This circular ride is ideal for families, whose children are getting used to riding in traffic. The majority of the route leads along macadam and quiet country roads, however, care is required on the road in Radovljica itself. But don't be put off doing this ride, since plentiful enjoyment awaits you on this relaxed family ride through the countryside of Radovljica.
The route leads past the Dolenc farm in Vrbnje and along pleasant forest trails and across fields to Begunje. In the village there are numerous places to take a break – at the children's playground, the Elan Alpine Ski Museum, or at the Krpin recreation centre, where children will enjoy the trim trail. After some free time, follow the local road to the village of Gorica, where you can stop for a round of mini-golf. While children enjoy the fun, the parents can enjoy the break while admiring the magnificent views of the Julian Alps. The last chance to treat your kids to an ice-cream or lunch is in Radovljica.
Author’s recommendation
When in Begunje, hike up to St. Peter's church for some magnificent mountain views. Children (and fitness enthusiasts) should pick the Trim Krpin trail.
Safety information
To go to this ride, children must home some experience with riding a bike in traffic. With small children, caution is advised by the steep descend on the bicycle lane from Resje orchard (Gorica) towards the motorway.Tips and hints
- Right after the start of the tour, the route brings you pass the front yard of Dolenc Farm outside village Vrbnje. You can get fresh milk, home-made yoghurt, cottage cheese, cheese and sour cream in their own home produce shop on the farm.
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Village Begunje na Gorenjskem is a good place for the first coffee on route. The famous Guest house and restaurant Avsenik invites to the shade of chestnut tree garden, while (slightly more casual) Jurček Pub might attract the little ones with their well kept children's playground. Families with children might find the interactive Elan Ski Museum in Begunje very interesting.
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Adventure Mini Golf Panorama in the village Gorica is a perfect place for family fun time together. Even if you are not cycling with the youngsters, or this is not your "cup of tea", this place is definitely worth a stop due to a cosy outdoor bar with fantastic panorama of Mt. Triglav and the Julian Alps.
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No better way to reward the kids for a well done cycling tour than a delicious ice cream at Vidic House. Meanwhile you can treat yourself with the finest Italian coffee and gourmet snacks in Hotel Linhart. Since you will probably return to Radovljica near lunch time, there are many guesthouses and restaurants to choose from.
Start
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
Standing outside the Tourist information centre in Radovljica, look for the dominating facade of Vila Savnik (emblem of god Hermes/Mercury above the balcony on the 1st. floor). Cycle into a tiny street that leads to town's park on the left-hand side of the house. Ignore the paved pedestrian lane running alongside hornbeam avenue (forbidden for cyclist!) and continue across the parking spaces to the centre of the former park. Turn left and follow a gravel path leading straight through the park meadows. Reaching the parking area in-front of Grajski dvor hotel, turn right and cycle pass the small market area towards the main road.
Be very careful, for you are joining the main road through Radovljica! Turn right, and cycle alongside the parking area and the modern library compound, than further up-hill, always on the right-hand side of the main road. After about 200 meters you will be "saved" by a bicycle lane taking you pass the SPAR supermarket and further to the large intersection with traffic lights. Continue cycling straight ahead through the motorway underpass, than turn 90 degrees to the right-hand side on the road to village Vrbnje. The road leads you alongside the motorway rampart, as you approach a large Dolenc farm on your left hand side. The road bends to the left, passes-by the farm (fresh dairy product shop!) and ascents mildly to the wide open meadow.
In the intersection just before the first houses of the village Vrbnje, turn left and follow a narrow street leading you between the residential houses on the right and fields and meadows with scattered trees on the left-hand side. As you reach an "A" junction with a wooden crucifix in the centre, keep left (straight ahead) and cycle towards the centre of the village. Cross a tiny bridge and follow a tiny street further to the east until reaching and intersection (another wooden crucifix). Turn left (direction: north) to a narrow street at the edge of a forest plateau. Cycle straight ahead, as the surface turns from asphalt to gravel. Pass-by the farm and an isolated house in the forest to reach a narrow wooden footbridge. Cross it, and continue cycling on a very pleasant forest trail, running alongside a (sometimes dry) riverbed.
