First English-language guidebook to walking the Slovene Mountain Trail (Slovenska planinska pot or Transverzala) between Maribor near the Austrian border and Ankaran on the Adriatic Coast. Covering 550km (342 miles), this long-distance trek crosses Slovenia's Julian Alps and Karavanke and takes 49 days in total to complete.

The route is described as 12 stages of 3 to 6 day treks of all levels of difficulty, which can be completed as single sections or linked together to create the 49-day trip. Each day is graded from 1?3, Grade 1 days are mostly track-based routes without steep ascents, while Grade 3 days involve technical terrain featuring fixed protection or sections of via ferrata, necessitating adequate experience and equipment.

• Illustrated with sketch maps, profiles and photographs
• Advice on planning and preparation
• Detailed information on facilities and mountain huts for each trek stage
• Public transport options listed for the start and finish of each stage
• Includes the Julian Alps, the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, the Pohorje plateau and the Karavanke

Justi Carey and Roy Clark started visiting the British mountains in their teens, a discovery which has shaped their whole lives. Their passion and love for the outdoors has since led to travels across the world taking in Iceland, North America, Jordan and New Zealand and a deep commitment to the environment, while their continuing interest in being out there has resulted in an enthusiasm for downhill and cross-country skiing, canoeing, cycle touring, horse riding and even rollerblading! Since moving to Slovenia in 2002, Justi has worked as an English teacher, while Roy has developed his skills in, and passion for, landscape photography. They now run a Bed and Breakfast in the mountainous north-west corner of Slovenia.

A guidebook to trekking the Slovene Mountain Trail, crossing Slovenia from Austria to the Adriatic. The 550km route is presented in a series of 12 3 to 6-day treks of all levels of difficulty, all featuring start and finish points that can be accessed by public transport. They can be completed as single sections or linked to create a longer trip. Each day is graded: low-grade walking is mostly on tracks or lanes with no steep ascents, whereas the most difficult stages may involve steep and technical terrain including fixed protection or sections of via ferrata, for which a helmet, self-belaying equipment and the appropriate experience are required. In addition to clear route description and mapping, the guide provides all the practical information you will need to plan your trip, covering transport, accommodation and safety, as well as background notes on geology, plants and wildlife. From Maribor, close by the Austrian border in the north-east, to Ankaran on the Adriatic coast in the south-west, the route covers outstanding mountain and upland walking: the vast forested plateau of Pohorje, the sheer limestone peaks of the Julian and Kamnik-Savinja Alps with their via ferrata protected routes, the traditional alpine pastures and flower-strewn ridges of the Karavanke, and the forested hills and olive groves of the limestone karst country that stretch towards the coast.

Map key Overview map Introduction Landscape and geology Climate and weather Wildlife and flowers The route When to go Getting there Travelling within Slovenia Accommodation Food and drink Money and shopping Communications Health and hazards Language Maps Waymarking Equipment Mountain safety Using this guidebook The Slovene Mountain Trail Stage 1 Maribor to Slovenj Gradec Stage 2 Slovenj Gradec to Sol?ava Stage 3 Sol?ava to Zgornje Jezersko Stage 4 Zgornje Jezersko to Tr?i? Stage 5 Tr?i? to Dovje/Mojstrana Stage 6 Dovje/Mojstrana to Vri? Stage 7 Vri? to Trenta Stage 8 Trenta to Petrovo Brdo Stage 9 Petrovo Brdo to Idrija Stage 10 Idrija to Col Stage 11 Col to Matavun Stage 12 Matavun to Ankaran Appendix A Bibliography Appendix B The Slovene language Appendix C Transport to and facilities at the stage start points Appendix D Hut telephone numbers Appendix E Route summary table