With the spring behind the doors, the hikes are also getting longer and longer. The Little Carpathians are full of places yet to discover. The weather was in our favor as we went on the 16 km (almost 10 miles).
As usual and always advised, we started the hike in the early morning hours when the air was still crisp, and the sun was not out yet. We parked the car not far from the church of St. Florian and were on our way.
Plavecký Mikuláš is a village in western Slovakia in Malacky District, still in Bratislava Region.
Our waddle:
- Waddle duration: 4 hours and 30 minutes
- Distance: 16,70 km (10,30 miles)
- Route: Blue&Yellow&Red&Green
- Map: link
- Things to see: Dubový vršok, Čierna skala, Deravá skala, Mon Repos, Jelenia Skala
Accessibility
Arriving by car, the village offers a few parking places, especially around the church area, and all are free. From the capital, Bratislava, it is about a 50-minute drive.
Among other possibilities to get to the village is via public transport, bus number 289.
The Waddle
This waddle was one of the most beautiful and also little challenging ones we did. It starts with a steep uphill that takes its toll on the energy already, but the top view is worth it. Be prepared because it will be the first steep uphill waddle for the route. However, there are very interestingly shaped trees on the way up.
Once up, “Dubový vršok” will offer you a breathtaking view of the village lying below and the Little Carpathians to where your eyes can see.
Continuing the waddle, we entered an area with high protection, meaning one can not pick anything you find there—no flowers and none of the wild garlic that grew here in thousands. But that must have been the reason for it to be there in such amounts, because of the degree of protection. Nevertheless, it gave the area a mysterious vibe as the wild garlic was the only greenery.
We continue waddling towards our next goal, “Čierna skala .” This is the last steeper hill up from the whole waddling route, and we had to waddle up to the spot and then back down.
It is a steep downfall, so be safe. If you are not fond of heights, don’t look down. You will get a head spin for sure.
From “Čierna skala,” we continued towards Mon Repos. It is a manor hidden between the trees. Currently, it is being restored as it’s a historical landmark. We took a short break here before continuing onto our next planned attraction of the hike.
“Deravá skala“ is a cave and a natural monument located on the right side of Mokrá dolina. The cave is 26 meters (about 85 feet) long and 16 meters (about 52 feet) high.
Its spaces are created on a tectonic crack by the activity of groundwater and extended by seepage waters enriched with carbon dioxide and frost weathering.
Read also: Čermák and Skalnatá
From the cave, we headed out to the last part of our planned route and the last planned attraction. Now I emphasize the word planned here because, on our way, we had one unexpected treat from nature in the shape of the lizards named the fire salamanders. I never saw so many of them within a short distance of waddling. If you have never had the pleasure of seeing one, this is the place to go.
The fire salamanders were only an unexpected bonus on our hiking tour, but very much welcomed. We waddled on to get to our last destination, “Jelenia skala.” On the way, more magnificent views awaited us before we reached our final destination.
Moving on, we reached the final destination, “Jelenia skala,” which is magnificent not only because of its views but also because it is a popular destination for rock climbing. The whole rock is made from limestone and oriented towards the west, which can bring beautiful sunsets. It can also become the only destination for hiking, and many choose to go with families only to “Jelenia skala” and back to the village.
What was stunning on the way to Deer rock was the green trees lining the way to it.
As the time was already nearing lunch, there were much more people at the rock, so if you plan this to be the only destination for your hike, go early in the morning. The hike was great, even though the hills needed to be covered, but they gave a reward in the shape of the most beautiful views. And let’s not forget the spring nature coming to life and the many flowers we saw on our way.
After the “Jelenia skala,“ it was back down and back to the village. This tour will give you a lot to see, so I highly recommend it.
