Krušovice and the Mšec Ponds

A 33 km walk through the Džbán plateau country. It passes Krušovice and its brewery, the Kalivody toad wetlands, and the pond chain around Mšec.

The walk crosses the Džbán, the quiet plateau country of white marlstone between Rakovník and Slaný. It is two-thirds forest and rarely crowded. The walk starts at the Lužná u Rakovníka station. The national railway museum with its steam locomotives is right by the station, so visit it if you have an hour before the train. From there the route climbs gently north to Krušovice at about km 7. The village is famous for its brewery, but the best stop is the Krušovická pekárna. It sells bread, sweets, soups and even a poured beer. You get a better meal here than in many pubs.

The middle of the route is the best of it. Beyond Kroučová the path enters the woods and wetlands around Kalivody, where a small nature monument protects ponds and marshes along the Bakov stream. The fire-bellied toad lives here and is loud in spring. From Bdín the route continues to the pond chain around Mšec, a string of reservoirs on the Loděnice stream. You walk along their dams and watch the water birds. The last easy kilometres lead into Nové Strašecí and its railway station south of the town.