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!

Pasarel - Lanina Mogila 2022

On the last of the Indian summer days this year, Gaby, husband and I hiked in the Lozen mountains, from the Pasarel reservoir to peak Lanina Mogila and back. To our surprise, autumn was much advanced here, on the southern slopes of the mountain and most of the trees had lost their leaves, the grass was grayish yellow and the autumnal magic was mostly gone.

Still, the day was warm and sunny through clouds and we had a nice hike and chat with our grown daughter.

Hike info:

Destination: peak Lanina Mogila (1188 m)

Mountain: Lozen

Total length: 12 km

Elevation gain: 490 m

Total duration (plus picnic): about 4 hours

Average difficulty: 4.5 / 10

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

 

Husband: men's boxers, Knip Mode cargo pants

I: lingerie, Grey "Page" Hoodie, raglan Burda blouse

Pchelina 2022

Right after we came down from Rudina mountain, we climb back in the car and drove to the village of Potzurnentzi, where we left the car and hiked the trail to dam Pchelina. May is definitely the time to visit this gorgeous place, when it is so freshly green and colorful.

:Wild orchids

Hike info:

Destination:Pchelina

Mountain region: Kraishte

Total length: 8 km

Elevation gain: 160 m

Total duration (plus rests): about 3 hours

Average difficulty:  2 / 10

:A flock of geese

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

 

I: lingerie, flared black leggings, Hounds-tooth Hoodie

Husband: men's boxers, Knipmode cargo pants

:The iconic chapel on top of the hill

:Husband and I shared a can of beer near here, with a view to the entire lake

:Then we went down, walked along the lake and enjoyed the views. It is impossible to stay indifferent to such scenery, I am totally in love with this place :)