Three Days on the Broumov Walls

A 60.2 km three-day sandstone crossing — Błędne skały, a night in Pasterka, the length of the Broumovské stěny to Broumov, and Ostaš to finish.

Three days of sandstone on both sides of the border, with 1800 m of climbing spread evenly enough that no single day breaks you. Getting to the start is a small journey itself: train to Náchod, then bus over the border to Kudowa-Zdrój.

Day 1 — Kudowa-Zdrój to Pasterka

The Polish day. From the spa town the route climbs into the Góry Stołowe national park to Błędne skały, where the one-way circuit squeezes between mushroom rocks — the scenery of the whole trip starts at its peak. From the labyrinth the trail drops through border woods to Pasterka, a Polish hamlet of a few houses with a proper mountain hut; a bed and dinner there close the day well.

Day 2 — the length of the stěny to Broumov

The long day, and the best. From Pasterka the route crosses back into Bohemia and takes the Broumovské stěny more or less end to end: the block dome of Božanovský Špičák, the Koruna viewpoint, the Kamenná brána rock gate and the Kovárna cave, with wide views from the cliff edge the whole way. The pub at Hlavňov feeds the climb to the Skalní divadlo — for me the single best spot of the trip, an amphitheatre of towers that photographs can’t quite hold. The day runs out through Křinice to Broumov, where the monastery town provides the second night in comfort.

Day 3 — Hvězda and Ostaš

Back up onto the wall via Křinice and Amerika to Hvězda, Dientzenhofer’s star chapel on the cliff edge with the basin below — then along the ridge and down through Hlavňov again towards the finale: Ostaš, the table hill with its labyrinths, the Kočičí skály and the tight squeeze of the Sluj Českých bratří. The descent lands at the Žďár nad Metují rail stop, with trains towards Náchod and home.