If you’re into mountain climbing:
SVIJALA
The mountain of Svilaja extends over an area of about 30 kilometres, from Sinjsko Polje Valley to Drniško Polje Valley near the town of Drniš. At an elevation of 1509 metres, the summit of Svilaja dominates this part of Inland Dalmatia. The mountain is mostly covered with woods, particularly on its northern side, as well as with grassy pastures and flowery meadows.
″Orlove stine″ climbers’ lodging is located at an elevation of 1065 metres. It can be approached by making a turn in the direction of the village of Zelovo (7 km) off the main road (D1) at Hrvace (8 km from Sinj). From Zelovo, one can carry on the journey driving on an asphalt road for 2 hours and 3 km further on a macadam road (following signposts to Svilaja), or walk on a trail, which will take 45 minutes off the hamlet of Domazeti. The climbers’ lodging is a new building which can accommodate about 50 people. At present, it is open by appointment, but the plan has been to bring in weekend duty. On the ground floor, there is a 24-hour open climbers’ refuge with 6 beds, a table and a wood-burning stove. Next to the climbers’ lodging, there is a drinking water well.
From ″Orlove stine″, there is a trail leading through Badnji, a wooded part, and it takes an hour to pass it. The trail leads from Badnji to a rocky ground (1 h) and the slopes of Vršina, and then further on over the saddle to the very summit of Svilaja (1509 m). There are breathtaking views from the summit on the Peručko Lake reservoir and the mountains – from Sveto Brdo, the Velebit summit, through Dinara and its summit of Troglav, Šator and Cincar mountains to Kamešnica in the north and mountains of Biokovo, Mosor, Kozjak and Central Dalmatia islands in the south.
The summit can also be approached by car or walking on the macadam road in the direction of the trail, at the distance of 3 km from the climbers’ lodging. It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes from there to the very summit. The climb is steep for the first 20 minutes, passing through the beech wood to the saddle of Privija, connecting Crni umac and Vršina peaks. It takes 10 minutes from there to reach the trail leading from Badnji to the summit.
There are also shorter trails in the Svilaja Mountain leading to the craggy area of Orlove stine, Plišivica and Busovača hills.
Svilaja Climbers’ Lodging
Tel: +385 (0)95 902 8281
Tel: +385 (0)91 564 6024
VISOKA
Visoka (892 m) is a mountain rising above Sinj, more precisely, a south-eastern slope of the Svilaja Mountain, the canyon of Sutina dividing them. On the top of Visoka, there is a concrete crossover 10 metres in height, a pilgrimage place of the people of the Dicmo village, Sinj and the Cetinska Krajina Region. There is a beautiful view from the top of Visoka: on Sinj, Sinjsko Polje Valley and surrounding mountains from the one side, and from the other side on the valley of Dicmo and further on the sea and islands.
The starting point for Visoka is the village of Radošić (2 km from Sinj), the hamlet of Župići, from which place a trail is followed, next to the water reservoir. A steep climb of Karlova greda follows (35 minutes), after which there is a less steep part leading to the meadows below the top (25 minutes). The final climb to the concrete cross on the top of Visoka takes 5 minutes. From the cross, a karst path is taken westwards, through macchia (dense evergreen underbrush), junipers, gentle karst valleys and scrub woods to Visošnica (2 h). From there, the path runs steeply downhill to the Drniš – Sinj road (5 km to Sinj) in the canyon of Sutina torrent, above the hamlet of Đipalo-Ban (35 minutes).
Source: TZ Sinj
BONUS: Close to the Prozor fortress in Vrlika, there is a natural rock climbing wall with 15 different degrees of difficulty.
For more information please contact:
Zolj Mountaineering Club
M: +385 (0)98 9712 856 (Bernard Mučalo)
Dalmatia Explorer
M: +385 (0)91 212 88 82 (Domagoj Burica)
Web: dalmatiaexplorer.com
Source: TZ Vrlika
If you’re into hiking:
Perhaps the best way to get acquainted with the hidden world of farmed fields, with the soul of an area and its people, little springs, rocks in the karst, adjoining small rivers, grapevines, traditional architecture and all other things that make this region more special, is to go hiking on trails which all have their own separate stories to tell.
Walking path – “Gaius Laberius”
Walking the full 3 km over the Gardun hill will provide you with an insight into the world of the flora and fauna of this region. Curiosities that adorn the path are Tilurium, a Roman army camp with a military dormitory, a cistern, mosaic remains, and bastions, St. Peter’s Church at the very top of Gardun, and the unique view at the city of Trilj and its surroundings.
Camp bastions, 3 metres wide, are preserved at the western and northern sides.
A monumental water cistern was found, and so were the remains of the architecture with its floor mosaic, as well as numerous inscriptions, weapons and jewelry, and Gaius Laberius stella. Archeological explorations were conducted in 1998 and 1999. Buildings that are believed to be military dormitories have been found south of the local road. Wide stone walls are supported by massive stone counterforts.
Walking path “Izvori” (Sources)
An 11-km long walking path leads through Grab, Velić, Jabuka and Gaz. The path follows the spring Česma that dates back to 1992, and Smrdelj spring, and the path circumambulates Grabske Mlinice (Grab Mills).
Village Kozina is a very valuable complex of rural architecture built in the traditional way by using the affixed stone which was lined with bricks in regular rows. Village estates are mostly made of one-flight houses which were used for habitation and one-story houses that were used for commercial purposes. Houses here are mostly built with gabled roofs covered with stone panels. They are characteristic of the area for their very nice and precisely-made stone terraces enclosed with thick walls.
Contact:
MOUNTAINEERING ASSOCIATION „JELINAK“
Phone: +385 (0)99 515 6006
Source: TZ Trilj
