Translated by Google Translate.
It all depends on the weather, and the weather in the mountains can be capricious. Welcome to the Gorce Mountains, which delight with views, are adjacent to the Pieniny Mountains, can make you breathless, surprise with empty trails. The house is located at an altitude of approx. 600 m above sea level, so to get to Lubań, for example, you are already halfway when it comes to elevation gains.
The house is located on Potok Lubański, so the sound of water is an inseparable element of rest. You can relax in a hot tub, in a hammock with a view of the undulating landscapes of the Gorce Mountains, on deckchairs, by the fire, on swings. You can cross the bridge to the other side of the yard and see if the trout in the ponds are growing like weeds, order a fresh fish for dinner and go to the neighbors who have fallow deer, sheep, goats. We also have our own sheep and chickens. You can feed the animals and admire how they live on a large, steep clearing near the forest.
In addition, you will live at the very end of Ochotnica Dolna, where there are only peaks, lookout towers and trails. The one in Lubań starts 200 meters from the door. We recommend checking out the website www.turystyka.ochotnica.pl and the "Be active in Ochotnica&Tylmanowa" application. In the application you can find many tourist routes and places worth visiting related to them.
Where to go:
- The said trail to Lubań, with a beautiful panorama of the Tatra Mountains and Lake Czorsztyńskie. A trip for 5-6 hours for tourists of average fitness.
- From the top of Lubań, you can go a little further along the red trail to Średni Groń (1211 m above sea level) or take the blue trail to Góra Wdżar connecting the Gorce and Pieniny Mountains, and then wherever your legs will take you, because the blue trail stretches through the Pieniny National Park and the Poprad Park Landscape, all the way to the Slovak side.
- Cyrla or Cyrchla (913 m) rises between the peaks of Chałupisko and Studzionki. You'll get there in about 15 minutes.
- Conquer four lookout towers: Gorc, Lubań, Koziarz and Magurki - you can put a stamp on each tower, you get a badge after conquering all four - it's a fun challenge not only for kids, but also for adults. The ascents are not difficult, but the views are fantastic.
- 10 kilometers in the direction of Nowy Targ is the Knurowska Pass, where you can leave your car and climb Turbacz and Jaworzyna Kamienicka (here too, about 6 hours should be enough). You can also follow the black trail and reach Stawek Pucułowski (5.5 hours from the pass both ways).
- For an afternoon walk, we suggest a 4-5 hour, not very tiring hike to Pańska Przehybka and return via Magurki. From Ochotnica Górna you need to go to the estate Jaczcze - approx. 12 km.
- To Gorc from Ochotnica (counting from the moment when the trail leaves the road in Gorcowe) it takes 5 hours both ways.
By bike, for advanced mountain bikers we recommend Ochotnica Challenge. A bicycle challenge during which 16 different climbs are conquered, the most difficult ones have 39 degrees. The event was initiated by a native Ochotniczanka Kasia Niewiadoma and this challenge is signed with her name. This is a real test for cyclists, but doable.
Now let's move on to Pieniny.
- Several-hour trips to Sokolica or Trzy Korony, despite sometimes steep climbs, are within reach of tourists who are not experienced in mountain expeditions.
- It is also worth remembering about the highest peak of the Pieniny Mountains - Wysoka, which is actually on the border with Slovakia.
- From Krościenko nad Dunajcem (16 km from Ochotnica) you will climb Trzy Korony (4 hours round trip from Krościenko) and Sokolica (Kroscienka-Trzy Korony-Sokolica-Kroscienko - approx. 6 hours).
- You can get to Wysoka - from Szlachtowa (yellow trail starts at the sawmill) or from Jaworki (beginning in the famous Homole Gorge, or a bit further in the Biała Woda reserve).
Other activities:
- Cross-country skiing (Ochotnica Górna - Bartoszówka - Polana Homelka).
- Kuligi (we recommend the company: Kuligi in Gorce).
- Dunajec, so also rafting, kayaking, Velo Dunajec - beautiful views.
- Zalew Czorsztyński, for SUP, kayaking and fishing. You can visit the museum at the castle in Niedzica.
- In Szczawnica (22 km) you can rent bikes (PLN 4/h) and go along the Dunajec gorge to the Red Monastery in Slovakia (about 1.5 hours one way by bike, on foot - 2.5 hours), mostly on a flat path. You can return with a rented bike or go down the Dunajec gorge with raftsmen or a canoe (an option rather for those who have already been canoeing).
- From Szczawnica you can take the cable car to Palenica. There are also gravity slides in Kluszkowce (26 km) and Tatrzańska Łomnica in Slovakia (72 km).
- Historic churches in Krościenko nad Dunajcem, Trybsz and Dębno are worth seeing in the vicinity.
- There are many places in the vicinity where you can pick mushrooms and catch trout - we will tell you where and what.
- An interesting alternative, especially when the weather is bad, is a trip to the caves in Slovakia. The nearest caves are Bielianska Cave (65-72 km) and Vazecka Cave (109-115 km).