Šmartno na Pohorju - Pond west of Ošelj

Access to starting point:
We leave the Štajerska motorway at the Slovenska Bistrica south or north exit (depending on the direction we come from), then drive to the centre of Slovenska Bistrica, from where we head on the road towards the settlement Šmartno na Pohorju. There follow a few kilometres of ascent, and we follow the road towards the mentioned settlement. When we arrive at Šmartno na Pohorju, we park on a smaller well-maintained parking lot at the cemetery and church of St. Martin.

Route description:
From the parking lot in a few steps we walk to the main road that leads through the settlement, and we follow it to the right, where the blazes also direct us. For a short time we walk through the centre of the settlement, then with nice views we walk to a smaller intersection at a somewhat larger chapel.
Here we continue straight (right Ruška koča na Arehu - path over Frajhajm) and a few minutes further we arrive at the next marked intersection, from which we continue left towards sv. Trije kralji (straight Ruška koča na Arehu). We bypass the nearby houses on the left side, then continue along the pasture. Further on we descend gently along a poorer road; when the road turns sharply left, we continue straight on the path into the forest. The path further leads past a trough with water, then Knafelc blazes direct us left (straight gostišče Dovnik). A little further over a small bridge we cross the Devina stream, and we follow the blazes. There follows a short steep ascent, then the path levels out somewhat and takes us out of the forest, where we cross the meadow diagonally to the right. Higher at the edge of the forest we reach a cart track that leads us to the lower pond in Ošelj.
We bypass the mentioned pond on the right side and along a poorer road in two minutes reach the upper pond in Ošelj.
We bypass the upper pond on the left side, and a little further we reach an asphalt road, where we go right towards sv. Trije kralji and Oplotnica. We continue past a few more houses, then go left (straight and after a few metres right Areh), passing a farm onto the meadow. While walking across the meadow a beautiful view opens up on Boč and Veliki vrh; when we arrive at the forest we quickly reach the pond.
Starting point - ponds in Ošelj 0:35, ponds in Ošelj - pond west of Ošelj 0:10.
Description and pictures refer to the condition in January 2022 and May 2023.

Along the route: Ribnika Devin v Ošelju (812m)

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