Path: Motel Hajdučke vrleti – Veliki Vran (2074 m.a.s.l.)
Mountain: Vran
Difficulty: Medium
Mine Risk: None along the marked route
Duration: 2,5 h
GPS start coordinates: N43° 39.195’ ; E17° 32.027’
Altitude difference: 870 m
GPS peak coordinates: N43°40.089’ ; E17°30.336’
Water Supply: spring „Hajducko vrilo“ 1,5 h from the motel Orientation
Difficulty: None
Total length: 4 km
Going from Jablanica through the picturesque canyon of river Doljanka, road seemingly leading to nowhere, upon the arrival to the saddle of Sovićka vrata suddenly transforms into a spectacular vedute of mountainous landscape. Plateau Dugo polje is bounded by the mountains Čvrsnica on the southeast and Vran on the northwest and it offers idyllic atmosphere of mountain resort, both in summer and winter. Since 1995, the plateau and surrounding mountains were incorporated into a Nature Park Blidinje. Shallow lake Blidinje is placed on the southwestern side of the plateau, opposite to the Sovićka vrata saddle, with the peaks of surrounding mountains mirroring themselves on the surface. One of those peaks is Veliki Vran (2074 m.a.s.l.), the highest peak of Vran which forms western boundary of Dugo polje. Vran is not a typical Dinaric mountain. One of the facts to suggest this is the direction of the mountain which spreads from southwest – northeast. Ascent to Vran is particularly suitable for recreational hikers, whereas south and southeast allow passage through the richness of the karst landscape.
The starting point is placed in Trnovac, two kilometers after the crossroad in Blidinje in direction of Rama. The beauty of the landscape increases with the ascent. After the first steep part, one can find a valley with water reservoir constructed during the times of AustroHungarian Monarchy. The name confirms it: „Carska lokva“ or „The Emperor’s Pond“. Well marked path continues through the belts of mountain pines, beech forest and grass. In the summer, mountaineers are recommended to rest in the thick shade of pines. Before the arrival to Veliki Vran, the path passes through the thick pine forest somewhere mottled with barren land. The peak of Veliki Vran is marked with the pile of rocks, and as the reward for the successful ascent, the mountaineers have the fantastic view of three surrounding lakes: Ramsko, Buško and Blidinjsko.
