Kneške Ravne - Grušnica (via Planina na Kalu)

Access to starting point:
From the road Bača pri Modreju - Podbrdo, in the settlement Kneža we turn on the road in the direction of Kneške Ravne. Further, we are ascending on the road which continues through the valley of the stream Kneža. At first quite gentle and partly macadam road, higher starts ascending steeper, on a steep part the road is mostly asphalt. Higher, the road splits, and we choose a slightly left road which is still asphalt and leads towards Kneške Ravne (slightly right macadam road which leads in the direction of the mountain pasture Planina v Prodih). Next follows crossing of scenic stream Prošček, and then we quickly ascend to the parking lot before Kneške Ravne, where we park.

Path description:
From the parking lot, where there is an information board of Kneške Ravne and surroundings, we continue upwards, on first crossroad by NOB monument, we go straight (left a homestead Pri Jakopu and a homestead Pri Jaklnu). The road soon turns left, and from there also the road towards the homestead Pri Francu branches off to the right. Here as well, we go straight, and at the next crossroad, we go slightly right (slightly left a homestead Pri Pologarju). Asphalt road once again splits, this time we choose the left path (right we would get to the homestead Pri Francu), which loses an asphalt covering and leads us over a grazing fence. Further, we are ascending on a cart track which leads us above orchard, and then turns left and through a lane of a forest and through more grazing fences brings us to a crossing by smaller partly stone cottage. Here we go right, and the cart track higher once again turns left and then in few minutes brings us to the hunting observatory. At the hunting observatory, we go sharply right, after that from bad cart track immediately left, on a slope straight upwards. After a short ascent the footpath appears, which is mostly ascending diagonally through the forest, and leads parallel with edge of the nearby meadow. Higher, we reach the ridge between Ljubinjske stene and Masovnik, where the footpath becomes more distinct, and leads on other, west side of the ridge. Next follows crossing of slopes and some gullies, the path by which we notice some old, already quite faded blazes, later starts ascending diagonally. Higher, we get to overgrown scree and in few minutes we ascend to a crossing by the foot of Ljubinjske stene.
We continue left in the direction towards the mountain pasture Razor (right mountain pasture Planina v Prodih and Rut), and the path leads us directly below the cliffs, where mainly in spring time is increased possibility of falling stones. Next follows a diagonal ascent and the path brings us into the forest, where leads us past a source. After the source path for some time steeply ascends, and after two zig-zags again flattens. A little further, we cross also a grazing fence, and the path out of the forest brings us on the upper part of the mountain pasture Kuk, on an area named Močila, where on the bottom side we bypass few cottages. Behind cottages we reach a driving road which we follow to the right (left mountain pasture Kuk and a parking lot), and then we quickly get to a crossing, where the path on Žabiški Kuk branches off to the right (also Žabijski Kuk) - path past Gradič (old military path).
We continue in the direction of the mountain pasture Razor and we continue on a gently sloping macadam road which crosses the western slopes of Žabiški Kuk. On the road, from which occasionally a nice view opens up towards the northwest, where we see Rdeči rob, Vrh nad Peski, Grušnica, Tolminski Migovec and other surrounding mountains, after approximately 25 minutes of additional walking, we get to the spot, where signs for mountain hut point us to the right, on the path which ascends diagonally above the road. Next follows only few minutes of walking and the path brings us to the mountain hut Koča na planini Razor.
Mountain hut we bypass on the right side, and then we continue in the direction of Tolmin and Krn. A gentle descent follows on partly concrete road, and when the road turns left towards the nearby cheese cottage, we go slightly right on a marked footpath in the direction of the mountain pasture Planina na Kalu and Krn. Next follows an easy walk on an ample and panoramic mountain pasture Razor, and the path turns also a little to the left, so that the path leads towards the west. A gently sloping path at first leads with nice views on Grušnica and Tolminski Migovec, and when we reach the edge of the mountain pasture, nice view opens up also in the direction of Tolmin. From edge of the mountain pasture path turns right and passes into the forest, through which is occasionally gently descending. A little further, the path brings us by the bottom edge of the cliffs of the peak Kopecko, and follows also a crossing of Alpine valley. On the other side of a small valley path returns into the forest, and from the left joins the worse beaten path from Tolminske Ravne (path, which from Tolminske Ravne leads directly towards Škrbina), and a little ahead we also get to a well-marked crossing.
We continue right in the direction of the mountain pasture Planina na Kalu and Krn (straight Tolminske Ravne and mountain pasture Spodnji Kal) and we start ascending steeper, mostly through the forest. After 15 minutes of ascent we get to the next crossing, where we choose the left path (right Škrbina and Vrh nad Škrbino). The path ahead flattens and gradually brings us out of the forest. Next follows gently sloping diagonal ascent towards the left, and from the path increasingly beautiful views are opening up. When lane of dwarf pines end, we get to the mountain pasture Planina na Kalu, and we walk to the nearby cottages.
From the saddle, from where a nice view opens up towards the valley of Tolminka, Vrh nad Peski, and a view is also nice on peaks above Tolminske Ravne, which we occasionally already saw during the ascent, we continue slightly left from the ridge of Grušnica, on easy to follow path. After a shorter diagonal ascent we reach the eastern ridge of Grušnica, from where a nice view opens up towards the south. Here the path turns a little to the right, and then in few minutes of more and more panoramic walking it brings us on a panoramic peak, from which a nice view opens up on surrounding mountains.
The starting point - Močila 2:10, Močila - Planina Razor 0:35, Planina Razor - Planina na Kalu 1:30, Planina na Kalu - Grušnica 0:15.
Description and pictures refer to a condition in the year 2018 (July) and 2016 (April).

On the way: Močila (1258m), Koča na planini Razor (1315m), Planina na Kalu (1490m)