Trips

Route: Pleśna - Gąski lighthouse – Sarbinowo – Chłopy – Mielno – Unieście – Łazy – Osieki –Iwięcino – Bielkowo

Trail markings: green

The Velo Baltica cycling trail is a part of the European Eurovelo 10 trail which overlaps in part with Eurovelo 13, also known as the Iron Curtain Trail. The entire Velo Baltica is 245 km long; the section running through the Koszalin district has only about 42 km.

The Koszalin portion of Velo Baltica starts in the village of Pleśna and initially follows a sandy beach separated from the inland by tall cliffs. After 4.5 km you will reach the 19 ^th -century lighthouse in Gąski. It is 51 m high and has a viewing terrace offering a magnificent vista of the Baltic coast from Kołobrzeg all the way to Lake Jamno.

From Gąski go to Sarbinowo where you can see a church from 1856 and a 19 ^th -century fisherman’s cottage; the latter might be seen as an introduction to the next stop of the trip – the fishing village of Chłopy. It has retained its original character and architecture, and has been entered into the register of heritage sites of the Western Pomeranian Voivodeship. You can also visit the pier in Sarbinowo for a view of fishing boats sailing out and returning to port.

Leaving Chłopy, head towards Mielno, but make a stop in Mielenko to see the majestic trees of the Linden Avenue. In Mielno, there is a 15 ^th -century Gothic church and an 18 ^th -century park. The trail takes you next through the picturesque Jamno Spit separating the lake from the Baltic Sea. Lake Jamno is the largest reservoir in the Koszalin region. The canal connecting it to the Baltic Sea sometimes experiences an interesting phenomenon of backwater when the direction of the water flow changes. Apart from Mielno, there is one other town at Lake Jamno – Unieście. During the summer season, you can take a cruise ship from both towns to Koszalin.

The trail then runs through Łazy and Osieki, and departs from the shores of Lake Jamno. In Osieki, you can see an interesting mansion which has partially retained its original half-timbered design. The road to the mansion is a scenic buckeye avenue.

Leaving Osieki, head to Rzepkowo and then Iwięcino where you will find a 15 ^th -century church built with brick in Pomeranian Gothic style. Take a quick break and go inside to see the polychrome of Final Judgment from 1697. Near the church, there are timber gates which used to lead to the nearby cemetery. From Iwęcino, the route leads to Bielkowo where the Koszalin section of Velo Baltica ends.