Suddenly the forest road ends in a private yard. Continue straight ahead onto a quiet village street leading towards north-west (newly built family houses on your left, hedge on your right-hand side). Turn left in the Y junction at the end of the hedge, to join with the main village street through Nova vas. Turn left, drive through the narrow band (be attentive of the traffic), than immediately to the right. Follow a tiny village street, you will find branching off just behind the large old farmhouse building. Street soon turns into cart-track, leading north-west to a vast open field (spectacular 360 ° views of the surrounding mountains!). After about 300 meters, next to a wooden crucifix, a road adjoins from the right-hand side. Turn right and head north-east on a straight (mildly ascending) field road for nearly a kilometre. The field tracks brings you to an intersection with a principal road (WWII memorial plaque), where you search for a wide field road on the other side of the main road, heading west. You drive streight-ahead.
Though not for long- after 500 meters of cycling you will meet a narrower field road/cart track joining from the right hand side. Turn right in the junction, and cycle up the cart track leading alongside a low voltage electric power line. Ignore the cart track branching off to the left hand side, continue cycling in the same direction (following the power-line on your right-hand side). With wonderful views of the surrounding mountains, the track eventually brings you to village Poljče and the (recently renovated) catholic shrine. Turn left at the shrine and follow the street leading towards the farms in the centre of the village. Please be attentive: even though this road is to be used by residents only, many other drivers use it as a shortcut! The street brings you to the main village road (bus stop on the other side of the road). Cross the road carefully to the other side (large parking area of NATO Mountain Warfare Centre of Excellence), than turn immediately to the right and climb up the village road running right behind a farmhouse. Pass the farm and cycle further on the road running alongside the hedge (poor visibility!). Pass by a catholic shrine (on your left-hand side) and a wide-open meadow (on your right hand side), to reach the fire brigade station and the Tourist information centre in Begunje.
Since this is the highest elevation point of the tour, this might be a nice opportunity to stop in one of the restaurants in the village centre or visit one of the many sights in Begunje (See links and hints for more information). Small children might appreciate the children's playground next to Jurček pub.
Standing outside the Tourist information centre in Begunje head south-west towards the village cemetery. Approaching it, you will find a narrow lane running between the cemetery wall and the garden of the famous Guest house Avsenik. Follow the lane (signpost : Juliana trail) descending to a small bridge above Begunjščica stream. Keep cycling in the same direction, to reach a front yard of a small farm. Turn right on the village road, than immediately left and up the hill towards the primary school . Turn right in the T-junction next to the school building, and continue cycling on a quiet village road, gradually descending towards south (delightful views of Mt. Triglav and the Julian Alps stretching on your right hand side).
Reaching the first intersection (marked by a beautifully painted catholic shrine/column) continue straight ahead on a gently descending country lane. When reaching the second intersection (wooden crucifix on your right-hand side), turn left and cycle towards a beautiful mansion hiding amidst the trees. Cycle alongside the hedge (a nice park with an oval water pool can be seen through the gaps), than turn left (south-west) when reaching the modern hotel building (Lambergh hotel). After 200 meters, turn left (signpost : Juliana trail), and follow a quiet country road leading towards Dvorska vas village. Reaching the village, cycle straight ahead (pass the house with the blue doors) and down the main village street. Towards the end of the village, keep right in the Y fork and cycle pass the large farm building to the wide open fields. Comfortably descending road (motorised traffic permitted to residents only) keeps taking you further south towards the village named Zgornji otok.
Next the first houses on the northern end of the village Zgornji Otok, you will come across the main road. Though it might seem unlogical, turn right and follow the road leading back north (signpost: Juliana trail). Don't worry, it's only for about 50 meters, for soon a gravel road branches off to the left hand side (another signpost: Juliana trail). Follow the quiet gravel road leading you towards a small forested ridge on the west. Just before entering the forest, another gravel road joins from the right-hand side. Ignore it, and stay on the road which is slowly elevating and bending towards the left. After a short (though gentle) climb, you soon meet the first houses of the village Gorica. Continue straight ahead (car wrecking yard on your right-hand side) to reach an A-shaped junction (linden tree). Turn left and continue cycling on the road ascending further into the village. The road soon levels, and historic farmhouses are gradually replaced by modern homes. Just before the last house on the left-hand side of the road, a steep private road ascends between the houses on the left (signpost: Adventure Mini Golf Panorama). If you wish to visit the Mini golf course (they also have a bar with fantastic panorama!), turn left and climb up the hill (might be to steep for some children, however - it's only a short climb and one can also walk and push the bike).
