Brada and all the Prachovské skály viewpoints – a 10 km tour
- This walk aims to capture all the major viewpoints in the Prachovské skály, including Brada castle, by looping twice around the extraordinary rock formations
- The walk starts at a car park located on the edge of rock zone. Both the car park and the main trail can be extremely busy at weekends during peak season (April to October) and during school holidays
- This walk has two sections: the first is a 4.3 km loop to the Brada castle ruin and viewpoints (and back to the car park). The second Prachovské skály section is 5.5 km in length assuming all the viewpoints are visited.
- 390m of height is gained/lost on the whole route. There are a significant number of steep step sections to navigate
- Access to the trails for part of this walk requires payment at the ticket office
- Refreshments should be available at the restaurants located at the car park, and at Hotel Pod Šikmou Věží on the return leg
“Each viewpoint in the Prachovské skály gives a different perspective of the most famous rocks in the Czech Republic. There are at least eleven separate viewpoints. This walk aims to visit them all. It is quite a twisty complex route, but worth it!”
Directions
- Start and finish the walk at the (paid) Prachov – vstup do skal car park (the first parking area reached on the road up from Jičin) . Note: this can get very full at peak times
- This walk has two sections: the first is a 4.3 km loop to the Brada castle ruin and viewpoints (and back to the car park). The second Prachovské skály section is 5.1 km in length assuming all the viewpoints are visited
- For the Brada section, start on the BLUE trail (direction Brada) and continue on this trail for 1.9 km to the end of the ridge where the Brada castle viewpoint is located
- Below Brada there is a small restaurant for refreshments if required
- Return back along the BLUE trail for 800m and then turn off onto the GREEN trail to visit the excellent viewpoint of Václava Čtvrtka on top of Přivýšina hill
- After the viewpoint carry on along the GREEN trail to rejoin the BLUE trail after 600m
- Continue on the BLUE trail for 500m to return to the car park
- For the Prachovské skály section of the walk enter the rock area through the ticket office (payment required during the season ).
- Start the walk along the RED trail, reaching the first viewpoint after 550m.
- Continue on the RED trail for 200m to reach the U Hlaholské vyhlídky signpost. Here take the GREEN trail to visit the Hlaholská view point and return back to the signpost.
- Take the GREEN trail downhill (direction Hakenova vyhlídka)
- Continue on the GREEN trail for 800m stopping off at the various viewpoints – note this is a steep step section – finally reaching the valley where the GREEN trail meets up with the YELLOW and RED trails
- Take the YELLOW trail up the famous Císařská chodba steps reaching the Nad Císařskou chodbou after 200m
- At the signpost turn right onto the GREEN trail and follow this for 400m to reach the U buku signpost stopping off at the Míru viewpoint on the way
- At U buku turn right onto the YELLOW trail for 100m, then join the RED trail to visit perhaps the most famous viewpoint; Vyhlídka Českého ráje.
- From the viewpoint continue on the RED trail for 300 to reach the signpost of Nad Fortnou (F1 rescue point). From there, turn right onto the GREEN trail. After 150m reach the penultimate viewpoint of Pechova vyhlídka
- Return back the 150m to the Nad Fortnou signpost staying on the GREEN trail to visit the final viewpoint of Šikmá věž
- 90m after the last viewpoint reach the Vyhlídka Šikmá věž signpost. Turn right onto the RED trail (direction Pod Šikmou věží)
- After 100m reach to signpost of Pod Šikmou věží signpost. Turn left onto the GREEN trail and return to the car park in 1.3km along this trail, passing the attractive Hotel Pod Šikmou Věží on the way (refreshments may be available)