Green Velo

As the name suggests, the trail goes through the forested area of the Chełm Landscape Park. It is around 20 km long and it departs from the northern part of the city of Chełm in the direction of the village of Ruda on the Uherka River. The compact forest complex which the trail crosses is about 10 km long, north to south, and 3 to 5 km wide, east to west. The complex is mainly made out of mixed forests which grow on wet, flat terrain, which makes them difficult to walk through outside the forest roads.  This short, leisure route is recommended for less experienced cyclists and for nature lovers. Its advantage is that it goes almost exclusively via forests, which is especially pleasant on hot summer days. Old deciduous trees provide cyclists with pleasant cool and shade. The surface of the trail is quite good, for the most part (70%) made out of dirt roads and virtually free of cars. The roads are mainly good quality forest firebreaks, with no sandy or muddy stretches. The whole area through which the trail passes is almost flat, a bit waterlogged, and devoid of any larger hills. This makes it accessible for every cyclist, including families with children. The beginning of the trail is located near the Horodyszcze MOR (short for Miejsce Obsługi Rowerzystów – Cyclist Service Area) on the Green Velo trail in the northern part of the city of Chełm. From here, the trail follows the shore of the Stańków artificial lake, which is a designated municipal swimming beach, a place designed for leisure and fishing. This lake was created as a result of water flooding excavation pits in a former chalk mine. It consists of two parts, separated by a causeway. Is the perfect place to relax on a hot, summer day. After passing the lake, the trail delves into the forest stretching north of Chełm and stays among trees almost to the very end, i.e. for around 15 km. Unfortunately, the old, damaged and incomplete marking of the trail leaves a lot to be desired. Navigating the trail without a map or a GPS track is not really possible. You must pay special attention at a big forest junction, 4.3 km away from the road near the lake. At this point, going from Chełm, you must turn left. Fortunately, even if you lose the trail, you can easily take the forest paths (which you mustn’t leave under any circumstances, due to the bogs and dense vegetation!) to the Uherka or the road from Chełm to Ruda, where you will pick up the Green Velo trail. The forest areas, through which the trail goes, are quite monotonous, but allow for the observation of nature. On the trail you can see a commemorative cross and plaque at the site of the 1945 skirmish between anti-Communist partisans and the combined forces of the communist military police and the secret police. Other attractions include the great wooden building of a seed husking mill and a monumental pine of exceptional beauty with a shrine dedicated to the Holy Virgin.  The last part of the trail goes along the Uherka River and is particularly picturesque. It comes to an end in the village of Ruda, near the MOR on the Green Velo trail. In order to return to Chełm, you can retrace your steps or take the Green Velo via the village Leśniczówka, which has the additional advantage of passing by the “Bagno Serebryskie” reserve. Such a loop will be 35 kilometres long and will make for an interesting, half-day bike tour.

Points of interest along the trail:

1. Chełm Landscape Park forests
2. Stańków artificial lake in Chełm
3. Monument commemorating soldiers of the anti-Communist underground
4. Wooden building of a seed husking mill
5. Monumental pine with a shrine
6. Valley of the river Uherka

The entire trail is suitable for bicycles with panniers/bike trailers. The trail is separated from vehicle traffic and only uses only safe bicycle crossings on public roads, separated bike paths and roads with no car traffic, dirt roads, forest paths, etc. The trail is especially recommended for families with children and bike trailers for kids. Recreational character. Trail of outstanding natural beauty.

Starting point:

Chełm, by the Chełm-Horodyszcze MOR (near the Stańków Lake) on the Green Velo trail

Finishing point:

Ruda nad Uherką (Ruda on the Uherka River), by the Ruda Huta MOR on the Green Velo trail