Two picturesque nature trails above the meandering Berounka, close to Plzeň: 20 km

• The river Berounka has many scenic sections on its 140 km journey from Plzeň to meet the Vltava near Prague. Curiously, the river has a different name – the Mže – as it flows eastwards from the Bavarian hills in Germany to reach Plzeň, but in the 17th century someone decided to name the lower course of the river after the important trading town of Beroun.
• So, the Berounka officially begins in Plzeň. To mark that beginning, there are two lovely nature trails that follow its left and right hand banks, the František Maloch trail and the Zábělá trail, respectively. Both trails have long picturesque sections on the high rocky terraces above the river, following the unusual twists and turns of the river as it exits the suburbs of Plzeň.
• The Maloch trail (named after a famous 19th century Czech botanist) starts in the Plzeň district of Bílá Hora, close to the Velký Bolevecký pond (which can be visited for a quick dip if desired after the walk!) The Zábělá trail begins in the suburb of Bukovec, below the Holý vrch hill (where the Celts built a hillfort around 500 BC, which was later reoccupied by the Slavs in the 7th century AD). Neither are circular routes so they are best connected together, creating an exciting circular route some 20 km long.
• A convenient starting point for the circular walk is the Bílá Hora district, which has train and bus connections to the center as well as some parking spaces. Alternatively, the walk can be started below Bílá Hora at the Velký Bolevecký pond. After following two ‘horseshoe’ loops of the river, the Maloch trail finishes at the ruins of Věžka, a small 14th century castle constructed on a rocky knoll above the river. The site has been sporadically occupied since the Neolithic (late Stone Age) period.
• From Věžka, the trail crosses the Berounka using the Dolanský road bridge and the Zábělá trail starts from that point heading back upstream on the right (east) bank of the river. If walking in summer, there is a nice pub at the campsite 400m upstream of the bridge, which is worth diverting to.
• The Zábělá trail continues on the right bank through the suburb of Bukovec and then climbs the Chlum hill (416m) where there is a lookout tower (usually only open at weekends) before descending to cross the river a final time using a new footbridge built below the Bílá Hora district.
• The route is easy to follow on good paths, mostly in forest areas. However, there are long sections where the path is quite narrow and there are drops to the river below, so needs some care. There is a total of just over 400m of height to ascend-descend, so it is quite a strenuous route overall. The best spot for refreshments on the route is the camp site pub near Dolanský bridge, or at the Velký Bolevecký pond, if visiting after completing the main walk.

Note: click ‘Show on Mapy.com’  to go to a full screen version of the route directly on the mapy.com site. This can be used for on line navigation, saved or exported as a GPX file.

Directions

• Pick up the YELLOW hiking trail (and the start of the František Maloch nature route) on 28 října street in the Bílá Hora district
• Follow the trail as it winds together with the river to reach the ruins of Věžka, next to the small pond, after 9km
• The ruin can be visited with a short scramble up the knoll – there is a good view of the river from the top
• Return back to the pond after visiting the ruin. There is an unmarked short cut path which leads to the right around the pond and rejoins the YELLOW trail after 100m
• Continue northwards on the YELLOW trail to reach Dolanský most after a further 1.4 km
• Cross the bridge and on the far side turn right to join the GREEN hiking trail (which is also the start of the Zábělá nature trail)
• Note – the campsite and outdoor pub is 400m downstream, so turn left onto the BLUE trail after crossing the bridge if wanting to stop here for refreshments. Then return back to the bridge and continue upstream on the GREEN trail
• Continue along the river on the GREEN trail to reach the village of Bukovec after 4.6 km, then ascend the Chlum hill
• At Chlum summit, leave the GREEN trail and follow the RED trail in the direction of Doubrovka
• After descending the hill (for 1.1 km) the trail reaches a junction where there is a cycle trail signpost and a railway bridge on the left. At this point turn right onto the YELLOW trail
• After 300m reach the Kostel sv. Jiří junction and here turn right, crossing the river using the footbridge after 200m and then follow the YELLOW trail back up the hill to return to the Bílá Hora district and the 28 října street