Ridges to Porta Bohemica

A 25.9 km ridge day on the right bank of the Labe — Poradní skála, Varhošť and Holý vrch, finishing over Kalvárie above Porta Bohemica to Libochovany.

Both ends are on the Ústí–Litoměřice railway, which runs along the river the whole way — bailing out early is always an option, and it is worth knowing about: almost a thousand metres of climbing hide in this outwardly modest ridge, so give the day room.

The route leads through the city and the riverside quarter of Brná before turning uphill. The first reward is Poradní skála, a rock ledge looking straight down into the Labe valley, followed by the Varhošť tower and its full circle of the Středohoří. Third comes Holý vrch above Hlinná — for me one of the finest spots in the whole range, and worth planning a long pause on.

From Hlinná the route eases through meadows to Kamýk under its castle rock, then rises once more onto Kalvárie, where the three crosses stand over the Porta Bohemica bend of the Labe. The descent drops you at the Libochovany stop, right on the riverside line.