Hiking
Vrbnik
CAMINO KRK – day 6: Vrbnik – Baška
On the way to the Moon with a glass of golden Žlahtina
Karakteristike
Day six of the Camino route connects Vrbnik with Baška via a 23-kilometre-long section. This trail is a true karst beauty that leads through an impressive rocky plateau in the south-eastern part of the island, adorned by cairns and kilometres-long drystone walls.
You start from Vrbnik and walk through the Vrbnik Field and the vineyards of Žlahtina. It is known as a place where precious vines have been grown for more than a hundred years now. Enjoy the flavours of this native grape variety, and treat yourself to a glass of golden drops at the end of each section. The trail will take you up to the Moon Plateau, offering a nice view of the Vinodol Riviera and the Velebit range. Due to the fact that the landscape resembles the rocky desert of the Moon’s surface, the name suits it perfectly. From there, the trail will first take you to the source of Vela Rika, the island’s only body of water with a constant flow, and then to the nearby climbing sites of Portafortuna and Belove stene. Close to the Moon Plateau, on the south-eastern side of the island, you will find the Kuntrep Ornithological Reserve – the oldest ornithological reserve in the world, where griffon vultures are taken care of. Kilometres-long drystone walls (or ‘gromače’, as the locals call them) outlining the borders of the land owned by different shepherds will take you to the Moon Trail, which connects the plateau with Baška.
After a longer section of a rather difficult terrain full of scattered rocks, you will get to a pine forest and a well-kept path leading to the village. Maybe a sheep or two will join you in the shade of the trees, so you can together enjoy the beautiful views of the Baška Valley. The trail passes by the Church of St John the Baptist, patron saint of the parish and the Baška Municipality. The path continues downhill towards the centre of the village boasting another three significant religious buildings: the Parish Church of the Holy Trinity, the Church of St Anthony of Padua, and St Mark’s Chapel, built on the remains of an early Christian basilica and a baptistery from the 5th century. The sixth day of your Camino walk ends on Vela plaža Beach, one of the island’s most stunning beaches and the symbol of Baška.
