Baylovo 2025

Sunday was an amazing day amongst a series of rainy and cold April days - it was sunny, warm and calm and our hike in Baylovo was simply divine.

The fields with  autumn crops were already juicy green. The snow covered cap of Vitosha is peaking from the west.

And the fields, designated for spring crops, were prepared for the spring planting.

The village of Baylovo is situated in the Sofia valley, surrounded by high mountains on all sides.

Baylovo and the white cap of peak Murgash in the Balkan mountains

Rila to the south

Hike info:

Date: 13 April 2025

Destination: St Spas Chapel

Mountain: Spasova Mogila

Total length: 11.6 km

Elevation gain: 80 m

Total duration (plus rest): 3 and half hours

Average difficulty: 2 / 10 

St. Spas Chapel

We had a very long picnic on the top of Spasova mogila, with a view to the fields. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, the place was completely empty and we could have spent the entire afternoon there, basking in the warm sunshine.

Rila and Vitosha in one frame

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

 

Husband: men's boxers, Burda longsleeve, cargo pants

I: lingerie, ankle warmers, Hounds Tooth hoodie

My first stork for this spring. There were actually more than half a dozen storks we saw on our way back to Sofia.

As we've been doing lately, we took an alternative route back home, by the Ognyanovo dam, where we stopped for a short walk.

Baylovo 2024

I've been too busy these days with work and some traveling and I've been neglecting my blog.

A short reportage from our hike at the end of February in the grounds of the village of Baylovo, to Spasova mogila, Golema Rakovitza and back.

The day was absolutely glorious, sunny and warm, we couldn't have asked for better weather in February.

A bit unusual, the trail was dry and very pleasant to walk. This time of the year it might be muddy, but we've enjoyed dry and warm winter (not sure about the crops :).

Hike info:

Destination: St Spas Chapel

Mountain: Spasova Mogila

Total length: 11.6 km

Elevation gain: 80 m

Total duration (plus rest): 3 h

Average difficulty: 2 / 10 

We had a long and leisurely picnic on the hill by the chapel. I love the view from Spasova mogila, so peaceful and pastoral. It was very quiet, with only the birds chirping in the small pine grove, really idyllic :)

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: men's boxers, knitted socks, Knipmode Cargo pants

I:  lingerie, socks, Burda Raglan blouse, Houndstooth Hoodie, legwarmers

After our lunch, we went downhill to the next village - Golema Rakovitza and from there returned along the narrow road to Baylovo.

On the way back we took an alternative route and stopped to enjoy the waters of Ognyanovo reservoir. Baylovo is a bit far from home and the trail is fairly short and super easy, but the pleasure it gives is definitely worth the travel!

Baylovo In November

Photos from our hike to Spasova Mogila near the village of Baylovo. For some reason we have hiked this place many times, almost every year, but always in late winter or early spring, never in the summer or autumn. While deliberating where to hike this Saturday, we wanted an open track with plenty of sunshine and Baylovo fit the bill exactly. It is a fairly easy walk through fields of crops to a small hill with an old humble chapel on top of the hill - extremely enjoyable and satisfying.

:The gorgeous path between the fields of crops. This is my most favourite part of the trail

Hike info:

Destination: St Spas Chapel

Mountain: Spasova Mogila

Total length: 11.6 km

Elevation gain: 80 m

Total duration (plus rest): 3 h

Average difficulty: 2 / 10 

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: men's boxers, knitted socks, Raglan sweater

I:  lingerie, starry night socks, Teal Boatneck, Houndstooth Hoodie, in the backpack brown cc copycat beanie, fingerless mitts

 

:Yellowhammer (жълта овесарка)

:St Spas Chapel on top of Spasova Mogila

:We had our picnic here with a view to the fields of the village of Golema Rakovitza and the endless chains of Lozen mountain

:The southern slopes of Spasova Mogila

:The village of Baylovo

:After the hike we decided to take a different route back home and had a short walk around the Ognyanovo dam