Walks from Rabštejn to Manětín in the Horní Střela nature park: 15 km to 25 km

• Horní Střela is a relatively large protected nature park (100 square kilometers) mostly located in the Plzeň-North district. The park was created to protect the landscape around the Střela river, characterized by steep-sided rocky slopes and natural mixed forest areas. It is attractive countryside with a number of interesting hiking options.
• The highest peak in the park area is Vladař (693m), a table mountain with an important prehistoric hillfort on its summit. There is a very nice walk around this peak. The northern part of the park also has some remarkable granite outcrops which are definitely worth exploring – see the separate walk featuring these outcrops, which starts in Rabštejn nad Střelou.
• The walk on this page, however, stars the meandering Střela river, which is probably at its most attractive as it flows southwards from Rabštejn towards Plasy. The walk begins with the trail that follows close to the river. Around 9 km south of Rabštejn, the Střela is joined by an important tributary stream, the Manětínský potok. The scenic footpath runs beside the stream into the town of Manětín. If preferring a one way route (total length of 15 km), a bus may be caught back to Rabštejn (but check the timetable in advance as buses are very infrequent).
• The route along the Střela and Manětínský potok passes a number of historical mills, including Čoubův mlýn, which dates back to the 15th century (it usefully serves refreshments during the summer season).
• A recommended (somewhat longer) alternative to the bus is to take the direct footpath back to Rabštejn through the hills on the western edge of the park. This creates a nicely varied circular route of 25 km (which can be shortened by 2 km if preferring not to venture into Manětín town centre). The full circular route involves just under 500m of height to ascend/descend (the one way route has just over 200m).
• The paths beside the stream are sometimes quite narrow and slightly exposed in places. This is quite a demanding footpath, especially after wet weather. Fallen trees also occasionally need to be navigated around.
• Both Rabštejn nad Střelou and Manětín are picturesque historical towns that are worth exploring. Rabštejn was founded in the 14th century and its Gothic castle later converted into a Baroque aristocratic residence (open for tours in the summer season). In the 17th century, a Servite monastery was founded in the castle area. Manětín is particularly known for its majestic chateau, one of the best known Baroque monunents in western Bohemia.
• There are several good refreshment options in both Rabštejn and Manětín. In particular, Rabštejn has two good cafés (open seasonally) which are next door to each other, near the chateau. The one serving as an information office also serves nice ice cream. There is also a popular pub (Restaurant U Laury), just off the main trail – map point 6.

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

• Rabštejn is on a local bus route between Kralovice and  Manětín. For drivers there are a couple of small parking areas in town including some spaces behind the monastery (where the bus also stops)
• From the bus stop/parking area start on the GREEN hiking trail, heading in the direction of Plasy
• After 9 km, mostly beside the river, reach the Čoubův Mlýn junction (refreshment spot during summer)
• At the junction, turn right onto the YELLOW trail, cross the bridge to pass the mill and then continue for 1.2 km to reach the Frantův Mlýn junction
• At Frantův Mlýn, turn onto the RED trail heading in the direction of Vuršův mlýn
• After 3.7 km reach the Vuršův mlýn junction. Here if planning to take the bus back from Manětín (or wanting to visit the historic center/Baroque chateau), continue 1.3 km to reac the town square
• If returning on foot to Rabštejn, at the Vuršův mlýn junction join the BLUE trail which leads directly back to Rabštejn after 9 km