Srednji Lokovec - Lašček (via Novo Mesto)

Access to starting point:
A lot of paths brings us on a nice and mostly overlooked plateau Banjška planota, the highest peak of which is Lašček.
At the far east and highest part of plateau Banjška planota, just by the edge above the valley Čepovanska dolina, in a narrow lane is spreading Lokovec. One of the longest and the most ample Slovenian villages with smaller hamlets and lonely homesteads bring together three Lokovec hamlets: Dolenji, Srednji and Gorenji Lokovec. Our starting point is at the church in Srednji Lokovec, to which we can drive:
- from Nova Gorica through Banjšice or Čepovan,
- from Kanal through Kanalski Vrh and Banjšice or through Avče, Levpa and Kal nad Kanalom.
- from Most na Soči through Čepovan or Kal nad Kanalom.
And the more adventurous can go also from Dolenja Trebuša.

A) From Nova Gorica, we follow the signs for Bovec-Tolmin and we continue on Solkan bypass road or we drive through Nova Gorica to Solkan. In the traffic light crossroad, above the cemetery in Solkan, we continue in the direction of Čepovan, Lokve and Sveta Gora on the road which is ascending past the quarry. Soon after the turn-off for Sveta Gora road branches off to the left towards Čepovan, Banjšice and Grgar, and straight the road continues in Trnovo and Lokve. We continue left towards Grgar, where we have two options: we can turn left towards Banjšice or right towards Čepovan. The road through Čepovan is a little less than 2 km shorter, but through Banjšice is much more panoramic, because in good visibility beautiful view opens up on Julian Alps. From Čepovan we continue in the direction of Banjšice and after 3 km we reach Srednji Lokovec. From Banjšice we continue in the direction of Čepovan and after good 5 km we get to Srednji Lokovec.
Nova Gorica – Čepovan – Srednji Lokovec: 24 km, Nova Gorica – Banjšice - Srednji Lokovec: 26 km.

B) From Kanal (from the direction of Nova Gorica the turn off is a little before Kanal) we drive to Kanalski vrh, where we can view a huge pool (15 ha) of hydropower plant Avče, and we continue through Bate and Banjšice to Srednji Lokovec (22 km).

C) From Most na Soči, we continue in the direction of Cerkno, Idrija, Podbrdo to the railway station and we follow the road towards Čepovan and Lokve. A steep, winding road brings us to Čepovan, and after another 3 km we get to Srednji Lokovec. Most na Soči – Čepovan: 15.5 km, Čepovan - Srednji Lokovec: 3 km.

Path description:
The path is undemanding, because there are only few shorter ascents. It mostly runs on abandoned cart tracks, among lonely hamlets and through the forest. The most appropriate time for visiting is from autumn to spring, in the summer, it can be very hot, and the paths get quickly overgrown. The path is well marked, but because of a lot of crossings, we have to careful not to go astray. If for a long time we don't see any blaze, we are for sure on the wrong path. The first visit isn't recommended in snow conditions, because the path often isn't beaten, and because of the ground blazes which are under the snow and numerous crossings we would hardly find the right direction. The orientation is quite demanding.

At the church in Srednji Lokovec, we cross the road and we continue on a cart track which is ascending past the sports field and a house, in which is a blacksmith museum and permanent exhibition on life and work in Lokovec born bishop Metod Pirih. After a shorter steeper ascent the path in a more gentle ascent continues through the forest. We carefully follow the blazes. At the first crossing immediately after we get in the forest, we turn left, and later when the path flattens right. After approximately 10-15 minutes the cart track brings us to an asphalt road, on which we continue left with a shorter ascent on the road. The asphalt ends at the crossroad, where there is a sign for a memorial plaque. We continue on the right macadam road. The path almost entirely flattens and past a group of houses brings us to the next crossing, where we again continue right and in a gentle descent on the macadam road we get to a hamlet Novo Mesto. We continue on the macadam road through the hamlet and ahead on the right wider road past a bigger homestead. We still follow the macadam road which is slightly descending to the next crossing, where from the left joins a cart track, and the road turns right. At this crossing the trail blaze on the power line pole points us on a footpath which ascends from the road to the left diagonally in the forest. We could continue also on a cart track left and we would join the path from Srednji Lokovec through Raštela (an option to shorten the circular path when we are returning).

The path through the forest is moderately ascending to few decaying houses and is still ascending to a smaller clearing, which we cross and we start descending through the forest. We carefully follow the blazes and at the crossing, we continue on the left cart track. After a short descent, we will get to a mighty lonely homestead with a nice stone portal. The footpath takes us past the house and on the left side bypasses a smaller sinkhole. In the forest, the footpath starts descending diagonally (straight or left upwards you get to the new house), until it reaches a smaller cart track, on which we start ascending to the left. After few minutes, we get to the next poorly marked crossing, where we continue with the ascent to the left. The cart track widens and after a short ascent, it comes out of the forest. The trail blaze on a tree leads us straight on with grass vegetated slope, and the cart track which turns left, goes to a smaller renovated house. After a short ascent, we continue on the left edge of an overgrown meadow (on the right we will see remains of the house). We continue on a grassy path, which soon starts descending, and then turns left in the forest and it widens into a narrower cart track. At first, it is descending, and then it turns left, and after few steps starts ascending to the right. It soon brings us out of the forest, where at the crossing we go right and we continue walking on less vegetated terrain. After a short ascent the path starts descending and it brings us to an asphalt road. In front of us we will see a lonely homestead, which is right below the top of the hill. We short time continue with the ascent on the road in the direction of the homestead, and at the turn we go left, on a bad macadam path, and after few steps, we get to a bigger turning point. The macadam road turns left (if we would continue in this direction, we would join the path from Srednji Lokovec through Raštela), and we continue right, and on a footpath which goes through the door of a grazing fence, we ascend on the left edge of a larger sinkhole. After a short ascent, we join the path which comes from the house on our right. We continue left and we soon get to the next crossing. Signs point us to the right into the forest, and straight we would come on the path from Srednji Lokovec through Raštela. After 10 minutes of a steep ascent through the forest we reach panoramic grassy peak Laščka.

In good visibility wide views open up. From Gulf of Trieste on the south, Friuli and Dolomites on the west, on the north reign Julian Alps with Matajur, Kanin mountain range, Krn and mountain range of Tolmin mountains and Spodnje Bohinjske gore, behind which reigns Triglav. Only towards the east, the trees veil the view on Škofjeloško hribovje and Porezen.

In the valley we can go on the path through Raštela and we make a nice circular hike. From the top, we follow the signs for Lokovec – church (1h 45min) and we continue walking on a forested ridge to a crossing, where we turn left and follow the signs for Lokovec - church.