Walks in the unique nature reserve of Voděradské bučiny: 5 km to 15 km

• The Voděradské bučiny nature reserve lies approximately 30 km east of Prague and is unique in Central Europe for its low forested hills scattered with countless rounded granite boulders, the product of frost shattering effects of the periodic ice ages over the last two million years. The forests themselves are maintained close to their original natural state – mostly comprising beech trees – due to careful forestry management since 1935, when the area came under the control of the Czech Technical University (ČVUT) Forestry school.
• It is a picturesque forest, lined on its northern edge with large fishponds that are occasionally swimmable. The forest is ideal for walks at any time of year, including winter when the terrain (which rises to over 500m altitude) can often be snow-covered. There are several marked hiking and cycle trails that cross the area, including an 8 km educational trail (with informational panels that are occasionally looking a little tired).
• The options for exploring the forest area with a stroller are somewhat limited, as many of the trails have sections that are tangled with tree roots. However, by starting near the village of Louňovice it is possible to create a 5 km stroller-friendly loop, which covers a section of the forest and two of the ponds. Longer walks of up to 15 km are possible from the same starting point. If travelling by public transport, the bus from the Prague metro station Háje stops close to Louňovice (II. hráz bus stop). If driving, there are usually a few parking spots next to the Louňovický pond or in the village street near the forest entrance (Ke Kaménce street).
• An alternative starting point is the well known lakeside village of Jevany, which has two small car parks and is on the Háje bus line). If walking with a stroller from Jevany it is suggested to follow one of the marked cycle trails and return on the same path. The full 15 km route has only a couple of steeper sections, but is mostly on wide flat forest tracks. A total of 170m of height is gained-lost on this route. Refreshments should be available at the hotel/restaurant U sv. Huberta in Louňovice or in Jevany.

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

• If starting in or near Louňovice, walk to the center of the village, where the sv. Huberta hotel is located (a small outdoor exhibition of stone-working is located opposite the hotel/restaurant)
• From the sv. Huberta restaurant follow the BLUE hiking trail along Ke Kaménce street towards the forest – this is also a cycle path and part of the village history educational trail
• After 1.6km the BLUE hiking trail joins with the Vodaradské bučiny nature trail at the Lom Kamenka s kovárnou information board
• Continue on the BLUE trail towards Voděradské bučiny, which is reached after 600m. Here walkers with strollers may wish to take the YELLOW trail to the left towards Vyžlovský rybník to complete a 5 km loop back to Louňovice on good trails
• Walkers on the longer routes should continue on the BLUE trail to reach the Lenhartova deska trail junction after 3.6 km
• At Lenhartova deska it is possible to shorten the route to 11 km by taking the BLUE trail down the hill in the direction of Jevanský ryb.
• Walkers on the full route should continue on the RED trail in the direction of Černé Voděrady – koupaliště
• After following the RED trail for 1.3 km, turn off that trail (point 6 on the map) to continue following the green-white striped nature trail markings (the turning is close to a tourist shelter in the forest on the left side)
• After 1.7 km the nature trail reaches the Jevanský ryb. trail junction at the edge of the pond
• At the trail signpost, turn onto the RED trail and follow this all the way back to Louňovický rybník (pond) which is reached in 4.2 km. From there walk back up the hill to the Louňovice village center on the public road, or follow the RED trail to the bus stop