunk. The path then brings us to the summit, in the middle of which stands a wooden lookout tower.

On the way: Castle Stari grad (Stari Osterberg) (443m)