After visiting the Adventure Mini Golf Panorama, return back to the main village street. Turn left and cycle on the road leading across the meadows and towards the forest (road sign: end of village Gorica). As you reach the forest, cycle further on a pleasant levelled road for about 200 meters until meeting the old regional road (shrine/column) on your left-hand side. Though this road is not so frequent any more, take maximum care by crossing it! Getting to the other side, turn right and follow a bicycle lane descending steeply down towards Radovljica (church tower of St. Peter's church in the old town can already be seen from here). Some children might find this descend a bit challenging, though others might enjoy it very much. The bicycle lane is paved, straight forward and ends in a gently rising slope at the other end (locals call this road "skakalnica" - Ski jump). However, keep in mind the proximity of the main road and the speed a cyclist can develop on this hill.
The bicycle lane you leads across the motorway overpass and ends on the quiet local street (catholic shrine/column on your right-hand side). Turn right and descend down the road into Radovljica (electric power distribution centre on your left-hand side ), ignoring both left and right-hand side turns. Continue cycling straight ahead on Ljubljanska cesta, leading you directly to the old town centre (sharply pointed belfry of St. Peter's church in Radovljica). Reaching a T-junction outside the old town, turn left and follow the principal road leading on top of a natural terrace. Reaching the junction by the old linden tree, keep left and descend down the road leading towards the police station. To avoid cycling on the main road, pedal right across the large parking area on your left-hand side. Reaching the far end, you will recognize the small marketplace, hotel and the walls of the former castle park. Turn left, any cycle the gravel lane through the park back to the historic town centre of Radovljica.
Note
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
By train: arriving from the direction of either Ljubljana or Jesenice, exit the train at Radovljica train station, than cycle (push a bike) straight up the steep narrow street (Kolodvorska ulica) leading you directly to the square (roundabout) in front of the Tourist information centre in Radovljica.
By bus: frequent buses connect Radovljica to Bled, Kranjska Gora, Jesenice and Ljubljana. On most Arriva operated bus lines you can load the mountain bike on the bus free of charge,providing there is enough space in the luggage compartment.
From the bus station in Radovljica, cross the main road at the road crossing by the market, than cycle through the park stretching in-front of the Grajski dvor hotel. Turn right at the end of the gravel lane, and you will find yourself on the square (roundabout) in front of the Tourist information centre in Radovljica.
Getting there
Arriving from Bled:
Use the motorway A2 and take the exit 4 (OMV petrol station). Follow the signs for Radovljica, when reaching the first junction. Turn left and drive towards the town until reaching the junction with traffic lights, than turn left again. Follow the principal road (Kranjska cesta), than Gorenjska cesta for the old town centre.
Arriving from Ljubljana:
Use the motorway A2 and take the exit 4 (OMV petrol station). Reaching the local road, turn right for Radovljica and cross the motorway overpass. Drive towards Radovljica until reaching the junction with traffic lights, than turn left again. Follow the principal road (Kranjska cesta), than Gorenjska cesta for the old town centre.
Parking
Most parking spaces in Radovljica are time limited. For mountain biking tours we therefore advise you, to find parking area without time limitation. The nearest such parking area to the old town is in Kajuhova street. After having passed-by the bank (on your left), and the court and high school (on your right-hand side) turn right and follow the street leading pass the school to the edge of a natural terrace above the railway line. Parking spaces can be found on the left hand side of the road. If this parking area is busy, try the parking spaces near the Health centre (Swimming pool) in Kopališka ulica street.Coordinates
Equipment
- a technicaly flawless bike (mountain bike, trekking bike or gravel bike)
- helmet, gloves, sunglasses
- food and drinks from backpack
- spare inner tube, pump, multitool, basic personal first aid kit
- personal document (ID card), health insurance card
Statistics
- 1 Waypoints
- 1 Waypoints
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