Branik - Trstelj (by cart track)

Access to the starting point:
a) From the motorway Ljubljana - Koper, take the exit Senožeče and then continue driving towards the village of Štorje. At Štorje, turn right in the direction of Branik (straight ahead to Sežana and Trieste) and continue through the villages of Kazlje, Dobravlje and Ponikve. At the junction a few kilometres after Ponikve, turn right towards the village of Kobdilj (left Kopriva and Dutovlje), and from there follow the signs for Štanjel and Branik. After a few kilometres downhill, we arrive at Branik, where the road from Komno joins from the left. Just a little further on from this junction, you will see a larger parking lot on the right, where you park (the parking lot is located near the post office and the Mercator store).
b) First drive to Ajdovščina, then continue along the old road towards Nova Gorica. When you reach Potoče, leave the main road and turn left towards Branik. The road quickly leads to a bridge over the river Vipava, after which it gradually becomes more winding. After a short climb, there is a short descent and you reach Branik. When you reach the main road, turn left and then after a few 10 metres of further driving, turn left into a larger parking lot (the parking lot is located near the post office and the Mercator shop).
c) From Nova Gorica or its surroundings, drive to Dornberk and from there continue in the direction of Branik. Park in the centre of Branik in a large parking lot (located near the post office and the Mercator store).

Path description:
From the parking lot, continue along the pavement, which leads along the main road towards Štanjel, Koper and Sežana, where you will see several monuments, including the monument to Simon Gregorčič. A little further on, cross the main road at a pedestrian crossing and we continue in the same direction. At a slightly larger crossroads, continue straight on towards Komno (slightly left along the main road Štanjel, Koper and Sežana), and we walk along the pavement for a few more minutes, then signs for the railway station direct us to the right onto a slightly narrower road. Walk along the road towards the railway station until the first right turn, and from there continue straight ahead towards the Bor-Les furniture factory.
From Bor-Les, continue straight ahead on a minor road, which quickly leads to the foot of the railway line. Here the road turns left and continues parallel to the railway for a short distance, then turns right, where it leads under a separating bridge. Just after the bridge, go right along the wider cart track, which turns left a few 10 steps further on and starts to climb crosswise (the route up to this point has not been marked, but further on we will be accompanied by "markings" in the form of a red circle in the middle of which is a green butterfly). Continue cross-climbing above the Petnik stream, and the path leads us higher up to a ridge where another path from Branik (the path past the hamlet of Cvetrož) joins from the right. From the crossroads, walk along the ridge for a few more steps, and then you will arrive at the point where cart track splits into two parts: the cart track. Continue along the right-hand cart track (the left-hand one leads directly to the village of Pedrovo and is better marked), which immediately splits again. At the second crossroads, continue left, then slightly right at a slightly higher level (possibly also straight ahead). Continue climbing moderately through the forest along cart track, which joins another cart track higher up. Continue left here to a nearby abandoned byte, where you will see a marker. After the byte, cart track descends and rejoins the Petnik stream bed. Cross the stream in a long arc, then on the other side begin to climb cross-country towards the village of Pedrovo, which is reached after a few minutes' further walking. When you reach the village, just reach it at the last house, continue to the right (the Church of the Holy Spirit on the left for 3 minutes) and continue the ascent along the slightly wider cart track, which climbs gently to moderately through the forest. The cart track forks a few times, and we continue on the "main" or the one that is marked (although the signposts are quite sparse at times). Higher up, we reach a worse road (fire road - intervention road No 14P), which we start to descend moderately. A little further down the slope, we enter a small valley, where we continue right up the initially less distinct cart track. The way forward continues for a short time across the meadow, then quickly leads to the abandoned Nightingale's hut. Bypass the byte on the left and continue along the less well-marked cart track, which ascends and descends several times. At the crossroads, continue along the marked cart track, which in time leads to grassy slopes with a beautiful view that reaches the highest peaks of the Julian Alps. A slightly steeper descent follows and the path leads to Železna vrata, where we cross an asphalt road. Continue on the dirt road towards Trstelj, and we walk along it to the power line. Just after the power line, leave the road and continue left along the marked path, which begins to climb steeply. After a few minutes, the path flattens out and turns into a scenic and relatively steep slopes. The path quickly returns to the forest and the path from Renč joins us on the right.
Continue left in the direction of the hut, along the path which soon splits into two parts. Continue slightly to the right along a marked shortcut, then join a fainter forest road, which you follow to the nearby Stjenko's hut on Trstelj.
From the hut, continue to the right towards the summit and follow a pleasant path ascending through lane of sparse forest. Just a little higher up, you join the wide cart track, which will take you to the top of Trstelj in a few 10 steps of further walking.

On the way: Sveti Duh (Pedrovo) (365m), Slavčeva bajta (395m), Železna vrata (445m), Stjenkova koča na Trstelju mountain hut (610m)

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