Koča na Dobrči

To the north of the hilly Ljubljana basin, between the towns of Tržič and Begunje, the Dobrča lookout mountain rises. At 1,634 metres high, it is considered the westernmost part of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps. The best thing about Dobrča is its impressive panoramic view. It's no wonder that several hiking trails lead up to it. There is also an approximately eight-kilometre-long gravel road that supplies the Koča na Dobrči mountain hut at an altitude of 1,478 metres. The good news: this road is legally passable.

It begins on road no. 638 leading from Tržič to Begunje, just before the town of Zadnja vas. The signpost to the mountain hut is impossible to miss, and the tyres are already rolling along the well-developed gravel road through what is initially dense deciduous and coniferous forest. The regularly interspersed bends are neatly laid out, clear and fun to ride. Still dense forest, hardly any views. But then the trees suddenly part, you ride a bit along the ridge, then the rustic, wood-clad mountain hut Koča na Dobrči appears.

Tables, benches, a viewing terrace - the expectations in terms of panorama are more than fulfilled. The hut is on the southern slope of the Dobrča, the eye can see far over the Ljubljana basin. To the west, Lake Bled shines in front of the Julian Alps, to the east the Kamnik-Savinj Alps rise. The culinary delights up here are hardly behind the visual: the kitchen serves three different stews, buckwheat porridge, sauerkraut, bratwurst, black pudding, pork ribs, quark strudel, apple strudel and, in the grazing season, sour milk.