Podsabotin - Sabotin

Access to starting point:
From the direction Bovec-Tolmin on the road Soška cesta we drive towards Nova Gorica to the traffic light crossroad above the cemetery in Solkan. Here we turn right and we drive on the bridge over the river Soča into Goriška Brda to Podsabotin (6 km from Solkan).

From other directions we drive to Nova Gorica and we follow the signs Bovec -Tolmin. If the path leads us through Nova Gorica and Solkan, then at the end of the Solkan we drive left on the bridge over the river Soča into Goriška Brda. If we drive past Nova Gorica we follow the signs for Bovec -Tolmin and on Solkan bypass road we reach traffic light crossroad above the cemetery in Solkan. Here we turn left and then we go immediately right on the bridge over the river Soča into Goriška Brda to Podsabotin (6 km from Solkan).

The road right behind the bridge starts ascending. After two large turns we drive past the parking lot on our left and 300 meters higher on our right we notice stairs, which lead on Sabotin on South path. Soon after the stairs we get to Italy, where the road flattens. After approximately 1.6 km of driving on « corridor » we are again on the Slovenian side. On our left is a smaller parking lot, and right on stairs is ascending path Za koridorjem on Sabotin. Further, the road is in few turns descending to Podsabotin, elongated village with several hamlets, which once belonged below Šentmaver / San Mauro (I). The road is winding through the valley of the stream Pevmica past the cemetery and retirement home (both on our right). Just before the road starts ascending towards Hum, we will on our right notice a bus stop. Here a narrow road branches off towards the hamlet Podsenica (Podsabotin 11a - 21 ), at the crossroad we will also notice the sign, which marks cycling and hiking path on Sabotin. Opposite the bus stop by the road there is some space for parking. Because during the school time bus stops here, we park the way that the bus will have enough space to stop.

Path description:
The path from Podsabotin is at least in the first part more interesting for cyclists than for mountaineers. Mountaineers mostly joint at the crossroad, where the path from Podsabotin joins the road for Sabotin. Here the mountain path ascends on a ridge and continues on the path which comes from the hunting cottage or from Korada.

The path from Podsabotin is the most interesting, if to the starting point we come with a bus and then we walk entire Sabotin ridge to Solkan. Unfortunately access with a bus is possible only during the school time. If to the starting point we come with a car, we will have to at least partly return on the same path.
On this path as well we will need good footwear and in warmer days a lot of water, because Sabotin isn't difficult because of its height, but because of the heat. Most appropriate time for visiting Sabotin is from September to May. The path is the most beautiful in spring, when cherries are blooming and on the trees buds are spreading, or in the autumn, when the ridge gets glowing colors of a smoke tree. In the winter we will be rewarded with the most beautiful views and the most colorful sunsets. When in the winter days strong northern wind or bora are blowing it is better to avoid the path on the ridge.
In the summer it is best to go on Sabotin with a car. To the mountain hut and a snack bar, which are in premises of a former border building right below Sabotin, brings us an asphalt road from Goriška Brda. The road for Sabotin branches off from the main road Dobrovo-Plave, namely 1 km above Gonjače (from the direction Nova Gorica or Dobrovo) and 1 km below Vrhovlje (direction Plave or Korada).
In the snack bar, there is a mini museum, and there is also possible a guided tour of the caverns, which are illuminated and settled.

"""

From the starting point at the bus stop in Podsabotin, the path is steeply ascending on an asphalt road through the hamlet Podsenica past a smaller church and monument of the fallen soldiers in NOB and the victims of fascism from Podsabotin. Above the hamlet the road is ascending past olive plantation and vineyard. Above the olive plantation, we can continue on a cart track, marked with the sign Karnjuka (one of the paths on Briške brajde), or we continue ahead on the road, because the cart track only slightly shortens the ascent and it joins the road at the last house. From this part of the path, we can in good visibility already enjoy in views on Nova Gorica and Gorica with Gorica castle and ossuary on Oslavje, and on the other side, we can see to the hunting cottage.

Above the house, the asphalt after 1km ends and we continue on the macadam road. At the first crossing, we turn left. The path is ascending about 300 more meters to the next crossing, where it again turns left. To here we can drive also with a car, if we are not disturbed by a steep and narrow road through the village and a worse macadam further. We park the way, we don't close the access on cart tracks. To here from Podsabotin there is approximately 0.5 hour of walking.

