Things to do along the Ridge Trail

A long-distance trail is, of course, an adventure in itself. Even so, it doesn’t hurt to know where there are extra things to do in the surrounding area – for example, if you get caught in the rain and need somewhere to warm up, dry off or take shelter for a few hours, whilst keeping yourself entertained. Or if you’re so used to multitasking that just walking isn’t enough for you :) Alternatively, if one of your party happens to be celebrating their walking-anniversary – ahem, sorry, birthday – along the way, and you urgently need to give them a present, an experience or a cake so they can quickly blow out the candles and set off again...

Whatever your reason, there are plenty of activities you can squeeze into your itinerary whilst walking the Ridge Trail, and we’re sure that from the ones we’ve put together in this random overview, you’ll definitely find something to your liking or at least be inspired to look for more.

If you’re walking the Ridge Trail from the Petrovice side, a sea of sandstone cliffs awaits you right at the start. The Tisá Cliffs are essentially a forest set in a giant sandpit. Sand is everywhere – in the rock towers looming overhead, on the paths between them, in your shoes, socks and even in your mouth… And you’ll probably be combing it out of your hair for a while once you get home. It’s like stepping back into childhood, so make the most of it and don’t be afraid to have a go at climbing the sandstone.

If you’re not experienced climbers, don’t worry – make use of the guide services offered by locals who live along the Hřebenovka route and know the area well. Do lesa Adventure Agency is based in nearby Děčín and offers adrenaline-fuelled experiences, sandstone climbing courses, and will even lend you bikes if you fancy a short ride. Certified instructors will assist you with the rock climbing, ensuring that, whilst enjoying all that adrenaline, you remain safe and adhere to the – in the national park, rather strict – rules of responsible climbing, which ensure the natural heritage is not damaged any more than is absolutely necessary.

Whilst we’re on the subject of climbing and Děčín, why not pop over from Hřebenovka to the famous Děčín via ferrata? It’s exceptional in that it offers quite a number of different routes to the top (16 in total!) and is also situated right in the heart of the city, on a hill called Pastýřská, which towers above the mighty River Elbe, opposite the sprawling Děčín Castle complex.

You’ll need basic equipment to tackle the via ferrata. A via ferrata kit comprising a harness, a safety rope with carabiners and a helmet can be hired from Active Point in Děčín, just below the via ferrata.

After the climb, you’ll have a moment to catch your breath and enjoy the view of the town, the castle and the Elbe Canyon, before heading back down on foot. On the way, you’ll pass Děčín’s Zoological Garden, which could be another pleasant addition to your day out on the Hřebenovka trail. Here you’ll see bears, wolves, a lynx cub, a crested macaque and many other animals, including a recent addition: an adorable two-toed sloth. In winter, don’t forget you can warm up in the separate ‘Paradise Islands’ exhibit on Teplická Street. Here you can see heat-loving animals from coral reefs, reptiles and amphibians, and some ‘adorable’ insects – and you’ll warm up ‘right to the marrow of your bones’ :).

We realise that not all ‘Hřebenáči’ – as travellers on the Hřebenovka trail through Bohemian Switzerland are nicknamed – are keen on climbing, so let’s head back to the start of the route once more and look for activities for those who prefer something more creative. In Tisá, on the high street right next to the post office and a short distance from the start of the Tisá Cliffs, you can peek through the unassuming door of the pottery studio. You’ll warm up here too, but at the same time, on a sweltering summer’s day, you can shelter from the sun and cool your hands on the potter’s wheel. The owner offers pottery courses for both larger and smaller groups; you can come on your own or in pairs and, as well as making a bowl, plate or mug, create lovely shared memories of Hřebenovka and the skilful locals, who draw inspiration – and often materials – for their creations from the surrounding countryside.

From Tisá, the route leads over Děčínský Sněžník, a journey you can undertake in a slightly faster – and for some, perhaps even more entertaining – way. Simply arrange it with the aforementioned Active Point in Děčín, which will take you up to Děčínský Sněžník and send you back down with a map, a lock, a helmet and a scooter… What do you think? Is it worth a go? We reckon so!

You can easily spend the evening or the following day in Děčín, visiting the zoo mentioned earlier, lazing about at the Děčín Aquapark or taking a tour of Děčín Castle and its breathtaking gardens.

From Děčín, you can continue along the Hřebenovka route to Hřensko either over the hills via Kvádrberk, Růžový hřeben and Belvedér, or you can extend your scooter hire and head to Hřensko along the cycle path beside the River Elbe. The views are beautiful from both above and below, so it’s entirely up to you and how fast you want to whizz along.

From Hřensko, it’s uphill again, because you simply won’t want to miss Pravčická. If you’d like to climb up to it with an experienced guide who’ll tell you everything you need to know and find interesting along the way, and even arrange a boat trip through the famous Hřensko gorges on the River Kamenice, take a look at the offer from Northern Hikes, with whom you can enjoy this adventure completely stress-free :).

On your way to Vysoká Lípa, be sure to thoroughly explore all the steps and ladders of the Šaunštejn rock castle and also check out the new ‘Česká silnice’ nature trail.

Near Jetřichovice, cool off at the campsite’s swimming pool, grab a bite to eat at the snack bar and have a game of volleyball. Walk all the way round Griesel’s Pond so you don’t miss the tunnel carved into the rock where the old weir used to be – that is, if you’re not afraid of the dark, boo!

From the Kyjov Valley, pop over to Nová Perla for some art and also to the local café, where extraordinary things happen – parades, performances, stand-up comedy – and where life really is in full swing, whether you’re an artist or simply need to escape it all for a while.

You can get to Krásná Lípa by taking a detour via Vlčí Hora and the fragrant kingdom of Nobilis Tilia – for shopping for aromatherapy cosmetics, attending a workshop or festival, or simply strolling through the garden and enjoying a herbal tea.

In Krásná Lípa, you can spend about an hour having fun with an escape game at Pumphut’s Mill and then spend the whole evening recovering from it at the Falkenštejn Brewery.

In Jiřetín pod Jedlovou, during the sweltering summer, head underground for a couple of hours into the St John the Evangelist adit, and in Jedlová, after climbing the observation tower, try to tuck into the whole famous blueberry dumpling at the local restaurant, though do so at your own risk – and only if you never want to return to Ridge Trail, which would be a shame – so it’s best to eat it bit by bit and, above all, with a fork!

And to round things off? Before you head back to civilisation by train, be sure to have at least one drink at the legendary Nádražka Jedlová, which is a daily hub for all summer and winter travellers (mind you, don’t confuse it with a pub! :).

This article was produced as part of the project “Marketing Activities to Promote Tourism in Bohemian Switzerland”, implemented with funding from the state budget of the Czech Republic under a programme of the Ministry for Regional Development.