Za koridorjem - Sabotin (direct way)

Access to starting point:
From the direction Bovec -Tolmin we drive on the road Soška cesta 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.

From other directions we drive to Nova Gorica and we follow the signs Bovec -Tolmin. If we drive 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.

The road right behind the bridge starts ascending. After two large turns we drive past the parking lot on our left and 500 meters higher on our right we notice stairs, which lead on Sabotin on the south path.
Soon after the stairs we get to Italy, where the road flattens. After approximately 1 km of driving on "corridor" through Italy, the road under the overpass starts descending. At the turn we slow down, because immediately, when we drive under the next overpass, we get to Slovenia. Here we have to immediately turn left on a smaller parking lot. On our right we see stairs, which lead on Sabotin on the path Za koridorjem.

Path description:
Sabotin is a hill of special energy, which will impress you in all seasons. Most beautiful is spring, when it blooms and in the late autumn, when its the slopes get red by smoke tree. In the winter we will be on its south slopes warmed up by the sun, and in the summer there is too hot even for vipers. Most appropriate time for visiting Sabotin is from September to May. And later only very early in the morning or with a car. To the mountain hut and snack bar, which are in premises of the former border building right below the summit, you get on an asphalt road from Goriška Brda. In the snack bar there is a mini museum, and yu can arrange a guided tour of caverns, which are illuminated and settled.

The path Za koridorjem is less visited as for majority more popular south path. But it is more appropriate for the ascent on Sabotin from the spring ahead, when the temperatures on the south slopes quickly rise to suffocating heat.
The path from the beginning isn't that panoramic as south path, but it is a little steeper.

On this path as well we will need a good footwear and in warmer days a lot of fluid, because Sabotin isn't difficult because of its height, but because of the heat.

From the parking lot, we cross the road and we ascend on stairs. The path is already from the beginning quite moderately ascending through a thin forest, which in warmer days offers some shade.
When the path after few turns first time flattens, we will on our right notice a footpath. It brings us to an asphalt road on the Italian side, which runs from the village Šentmaver / San Mauro to Italian border building on Sabotin. To the mentioned path we can higher few times get closer to and we can use it when returning.

We continue with the ascent on normal path, which is ascending on with logs supported slope and after few minutes it brings us to cavern with an interesting arched entrance, where we turn left. If we would follow the footpath to the right, we would in few steps get to the road from the village Šentmaver.
The path from the cavern is still ascending and after five minutes brings us to a rocky turn, from where a nice view opens up on river Soča, which is winding towards the sea and on ossuary on Oslavje / Oslavia (white round building in Italian Brda / Collio). After additional 15 minutes we get to a macadam path, where there is also a bench for a short rest. Macadam path comes from the nearby turn of the asphalt road which runs on Sabotin from Goriška Brda and after few meters joins the road which runs on the Italian side from Šentmaver. If from the mountain hut or snack bar on Sabotin we don't feel like going on the ridge, we then descend on the road to this turn, where we join the path Za koridorjem.

From the crossing at the bench we continue straight uphill. After 10 minutes steep ascent we get to the edge of a meadow, which is spreading over on the right towards the Italian border building. Meadow is from the spring to the beginning of the summer a real botanical garden, which is unfortunately getting overgrown. If we want to admire flowers, we can go on a small footpath which is mildly ascending to the right through a meadow towards the Italian border building, and from here to the summit, otherwise we continue with an ascent towards the summit on normal path on the Slovenian side. Also on this part of the path which is higher rising among black oaks, we will in the spring see pasqueflower, and later irises, lilies, orchids and other beautiful flowers. Right below the summit we cross shooting trench, where we can in the early spring also see a mountain cowslip or auricula. Sabotin is one of the lowest sites of this alpine flower in Slovenia.

On top of the ridge we go to the right and after few minutes we reach the top of Sabotin, from where stunning views open up on all sides.
And If we would choose the path to the left we would come in 10 minutes to snack bar and the mountain hut, which are in premises of the former border building.

We can go into the valley on the ridge or below the ridge to the church of St. Valentin.

From here we have two options:

Option 1:
If we go on the ridge to the church of St. Valentin, we then continue on the south path past the former caption Naš Tito. We follow the path few more turns, until we go past the newly made path. We continue on an old path to the next crossing, where it turns left, and we continue straight past a bigger rock, where we are soon on the Italian side of the hill. The path is slightly rising and descending, until it brings us to the log cabin. From here on we are mildly descending on a cart track to a crossing at the bigger rock, where we continue right upwards. Left downwards we join the south path.
The path on a cart track is mildly rising to the road which comes from Šentmaver. We continue downwards on the road to 3rd turn / tornante, where on a small footpath we join the path Za koridorjem right below the cavern with an arched entrance.

Option 2:
If from the peak we go on the path below the ridge, we continue to the cart track which comes from the church of St. Valentin. Here instead of right towards the road and bench at the turn number 5, we turn few steps to the left (in the direction of the church) and we continue on a marked footpath which is descending from the cart track right. The footpath in the lower part flattens and later it splits into two parts. If we turn left, we join the south path below the former caption Naš Tito. From here we continue as it is described under option 1.

If we go right, our path will soon start very steeply descending on rocky terrain to footpath which comes from the south path, as it is described under option 1. We continue to the right and we soon get to the log cabin. From here on we are mildly descending on a cart track to a crossing at a big rock, where we continue right upwards. Left downwards we join the south path. The path on a cart track is moderately rising to the road which comes from Šentmaver. We continue downwards on the road to 3rd turn / tornante, where on a small footpath we join the path Za koridorjem right below the cavern with an arched entrance.

Nothing serious, if we forgot where to turn and we came almost to the end of the south path. Instead that we turn left on a footpath which brings us on stairs on the south path, we continue straight on a marked path, which comes from the village Šentmaver. After few minutes descent we get to narrower road which leads above the corridor of the road towards Goriška Brda. We continue to the right and we walk the road to the end of corridor. Here we join the road which runs on Sabotin from the village Šentmaver. We continue on the road right upwards only few meters and then on a cart track which we see on the left side. After few minutes of crossing the slopes, we come on the Slovenian side on the path Za koridorjem. From here only a short descent follows to the parking lot.

Higher above the corridor of the road (after the second wire fence) leads also a footpath which is in parts very overgrown, therefore it is easier and faster, if we walk the corridor on the road.

Trip can be extended to: Dom na Sabotinu