Further, the road flattens and in few steps, it brings us to the last house by a larger pond on our right. On the left past the cherry trees a view opens up on Brda with the most stand out church of the Holy Cross above Kojsko and on the tower in Gonjače. The path starts slightly ascending and it brings us to the next crossing. We continue straight past the hunting observatory. The path on a cart track or worse macadam road is moderately ascending to a crossroad, where it joins the asphalt road towards Sabotin.
The cyclists continue on the road, and the mountaineers go towards the ridge, where the mountain sign on the other side of the road points them to. Next follows a shorter and steeper ascent on a footpath to the ridge, where we join the path from the hunting cottage or from Korada. To the hunting cottage there is 20-30 min, and to Korada approximately 3 hours. From Podsabotin to the ridge there is approximately 1 hour of walk, another 1 hour to the top of Sabotin.

In front of us is the most beautiful part of the path on panoramic northern ridge of Sabotin. This part of the path is among less visited and therefore also the most primeval of all settled paths on Sabotin. The path on a rocky ridge demands some attention, and meanwhile we can enjoy the wide views from the sea and Dolomites to Tolmin mountains and montains of Spodnje Bohinjske gore. The path is mostly slightly to moderately ascending on the northern edge of the ridge and it is very exposed to northern wind and bora. During the warmer days here we can feel cold air, which is rising from winding river Soča below us. On the opposite bank of Soča there is rising Vodice, on which there is mausoleum of general Maurizio Ferrente Gonzaga. Behind Vodice we notice the mighty Krn. In front of us is an endless ridge of Sabotin, and left from there we are getting closer to Sveta Gora with basilica, and right from there with every step we have better view on Škabrijel. After approximately 45 minutes the path ascends past the decaying pyramid, which was placed here after the 1st world war, when on Sabotin was an outdoor museum.
After the pyramid the path goes slowly away from the ridge and through a thin forest goes towards the former border building – now mountain hut and snack bar. The path crosses two shooting trenches and in few minutes brings us to the former border building. Or we can through the second shooting trench ascend to the top of the ridge and continue on an unmarked footpath on the ridge and view few more remains from the 1st world war.

From the mountain hut to the top of Sabotin separates us 10 - 15 minutes long ascent.

"""

In good weather it is best that from the peak of Sabotin we continue walking on the ridge all the way to the church of St. Valentin (approximately 20-25 min). In the case of a strong wind, the path leads also below the ridge on the Italian side. If we came to the starting point by public transport, we continue with the descent to Solkan on the south path (30-40 min). If we have car in Podsabotin, we from the church continue on a cart track on the Italian side. The cart track crosses the south slopes below Sabotin and in good 10 minutes brings us to an asphalt road which leads from Šentmaver to Italian border building. We continue on the road with a light descent to the left to the next turn with number 5 (10 min), where we again join the path on the Slovenian side. We continue on a cart track past the bench (here we cut the path Za koridorjem) and in few steps we get to the road for Sabotin, where we turn left in the direction of Podsabotin. To the right, there is another 800 meters to the mountain hut on Sabotin.
To the crossroad for Podsabotin we have 30 min of walking on an asphalt road (2.2 km). The path leads us past two pyramids. At the first pyramid we can through a nicely renovated shooting trench again ascend on the ridge and we continue walking in the direction of arrival.

"""

If there will be bad weather or if we run out of energy, we can from the peak descend also past the Italian border building and on a footpath which to the right crosses karst woods, join the path Za koridorjem. On the path we descend to the first crossing at the bench, where we join the road for Sabotin.

"""

If we from the peak return to the mountain hut we can to the starting point instead on an asphalt road, part of the path walk on a footpath which starts at the stairs below the mountain hut or at the shooting trench below the snack bar, and it brings us to the turn with a chapel in a rocky wall. From here we can continue on a footpath which starts descending immediately below the turn or on a small footpath which is marked by a pole, and we join the shooting trench, through which we descend to the road (or we can also again ascend on the ridge). Both paths bring us to the first pyramid, from where we continue another 1.8 km (20 min) on an asphalt road to the crossroad for Podsabotin.

Sabotin is the last Alpine and the first Mediterranean hill. There is a great energy which slowly heals the memory of a bloody history. There we should walk respectfully and let's enjoy in immeasurable beauties and natural and cultural-historical attractions.