Žovneško jezero - Grmada (Dobrovlje)

Access to starting point:
A) From highway Ljubljana - Maribor, we go to the exit Vransko, and then we continue driving on the parallel old road in the direction of Celje. A little after settlements Kapla, we leave the main road and we continue driving left in the direction of Braslovče. Ahead we drive through Gomilsko, and the road towards Braslovče we follow to the spot, where signs for castle Žovnek point us to the left. Further, we drive on a little narrower road by lake Žovneško jezero, and we are driving there to the spot, where on a power line pole we notice signposts for castle Žovnek. Because by the starting point, there aren't any appropriate parking spots, it is better to park already a little lower on an appropriate place by the road, or we can also drive on the road higher towards the castle Žovnek and then we park there on an appropriate place by the road.
B) From highway Maribor - Ljubljana, we go to the exit Šentrupert, and then we continue driving in the direction Mozirje. At the settlement Parižlje we leave the main road and we continue driving on a local road towards the settlement Spodnje Gorče. Here we cross the main road Gomilsko - Braslovče and we continue driving in the direction of village and castle Žovnek. Further, we drive on a little narrower road by lake Žovneško jezero, and we are driving there to the spot, where on a power line pole we notice signposts for castle Žovnek. Because by the starting point, there aren't any appropriate parking spots, it is better to park already a little lower on an appropriate place by the road, or we can also drive on the road higher towards the castle Žovnek and then we park there on an appropriate place by the road.

Path description:
From power line pole we go right through a meadow to the edge of the forest, where on a tree we notice a little bigger blaze. Here the path goes into the forest, and it starts relatively steeply ascending. The path soon flattens and brings us on a wider cart track, on which we walk to a smaller crossing. Here we continue left uphill (right path bypasses the castle Žovnek) and we continue the ascent on a steep path, on which in 2 minutes of additional walking, we get to the castle Žovnek.
At the castle we step on the road, on which we descend to the first crossroad, and there we continue on the upper right road which we follow only few steps, because then blazes point us left on an ascending cart track. Further, we are for some time ascending diagonally above the torrent ditch, higher we cross it, and then we ascend to the nearby macadam road which we follow to the right. The path ahead past NOB monument and hunting lodge Lovski dom pod Grmado brings us to a crossroad, where we continue sharply left in the direction of Čreta. Further, we are ascending for some time on a relatively panoramic road, and then signs for Čreta point us sharply left on a cart track, or wider footpath which higher crosses the macadam road. The path ahead is for a short time still ascending through the forest and then it brings us on a grassy meadow, on which we ascend to lonely homestead.
Above the homestead, we come to a smaller monument and chapel, and the path at the chapel turns right in the forest. We ascend through a lane of a forest and bushes, and the path returns on the road, and we follow it to the right. Further, we for some time walk on the road, and past bigger monument and later smaller hamlet it brings us to a marked crossing.
We continue straight (left mountain hut Dom na Čreti) and then after few meters right in the direction of the mountain hut Doma Dobrovlje, Bezovec and Letuš. The road ahead leads past the farm Križnik, and then descends to a marked crossroad.
This time as well we continue right (straight mountain hut Dom Dobrovlje and Bezovec) and we continue the ascent by following signs for St. Janez and Pavel. The road which continues on a gentle grassy slope, quickly brings us to the farm Planinšek, behind which it for some time passes into a very narrow lane of a forest. Forest immediately ends, and the path past the chapel quickly brings us to already previously mentioned church of St. Janez and Pavel.
At the church, we continue right in the direction of Grmada and we continue on a gentle cart track which passes into the forest. Cart track soon moderately ascends and in few minutes brings us to the summit of Grmada.

On the way: Grad Žovnek (409m), Lovski dom pod Grmado (510m)