Over Praha to Příbram

A 57.2 km two-day winter crossing of the Brdy, from Stupno to Příbram over the radar summit of Praha, with a night in Strašice.

The first day follows the northern Brdy foothills, from the Stupno railway station through Těškov and Mýto. This is rolling country. The real forest waits for day two.

Day 1: Stupno to Strašice

Strašice at the day’s end has pubs, beds and a museum of the Brdy in the old barracks. After about 25 km in January I was glad of the dinner and the warm room.

Day 2: over Praha to Příbram

Day two is the crossing. From Strašice the route climbs steadily into the former military forest. The roads are long and straight, frost-broken rock lies under the spruce, and in January there is a good chance of unbroken snow. The climb ends at Praha, the second summit of the Brdy. The white radar ball that you see on the horizon for two days finally stands right above you. The summit compound is fenced and has no view. You come here for the empty plateau itself. The long descent runs through Kozičín and Lazec to Příbram. Žárovka in town is a good place to end the trip. It has decent food and decent beer, and the train home is near.