Podgrad - Debenji vrh (via old castle Osterberg)

Access to the starting point:
From the Ljubljana Eastern Bypass, take the Ljubljana - East exit and continue along Zaloška Road towards Zaloga. Continue along the main road towards Podhrad. In Podgrad, turn right through the underpass under the railway line and then continue along a relatively narrow road towards Besnica and Janče. Just before the end of Podgrad, park in the parking lot on the left side of the road. If the parking lot is busy, you can turn right at this point onto cart track by the information board and cross the stream over the wooden bridge. There is then some space for parking.

Path description:
From the parking lot, first cross the main road and, passing an information board describing the Ostrovrharje trail, take the cart track and cross the Besnica stream via a wooden bridge. Cart track turns left and leads to a crossroads.
The Ostrovrharjeva trail leads sharp right along the cart track or macadam road, along which there is also a signpost, and a short cut off to the right, which joins the Ostrovrharjeva trail at a higher altitude, and we continue straight along the cart track. The cart track then leads us to a grassy clearing where we will also see a hunting observation post. We continue along the cart track, which, due to the frequent mud, can also be avoided at this point by following the path that runs along the edge of the clearing. Beyond the clearing, the path leads to a crossroads where a path branches off to the left, slightly downhill, towards the second part of the Ostrovrharjeva cesta.
At the crossroads we continue straight on the cart track, which here begins to climb steeply. Cart track then soon turns slightly to the right and we will also see a narrower path along the way, which is used by mountain bikers for descending. We continue to climb cart track, which climbs through the forest in a few switchbacks. The relatively steep cart track then leads us to a crossroads where we join the Ostrovrharjeva trail.
At the crossroads, where there is also a sign for the Ostrovrhar Trail, continue left and quickly reach the saddle below the old Osterberg Castle, where there are also some benches and an information board.
To the left is just a short climb to the top where the ruins of the castle are located. If you climb up to the castle, then return to the saddle and continue along the right-hand path past the benches. From the crossroads, a relatively narrow path climbs moderately through the forest and initially runs westwards. The path then turns to the left and leads to a crossroads where a cross path branches off to the right towards the ridge along which the path from Zalog leads.
We continue along the left-hand path, which crosses the slopes on the eastern side of the ridge for some time. A little later, our path also reaches the ridge, where it joins the above-mentioned path from Zalog. Continue left along the ridge and in the last part of the trail there is a slightly steeper ascent where you will see a cross or chapel in a hollow tree trunk along the trail. The path then leads to the top, in the middle of which stands a wooden lookout tower.

On the way: Castle Stari grad (Stari Osterberg) (443m)

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