Hiking in the Little Carpathians
Sunny weather, no clouds, and blue sky mean a perfect day to get onto an observation tower. There are many around the capital city of Bratislava, but today Great Homola (Veľká Homola) won.
The tower is beautiful every season and any time of the day. Before you continue to read, note that once you are up, it will be windy. Do not get fooled by a beautiful sunny day. The wind will be there.
Our waddle:
- Waddle duration: 1 hour and 40 minutes
- Distance: 5,88 km (6,88 miles)
- Route: Red
- Map: link
- Things to see: artificial lake, observatory, Velká Homola (The Great Homola)
This waddle was easy, and we only went up and back down. Although it is quick and relatively easy, we highly recommend it—the view from the top is breathtaking.
No matter your age, it is suitable for everyone.
Accessibility
As mentioned, this is an easy there-and-back waddle, meaning we parked the car and went up and down. You can park your car opposite Zochova Cottage. There is a paid parking space. The price for a full-day ticket is 3 €. For 1 hour via SMS, it is 0.50 €. There is also a possibility to pay via card.
Apart from coming via car, you can also reach via bus from the capital Bratislava. It is part of the public transport and has a regular schedule, which you can check out here.
The Waddle
The length of the route is only a few kilometers. The overall route is easy to follow, but due to the elevation gain, it can also be a little challenging.
You can reach Great Homola (Veľká Homola) from various directions, as did we over time (read more here), but to go from Zochova cottage is the simplest way. Many beautiful hiking routes start from Zochova cottage, so it is a good starting point.
From the parking lot, follow the red route down the stairs first, and then you will come across an artificial lake. You can actually bathe in, but it was still quite cold for us (yes, even though I am a penguin, it was cold. Note I am a domesticated penguin). However, we saw people swimming there.
The first hill will be around a ski lift as you continue to waddle. Follow the red route, which will take you through a forest. Here you will come along to an Astronomical Observatory.
Waddle uphill, always following the red route. Along the way, you will have many possibilities to rest in a shelter on the right side, but I doubt you will need the rest. Soon you will see the observatory tower coming into view.
Great Homola Lookout Tower
The Great Homola (Veľká Homoľa) is one of the higher peaks in the Little Carpathians, with a height of over 700 above sea level. It makes it one of the 11 peaks in Little Carpathian crossing this height.
The current lookout tower was built in 2018. There were two more towers before this one. The first one was constructed in 1984 and can be seen close by, or at least its remains. A second one was constructed in 2001, but due to safety reasons. The present one they built in 2018. It has six floors and gives the best views.
The wind will be strong up there, but at least now the tower does not swing, although I expected it to do for some reason.
So far, we have visited the tower twice, and the wind was strong both times. And both times, the view was worth it.
Next to the tower, there is also a possibility to rest under a small shelter with a roof, so you will be safe even if it rains suddenly. It is also lovely to take a break once you waddle to the top.
Read also: The Lookout Tower on Devinska Kobyla
Now let’s get up. There are a few stairs ahead. It can take a while to reach the top, especially for a small penguin.
Finally, up top, first, the wind will greet you right into your face, and then you can enjoy the magnificent view.
The lookout tower offers a panorama view of the Little Carpathians, the Danube Plain, the White Carpathians, the Great Fatra, the Pavlovské vrchy, and Chřiby in Moravia or the Eastern Alps in Austria if the weather allows.
Before you waddle away, stop and enjoy the “art” that you can find here. Well, the snail was already there, but the penguin was our doing. And there are more penguins which you might find on other routes.
What else to see nearby?
- Three Riders – a group of rocks that is a well-known locality for beginner climbers, but also a tourist-interesting natural creation I visited myself; read more here
- The Stone gate – numerous larger or smaller rock formations; read more here
- Kukla – a peak with a height of 564 meters above sea level is known for another lookout tower with a circular view
There are many more places to waddle to, but I hope you will enjoy at least Great Homola.
As I say. Waddle on, my friends.
