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Looking out over the Kozya Stena Reserve (Day 3)

GETTING TO THE START

The starting point for this walk is the tiny village of Divchovoto, which lies about 24km south of Teteven. On weekdays there are three buses daily between the bus station in Teteven (0678-2557) and Divchovoto, currently departing at 11.30am, 2.30pm and 5.00pm. On Saturday there is just one bus at 12.30pm and on Sunday a single bus at 2.30pm. Teteven itself is served by seven buses each day from the tsentralna avtogara (central bus station) in Sofia, at 9.00am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm, 4.00pm, 5.00pm, 6.00pm and 6.40pm.

DAY 1

Divchovoto to Hizha Benkovski

Time 5hrs 15mins Distance 15.5km Ascent 1235m Descent 350m Highest point 1535m (hizha Benkovski)

The day begins with a gentle climb through the beautiful ancient beech forests of the Boatin Reserve, home to red squirrel, wild boar, red deer and roe deer, as well as carnivores such as brown bear, beech marten, pine marten, badger and wild cat. After crossing the saddle Klimashka Prevlaka, the trail leaves the reserve and drops steadily down into the valley of the Kostina Reka. There then follows a long ascent to hizha Benkovski, with the climb along the valley of the Ravna Reka being particularly steep and demanding.