Lyutibrod – Cross – Zverino

The trail starts from the parking lot in front of the Ritlite Information Center in the village of Lyutibrod. Cross the river and immediately after the bridge, a horizontal trail begins on the left in the direction of Ritlite. After only 5 minutes, you reach a small clearing at the foot of the rock phenomenon. The wide trail continues along the Iskar River. After another 5 minutes, you reach a fork. It is possible to continue along both trails, but it is preferable to take the lower one, which, although slightly overgrown with vegetation, does not cross the railway line. It leads to a spring with drinking water, and just a few dozen meters after it you reach the entrance to a low tunnel. It is a culvert passing under the railway line. The tunnel is clean and semi-dark, so lighting is not necessary. We climb along the sloping floor of the tunnel and reach the beginning of Rashov Dol.

• read more

  The path goes up through the forest perpendicular to the railway line. Immediately to the left there is a deviation to a steep meadow where a flag and a memorial sign for the events of 1876 have been placed. We return to the path and gradually gain height along the bottom of the valley. After a kilometer (a little more than 30 minutes from the beginning of the route) we reach the sloping meadow with the sheepfold where the battle took place between Georgi Apostolov's group, a remnant of the Botev detachment, and the Turkish units. There is a gazebo and benches on the meadow, and a small chapel has also been built. On June 3rd every year a reenactment of the battle is performed here. From the upper right corner of the meadow the path, already significantly narrowed, continues up. It soon becomes quite steep and quickly gains height. In about 30 minutes we reach the Promkata area, where there is a table and benches for resting. This is the end of the steep slope and from here the route abruptly changes its character. Up the trail leads to the village of Chelopek, and to the left – to the Krasta area, which is the next goal of our journey. After another 30 minutes through the forest, we reach a rocky platform with a wonderful view of the village of Lyutibrod and Prosechen Kamak. Shortly after, the trail enters Klyuchni Dol. Crossing the two parts of the valley takes almost an hour. Both forested and bare sections are crossed. In spring, there are many flowering plants typical of karst terrain.
  Shortly before leaving Klyuchni Dol, to the left of the trail there is a new panoramic platform with beautiful views of the rocks and the valley. A few minutes after it is the Krasta area. This is the highest point of the route. A wooden cross has been installed on a rocky meadow high above the Gorge. From this place, a view of the river, the old seminary and the Cherepish Monastery opens up. Years ago, there was also a wooden cross here. Traditionally, each graduate of the Seminary has placed one on some of the peaks above the Iskar River.
  Next comes the crossing of another valley, which again takes about an hour. You walk through meadows, bushes and forest. In places the markings are lost and caps are hung on the bushes, pointing the way. Rocks appear and suddenly the entrance to the Dupnitsa cave is visible above the path. The cave is bright, as there is a large opening in the vault of the only hall. There are benches installed in the cave itself. A few minutes after the cave there are two consecutive branches, from which you can go down to the road to Cherepish. After them, the path becomes horizontal for one kilometer, passes through the Kozloder ravine, another branch and reaches another panoramic platform. It is perhaps the most impressive on the route. From a rocky platform, a great view opens to the west of the bend and spills of the Iskar River with Rzhana and Koznitsa Peak in the background. The path goes down, passes by several isolated houses, goes down almost to the road and goes up again smoothly.
  From here to the end of the route there are about 3 kilometers. The path is not demanding, in places it runs along forest roads. The last panoramic platform follows and after it there are about 30 minutes of easy walking to the station of the village of Zverino. The last half kilometer is along one of the streets of the village.
  In some open places where there is no marking, pyramids of stones have been made. In May, you have to be careful, because along the path in many places the flower "rosen" blooms. This is a large plant with beautiful pale pink or white flowers, but it can also be dangerous. Especially in sunny and warm weather, the flowers emit a lot of essential oils, which, when in contact with a person's skin, can lead to serious burns.