Komare doline - Orlovo gnezdo (Veli Badin)

Access to starting point:
From highway Ljubljana - Koper we go to the exit Črni Kal. From Črni Kal we continue driving on the old road towards the coast, and we are driving there only to the next little bigger crossroad, where we turn left in the direction of border crossing Sočerga. On the mentioned road, we drive past the settlement Kubed to the village Gračišče, where at the crossroad we turn left in the direction of Rakitovec, Movraž and Smokvica. From Gračišče we drive for approximately 1 km, and then we get to a smaller crossroad, where we continue right on side asphalt road. On the mentioned road, we drive for 50 more meters and then on the left side we notice appropriate parking spot and by it signposts for the church of St. Kvirik.

Path description:
Described is old path, which is in the last part for some time closed because of the nesting of rare birds species. New path in the last part runs a little more left and technically isn't demanding.
From the starting point, we go on the forest road in the direction of natural bridge, bunker and St. Kvirik. The road is at first ascending gently through a pine forest and bushes, after that a little steeper ascends and for some time leads over partly panoramic slopes, from which a beautiful view opens up towards Lačna and Gračišče. Higher, the path brings us in more plain terrain named Vela griža. Here the path, or road entirely flattens and then continues with some shorter ascents and descents above the village Lukini. A little further, we also bypass on the right side of the peak Gradec (413 meters), and gentle and occasionally also quite panoramic path quickly brings us to the church of St. Kvirik above Sočerga.
From the chapel of St. Kvirik we continue on a marked path in the direction of bunker and natural bridge. The path at first runs on gentle partly grassy cart track, on which in few minutes we walk to the nearby RTV transmitters.
From transmitters path starts gradually descending, and it leads partly over panoramic slopes, and partly on and by occasionally precipitous ridge (path goes all the time away from precipices). After few minutes, we get to a smaller crossing, where 50 meters long path towards the nearby bunker (smaller natural window) branches off to the right, and we continue straight on the path which with the exception of few shorter ascents, is mostly gently to moderately descending. Lower, we cross a lane of a forest, and the path brings us on the edge of the ridge. Here the path is still slightly descending, and in doing so it crosses some slightly exposed spots. The path then flattens and brings us on precipitous viewpoint Orlovo gnezdo.
From Orlovo gnezdo we continue on a secured mountain path, which at first with the help of steel cables, and then also with the help of stemples, descends to the nearby gully. During the descent through the gully we get help from some more fixed safety gear, and then the path flattens and turns sharply to the left. Next follows a short crossing, and then the path brings us to mighty rock shelters of Veli Badin. From rock shelters we continue in the same direction, and only a little further we notice signs for natural bridge, which point us to the left. We quickly reach the mentioned bridge, and we continue below arch and then on unmarked, but well visible path we ascend back to Orlovo gnezdo.

On the way: Sveti Kvirik (408m), Bunker (390m)