February 4, 2019 – Adrenaline Hvar enthusiasts have one more challenge to enjoy – meet Ferrata Via Avalon, high above Sveta Nedjelja.
The island of Hvar has always attracted individuals and characters from afar. People who discover a slice of Paradise, claim it for their own. In many cases, they have a desire to improve their local surroundings, to put something back. Some do it in the form of good works, financial patronage and so on, while others improve the infrastructure and tourist options, which pursuing their own dreams.
Adrenaline Hvar enthusiasts will have to be grateful once more to Slovakian Miro Stec and the rest of the Cliffbase team for an absolutely outstanding addition to the adventure tourism scene, which has recently been completed after an apparent five years of dedicated work by these local enthusiasts.
Just looking at pictures of the new metal walkway high above Sveta Nedjelja makes me dizzy, but I am not known for my head for heights. But total respect to Miro and his team for making this particular dream a reality.
The new Ferrata Via Avalon looks sensational, but in case you thought it was just about that little metal crossing at the top, stay with us, for there was much more involved than that. Check out these hand-built and very narrow stone steps on the way up, for example.
I am just going to leave this photo out there – Adrenaline Hvar invites you. Are you man enough?
As is sadly often the case, most of the great private initiatives in Croatia come from the private pocket. A sign at the entrance to the bridge has a little more information about the project and its funding. So if you have not bought your ticket from the Cliffbase team prior to your ascent, please don’t forget to donate. I have no idea how many hours or kuna it took to make Ferrata Via Avalon a reality, but I doubt the project creators will ever be compensated in full. A good job they do a lot of it for love… Although Via Avalon is only the beginning. Via Mirko close by is also in function and a little more challenging, nad Miro has plans to add several more.
Spending the day at the beach is completely understandable, but making the extra effort really is worth it.
Very few tourists make it to the top of the island, which is a pity, as the views are breathtaking, but so too is the natural terrain. And those peak season crowds? Nowhere to be seen.
The rocks at Sveta Nedjelja offer some of the best rock climbing in Dalmatia, and the locally-based Cliffbase team deserve huge credit for the role that they have played in developing this adrenaline Hvar destination.
This is, of course, prime wine country and the home of the famous Zlatan Otok winery. But some of the famous Plavac Mali grapes have also found their way into the hands of lesser-known winemakers.
Winemakers like Slovakian Miro Stec, who finds the time when now expanding the Hvar climbing story, to make rather a good Plavac Mali. So good, in fact, that it beat some of his more illustrious wine-making neighbours during blind tastings. The perfect way to relax after an exhilarating visit to Ferrata Via Avalon. Check out the official trailer below and then learn more about what is on offer at Cliffbase this summer.
Relive ‘Ferrata VIA AVALON A/B, Hvar, official trailer by Cliffbase’
