Milešovka via Every Lookout

A 29.2 km solo winter approach to Milešovka from Ústí nad Labem, over Větruše, the Dubičky rim viewpoints and the Radejčín tower.

This route has nearly a thousand metres of ascent, so treat it as a full day despite the modest distance. With February daylight, start early. The climbing starts straight away. From Ústí nad Labem’s main station the route goes up to Větruše and leaves the city over Milbohov and Stebno.

The rim section that follows is the part I like most. You come to the churchyard terrace at Dubičky near Moravany, where the St Barbara church has stood on the edge since 1579, and then to the painter’s Doerellova vyhlídka just beyond. From both you look down on the Labe’s meander through Porta Bohemica. The Radejčín tower adds a view from height. It is 97 steps up, and Milešovka is now straight ahead.

The yellow waymark passes Kletečná, crosses Paška pole and meets the blue, which climbs to the summit of Milešovka. In February expect ice and the summit wind that gave the mountain its reputation. The descent to Velemín ends with dinner at the motorest. Buses run to Lovosice for the train. The walked track formally ends a short walk further at Bílý Újezd.

Practical info

On the way

• 

  Větruše

  lookout tower

  The excursion château of 1897 on the bluff above Ústí nad Labem. It has a lookout tower, a restaurant, a mirror maze, and a funicular straight from the shopping mall below.

• 

  Dubičky

  viewpoint

  A hamlet on the rim of the Labe valley. From its 1579 church of St Barbara you look down on the river's course through the Středohoří.

• 

  Doerellova vyhlídka

  viewpoint

  A painter's viewpoint on the rim above the Labe near Dubičky. It is named for E. G. Doerell, who kept returning to paint the river's meander through the hills.

• Radejčín

  lookout tower

  A 30 m telecom mast near Radejčín that has doubled as a lookout tower since 2009. Ninety-seven steps lead to a platform facing Milešovka, Kletečná and the Krušné hory.

• 

  Milešovka

  summit

  The highest peak of the České středohoří (837 m) and the windiest place in the Czech Republic, topped by a meteorological observatory measuring continuously since 1905.

• 

  Velemín

  village

  The service village on the southern side of Milešovka. Buses from Prague, Lovosice, Litoměřice and Teplice make it the classic starting point for the highest hill of the range.

Photos