Scenic walking trails (including the route from Kobilje to the lake)

Bukovniško jezero lies in the forests of the Dobrovnik area in Prekmurje, the flat northeastern corner of Slovenia beside the Hungarian border. The lake is an artificial reservoir that was created to hold back flood water, and over the years it has turned into a quiet nature spot with reeds, wooded shores and a good deal of birdlife. The most popular way to reach it on foot is the path from the village of Kobilje, a walk of a few kilometres that takes about an hour and a half to two hours at an easy pace and is mostly flat, so it suits families and casual walkers.

The route passes through mixed woodland that is unusual for Prekmurje, a region better known for open fields of maize and pumpkins. Hornbeam, beech, sweet chestnut and Scots pine grow here on sandy, acidic ground, and the chestnut and beech woods give shade in summer and rich colour in autumn. Along the path there are chances to see woodpeckers, amphibians, dragonflies and wildflowers, and the forest floor in spring has a good display of early flowers. The path is also open to cyclists, and in dry weather it is an easy ride.

The lake itself is calm and reflective, with the forest mirrored in its surface, and it is a pleasant spot for a picnic or a rest on the bank. Because the reservoir is also a habitat for wildlife, visitors are asked to stay on the paths and keep noise down. In summer the water can be warm and still, and in winter the surface sometimes freezes.

The woods around the lake have a reputation for mystery. The small chapel of St. Vid, with its spring, is the focus of local belief, and some visitors come hoping for its reputed healing water. Believers in radiesthesia, the practice of detecting earth energies, have marked points in the forest that they call energy points and dragon lines, and an energy park has been set up to present them. Whatever one thinks of those ideas, they have given the forest a set of trails with stopping points and information boards that make a walk more interesting. For families with children there is also an adventure park, and a stork flight installation adds a playful stop.

The trails suit families, cyclists, casual walkers and anyone who enjoys a gentle forest outing in a region of open plains. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons, and insect repellent is useful in summer. The paths are well marked, but check local conditions after heavy rain, when low sections can be wet. Combine the walk with a meal in Prekmurje, where hearty local dishes are a speciality.