Through the Płonia Valley in the Western Lake District

Szczecin – Kołbacz – Kobylanka – Szczecin

Length: approx. 40 km (loop)
Difficulty: medium
Surface: asphalt bike paths / forest sections / public roads with little traffic
Trails: R20A (Western Lake District Route), R803 (Płonia Valley Route)

Start: Szczecin, Dąbska Street (R20A)

The trip starts on the outskirts of Szczecin, on Dąbska Street, where the Western Lake District Route (R20A) leaves the city in a south-easterly direction. You can get there by train to the station in Dąbie, by tram to the Turkusowa terminus, where you can also leave your car in a public car park, or by bus to the Słoneczne or Bukowe housing estates. The first section is quiet and leads away from traffic. Following the orange signs, we reach the Płonia housing estate, where we change the trail and take side roads through the Płonia Valley towards Kołbacz. Please note that the R803 trail is not yet marked, but you can simply follow the marked bicycle path or use our app. We especially recommend covering this section in May, when the rapeseed is in bloom, and you will see a vast yellow carpet. In Kołbacz, you can stop for a moment to admire the former Cistercian monastery, where there is also a shelter to take a break from your journey. In Kołbacz, the direction changes to north. We will reach Kobylanka via a newly built bicycle path. In Kobylanka, you can head towards Stargard and Repotowo, where SKM trains stop, but we return to the Western Lake District Route R20A. This section leads through a large forest complex towards Szczecin. It is a quiet, fragrant pine forest, typical of the Bukowa Forest area. The surface changes to a more natural one, with dirt and forest roads, but in good technical condition (although it can be muddy after heavy rains). The last section leads through the forest back to Szczecin, where we find the familiar trail signs.