*A gourmet walk through quaint Jestřebice village, with an optional visit to the Pokličky rocks: 7 km*

• This walk provides a great taste of the delights of the Kokořinsko region (in more ways than one!). It circles through classic sandstone rock gorges; visits the remarkable mushroom-shaped rock towers the region is famous for and traverses a village filled with typical Kokořinsko 18th and 19th century folk architecture. Even better, there are a number of excellent restaurants for refreshments along the short but highly recommended route.
• The route starts at the (paid) parking area below the well-known Pokličky rocks in the scenic central valley – Kokořínský Důl. There are buses to the starting point from Mšeno. For those who have not already visited the mushroom-shaped pillars (see first picture below), the Pokličky viewpoint is just 200m from the car park – up a long series of steep steps!
• After the optional visit to the viewpoint, the route circles through a narrow sandstone gorge on an easy footpath, gently rising to reach village of Jestřebice, which is a conservation area notable for its timbered and old farm buildings. There are two well known restaurants in the village: the atmospheric Drákulova krčma, serving interesting Serbian food and the classic Kokořinsko pub, Hostinec na Jestřebici.
• From Jestřebice, the route descends back to Kokořínský Důl through another sandstone rock gorge. There is an option to detour to see the Jestřebické pokličky, another rock tower with selective weathering of the sandstone creating an unusual shape. This detour is quite steep without steps.
• On the return to Kokořínský Důl, the route follows a short section of the Máchova cesta, named after the 19th century poet Karel Hynek Mácha. Near the start point is another recommended restaurant, in the Pension Hlučov. This is an excellent spot for a relaxed lunch (or dinner).
• The overall route is 7.3 km long, including diversions to both rock tower viewpoints. The total height to be climbed-descended is around 190m (and just 100m if the detours are skipped). The route is easy (but often muddy). The only difficult section is the scramble up to the Jestřebické pokličky – which can be skipped if desired.

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

• Starting at the Pokličky trail junction in Kokořínský Důl, the Pokličky rocks are signposted along the BLUE trail – up a steep set of steps. If visiting the rocks return back to the valley afterwards
• From the Pokličky junction in the valley take the BLUE trail in the opposite direction from the rocks – heading towards Jestřebic. The village is reached in 2 km
• In the center of the village, next to the Drákulova krčma pub, join the GREEN trail and head in the direction of Mšeno
• Follow the trail though the village for 450m. Just before the Hostinec na Jestřebici, the trail starts to descend back to the valley
• Continue for 1.3 km until reaching a tourist shelter, where the optional detour up to the Jestřebické pokličky begins (marked with green-white triangle markers)
• Continue downhill on the GREEN trail the reach the valley and the Boudecký mlýn trail junction
• At the junction, join the RED trail and head back to the start point, which is reached in 1 km