Our journey begins in Kalek, a small border village with a long history dating back to 1555, when the village was part of the Červený Hrádek (Red Castle) estate. The dominating landmark of the village is the Church of St Václav (Wenceslas) built in 1722, but it is now in a desolate state. Nevertheless, this mountain village located in the midst of never-ending forests and meadows has its unparalleled charm
We start at the crossroad Kalek - guesthouse U Vítků and follow the green sign through the valley of the Načetínský (Načetín) Brook towards the "former Gabriela's iron mill" 7.5 (8) km. We go slightly downhill /1-2/, on a rather damaged road which has not yet been repaired after the catastrophic floods in 2002 destroyed it. The road goes through a rocky and ridged valley, near the wild stream of the Načetínský Brook and along the state border with Germany. On the left side we may see a road from Rübenau to Olbernhau and on our side we see the Luční, Kovářský and Malý brooks, gradually flowing down from the rocky slopes of the Kladivák Peak (753.1 m), later joining the Načetínský Brook.
At the place of the former Gabriela Iron Mill, two deep valleys joins each other near the influx of the Telčský and Načetínský brook, which continues to flow around the village of Brandov all the way to Germany. Here from an information board at the crossroad sign and near the former Gabriela Iron Mill – now an abandoned village, where you will learn the sad history of the village. was established in 1632 and in 1778 tall blast furnaces were built here, later also a paper producing plant. After 1870 the iron mill was closed. 24 years later, the paper plant was destroyed by fire. Before the order concerning the removal of all Germans was issued in 1945, the village had 15 houses and its population reached 122 people. In 1959 the village was demolished
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Our journey continues along a moderate uphill slope /1-2 / following the blue sign and passing by a pond and tiny remnants of the former village and, finally, through the beautiful valley of the Telčský Brook. We walk alternatively on both sides as we have to cross the river from side to side due to damaged bridges destroyed by the flood. Fortunately, the river is full of large boulders, which we can easily use to cross over to the other side. After about 2 kilometres, a large valley opens in front of us with various sizes of rocks, peeking at us from both sides.
We walk through a sundrenched valley towards the Telčský potok crossroad (712 m), where we take a right turn to an unmarked trail going towards "Kalek" (crossroad sign 5 km). Now, we must "take care" of our first but also the last steep climb /2/ of this trip, which will take us to the peak of Strážce (Guard) (824.8 m)
We will continue further on a slightly hilly terrain /1-2/, surrounded by landscape that is so typical for Krušné Mountains plains and terraces, consisting of forests, meadows and pastures. In particular, large wetlands and meadows offering refuge to a variety of species of flowers and plants. We can find several orchid plants here and the typical and today already widespread Spignel plant (Meum athamanticum). After a short distance under the peak we will pass the Volárenský Pond with former sandstone quarry and tourist rest place on the side. We shall now return to Kalk /1-2/ and pass around eye-catching and tall church ruins with a cemetery surrounded by a new white wall demonstrating efforts to reconstruct at least part of the church's original shape.
Total length 18 km.
