Our first morning, as we arrived from the airport and into the town of Bled
October in the Julian Alps of north-western Slovenia can be quite wet, but when the sun appears then the autumn colours around the lakes and on the hillsides can be as spectacular as anything that New England has to offer at this time of year. Such was this summary of the holiday companies’ marketing messages that, at just a few days’ notice, Rachel and I booked a short walking break in this oft-overlooked corner of Europe. We were not to be disappointed.
Slovenia (in dark green on the map) is a mostly mountainous and forested country, of not many more than two million souls, that sits wedged between Austria to the north and Croatia to the south and sharing boundaries to the east with Hungary and to the west with Italy, alongside a short coastline to the Adriatic on the northern Mediterranean SeaOur brief foray to Slovenia was centred in the Julian Alps (marked red on the map), around the north-western lakeside town of Bled and the Bohinj valley to its south west – ahead of a couple of days in the capital Ljubljana, just an hour’s drive to the south-east
One advantage of taking a last minute deal is the ability to assess the upcoming weather, and so we enjoyed a dry week of walking in the hills, and with enough sunny intervals to illuminate the seasonal beauty of this stunning region. I wanted to share our experience on this Blog: this is the first of a two-parter, and I hope that the photos do justice to the landscape at its autumnal best.
Our first day, and lunch by Lake Bled was in order . . .. . . before an afternoon ramble around the six-kilometre lakeside circuitThe views back across the water to the small town of Bled . . .. . . and over to Otok, the country’s only islandThe lake is fished for perch, northern pike, and catfish (that can grow to a whopping 2.5 metres) . . .. . . although most visitors content themselves with a traditional pletna-boat ride across to Otok . . .. . . or a ‘toy train’ tripNext day, in the village of Ribčev Laz, close to our accommodation in Bohinj Bistrica (about 30 kilometres south-west and up the valley from Bled), stands this statue to the ‘four courageous men from Bohinj’ who left from this point in 1778 on the first successful climb of Mount Triglav, Slovenia’s highest peakThe village stands beside Lake Bohinj, where a twelve-kilometre circumnavigation of the water takes a rambler away from the masses and into some delightful alpine sceneryCrossing the Sava Bohinjka as it exits the lakeShafts of sunlight picking out lakeside highlights . . .. . . and a colourful palette on the shoreForward on a well-made path . . .. . . and looking back down Lake Bohinj to Ribčev Laz, now under moody skiesThe clear green waters of the Savica river at the head of of the lake . . .. . . and the Church of St Duha, as we returned along the southern bankTime for coffee and a creamy/custardy Bled Cake!‘A loo with a view’ at the start of our next day’s walk, up from the village of Stara Fuzina to the Slap Mostnice waterfall At the entrance to the narrow gorge gatekeeper Zoran claims to have ‘the best job, and the best office in the world’ . . .. . . and he has a fair pointTaking the waters . . .. . . in this unspoilt limestone canyonThe so-called Elephant RockThe path steepens and the gorge deepens . . .. . . until a surprise emergence into civilisation (and a welcome coffee stop)Views of the high alpine peaks now . . .. . . and on, ever-upward, through the abandoned summer pastures . . .. . . and cabinsOur final ascent, through the woods . . .. . . to the 25-metre drop of the Slap MostniceStarting back down . . .. . . and nuzzling upA picnic lunch-stop under a colourful canopy . . .. . . and taking the right bank back down . . .. . . returning to ‘Zoran’s office’, at the end of a grand day out!Another day, and another climb . . .. . . to another waterfall – the Slap SavicaColours aplenty, notwithstanding the mist . . .. . . and some views beneath the cloud-base A shorter walk today allowed time for a ride on the cable car from Ukanc above Lake Bohinj . . .. . . higher and higher . . .. . . to the top of Vogel, at 1,540 metres
And so ends the first few days of our rambling escapade to Slovenia: I will report back here in a few days with Part Two of this photo diary. Until then, enjoy the weekend and see you soon!
My Blog heading today ‘Forever Autumn’ is taken from the title of the song of that name composed by US-British musician Jeff Wayne, from his epic 1978 compilation ‘Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds’, an adaptation of H G Wells’ sci-fi novel set to Wayne’s rock-opera style of music and lyrics. The album is narrated by actor Richard Burton, and features guest artists that include David Essex, Phil Lynott, Chris Thompson and Julie Covington. Envisaging the lead vocals for ‘Forever Autumn’ Wayne reportedly requested “that voice from ‘Nights in White Satin’”; and, thus, up stepped erstwhile Moody Blues frontman Justin Hayward to do the honours. Notwithstanding the fallen leaves of the lyric parodying a relationship lost, I find the song an engrossing and enchanting exaltation of autumnal beauty.
Walking for Fun, Challenge and Charity! 
Great photos – looks fabulous. On my bucket list.
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stunning photos. Must go there!
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Jane Sing……As always, sparklingly fab & glorious. Glad you were together
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What a beautiful country……..looking forward to the next instalment, Nick.
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