Vitovlje - Čaven

Access to starting point:
From highway Vipava - Nova Gorica we go to the exit Selo and follow the road ahead in the direction of village Črniče and Šempas. When we come to the village Vitovlje we need to pay attention, because we will in the middle of the village leave the main road and continue to drive in the direction of farm Maloščevo (turn-off is marked). Further, we drive through the village on a narrow and steep road which higher brings us to the signpost with the caption »Vitovska krožna pot«. We continue left past last houses on the more and more steep road which only a little higher changes into a macadam road by which we then park (most appropriate parking spot is between fourth and fifth Station of the Cross).

Path description:
From the starting point, which is called Križišče, we continue on a rough macadam road which already after few minutes of walking, it brings us to a well-marked crossing, where the marked path towards Trpinovšče, memorial plaque and Vodice branches off to the left. We continue on the right path, which past the Stations of the Cross brings us to the next well-marked crossing near the peak Vitovski hrib. We again continue right and increasingly rough road which here finally changes into a cart track we follow to a panoramic summit, on which stands a church.
From the top, we descend back to a crossing, and then we continue the ascent in the direction of Čaven and Sekulak on the old Napoleon path. We soon come to the next crossing, where the path to Skozno branches off to the left, and we continue right towards Čaven. Still gentle Napoleon path soon brings us to steep rocky cliffs of Visoki zid. A wide path then leads us over carved panoramic ledge (danger of falling stones) behind which, the path returns into the forest and it brings us to the spot, where the path on Kopitnik branches off to the left.
We continue slightly right in the direction of Čaven and Sekulak on a little narrower path, which at first through some smaller clearings brings us to a more steep part. The path ahead ascends steeper and only a little higher brings us to the next crossing, where we continue right in the direction of vantage point (left Kopitnik). We continue the ascent on a gently sloping path, which in 5 minutes of additional walking brings us to the vantage point Sekulak, from which a view opens up on a larger part of Vipava valley.
From Sekulak we continue left on a marked path which continues on at first very panoramic ridge. Higher, the path goes into the forest and only a little after that, it brings us to a smaller plain, where there is slightly worse marked crossing.
The path left continues towards Kopitnik, and we continue right, where after few meters we notice signs for Veliki Rob. We continue the ascent towards Veliki Rob on at first slightly poorly visible footpath. The path higher becomes more distinct and eventually brings us to the vantage point, from which a view opens up on Vipava valley, Trstelj, Gulf of Trieste and Dolomites.
We continue on a marked path which starts to ascend steeper, and it brings us to a more steep part below the summit of Čaven (1185m). When the path flattens, we leave it and after few steps of pathless terrain we ascend to the summit of Čaven.

On the way: Vitovski hrib (604m), Sekulak (888m)