Wheels Around Europe . . . . . . . : Tranquil Lake Bohinj

Today I felt was going to be a very good day, a very good day in fact to do something exciting…..

The weather forecast predicted rain for today but it couldn`t have been more wrong. Some cloud early on gave way to mostly clear blue skies so plans were put into operation.

I had read up about the Vintgar Gorge just a few miles north of Bled and thought that sounded interesting, that was until I found out the access road is closed to traffic, so that was a non starter.

So we left lake Bled and travelled for about 35 minutes to a glacial lake called Lake Bohinj which sits further into the Julian Alps in the Triglav National Park. I`d heard it was spectacular and indeed it is.

It is much less developed then Lake Bled, it doesn`t have the pretty church on the island, the gondalers or the castle on the cliff.

But it is much more tranquil and serene, almost spiritual, than Lake Bled. Without the thousands of tourists.

The road winds it`s way along the southern shore where the campsite is at the far end. The north shore is just a sheer cliff face to the mountains that rise beyond it, all the way up to Mount Triglav, Slovenia`s highest peak in the Julian alps.

I had hoped for a day with clear blue skies and my hopes were realised, so a trip on the cable car up to Vogel ski resort was definitely on.

The cable car costs a reasonable 20 euro, or for 25 euro you can have lunch in the restaurant included, so that`s what we did.

The ascent is very steep and dramatic !

The views going up of Lake Bohinj were spectacular and as it disappeared to a small dot down below, the mountain range with Mount Triglav came into view and were equally spectacular.

It was quite a bit cooler at the top and we were glad for taking a fleece.

After walking around and taking endless photos in every direction, I got the chair lift up to the next level where the winter ski runs start from. It was even cooler there.

After soaking up all the scenery it was back to the restaurant for lunch.

We were served a very tasty mushroom soup with a decent quantity of garlic added, and bread. Apple pie for desert followed and for 5 euro was quite good value given the amazing location.
The restaurants outside terrace was suprisingly quite sheltered and in the sun it was warm enough to sit out comfortably and enjoy lunch.

Louis had enjoyed a few hours of extra kip in Ed whilst we were up the mountain and he was pleased to see us. We could have taken him up, dogs are allowed, but I think he liked the extra sleep.

After an equally dramatic decent, it was just a five minute journey to our campsite for the night called Camping Lake Bohinj (GPS 46.27909 13.83586).

It`s very informal and a little chaotic, you just find somewhere to park and that`s it, no pitch numbers or anything. It seems to work though.

The campsite is right on the lake with the spectacular views I can`t stop gawping at. I took Louis for a walk earlier and ended up just sat on the beach mesmerised by the views, I could have sat their all evening watching the fish in the lake just a foot from the shore.

Slovenia is certainly delivering what I`d hoped for, it is a truly beautiful country.