Belska planina

Belska planina is a mountain pasture above Jesenice, in the Karavanke range of Upper Carniola in northwestern Slovenia, and it belongs to the family of high-altitude meadows that are such a distinctive part of the Slovene Alps. A planina is a summer pasture, a clearing among the forests or a plateau among the rocks where herders drove their cattle, sheep and goats after the snow melted, and where they lived in simple huts and made cheese through the summer. Most of the planinas of the Karavanke are now only partly used for grazing, but they remain a destination for walkers, who value the open views and the quiet. Practical details of the routes and huts at Belska planina should be checked locally, since information is limited.

The Karavanke form the southern border of the Alps with Austria, and the slopes above Jesenice are among their best-known walking terrain. The approach to a planina such as this usually follows forest roads and marked paths that climb steadily from the valley through beech and spruce woods and then out onto open pasture. The gradients are generally moderate, which makes the walk suitable for most people with reasonable fitness, and the reward is a wide outlook over the Sava valley, the Julian Alps and the rocky ridges of the Karavanke. In late spring and early summer the pastures fill with flowers, and the neighbouring Golica ridge above Planina pod Golico is famous for its fields of white narcissus, which bloom in May and attract walkers from across the country. It is worth asking locally about what is in bloom.

Pastoral traditions are part of the interest. Wooden herders' huts, fences and troughs show how the pastures were used, and in summer a hut may offer simple refreshments and dairy products where it is open. Cows and sheep graze on the slopes, so walkers should keep dogs on a lead, close gates and take care not to disturb animals. Autumn, when the larch and beech turn colour and the air is clear, is another fine time to visit, while in winter the paths can be icy and the pastures are covered with snow.

Jesenice, in the valley below, is an industrial town known for its ironworks and its ice hockey, and the contrast between the town and the nearby high pastures is striking. The old ironworks district of Stara Sava, the viewpoint at Svečica and the hockey culture of the town are other points of interest.

The area suits walkers, families with older children and anyone who enjoys quiet mountain scenery. Check the forecast before setting out, since weather in the Karavanke can change quickly.