The Mountains of Montenegro. Rudolf Abraham

      

      About the Author

      Rudolf Abraham (www.rudolfabraham.co.uk) is an award-winning travel writer and photographer specializing in southeast Europe. He is the author of eight books and has contributed to over a dozen more, and his work is published widely in magazines. He has been a regular visitor to the Balkans for more than 15 years and has lived and worked in neighbouring Croatia.

      Other Cicerone guides by the author

      The Islands of Croatia

      St Oswald’s Way and St Cuthbert’s Way

      Torres del Paine

      Walking in Croatia

      The Peaks of the Balkans Trail

      THE MOUNTAINS OF MONTENEGRO

      by Rudolf Abraham

      JUNIPER HOUSE, MURLEY MOSS,

      OXENHOLME ROAD, KENDAL, CUMBRIA LA9 7RL

      www.cicerone.co.uk

      © Rudolf Abraham 2007, 2015

      Second edition 2015 Reprinted 2019 (with updates)

      ISBN 9781783621972

      First edition 2007

      ISBN 9781852845063

      ISBN 9781849656436

      Printed in China on behalf of Latitude Press Ltd.

      A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

      Author photo by Ivana Jović All other photographs by Rudolf Abraham

      za Ivanu

      Acknowledgements

      For this second edition, thanks to Emma and Ben Heywood in Virpazar, Hayley Wright in Herceg Novi, Olga Turković at Kula Damjanova in Plav, and Rado Jovanović. For the first edition: thanks to Ivan Laković and Jelena Lazarović for providing me with my first opportunity to visit the Ropojana Valley; members of PDS Lazarevac for sharing their knowledge of the Grbaja Valley; Jelena Ćalić for answering some final queries on the Serbian language section; Rade Pavlović for providing keys to Radnički hut in Prokletije; and Pero Rakočević for sharing his wonderful knowledge and enthusiasm for the mountains of Montenegro.

      Last but not least, thanks are due to my wife, Ivana, who read through the text, corrected the language section, accompanied me on many of my trips to Montenegro, and – infinitely more challenging – lived with the first edition of this book over the two to three years in which it came together.

      Warning

      Mountain walking in remote areas can be dangerous and carry a risk of personal injury or death. It should be undertaken only by those with a full understanding of the risks and with the training and/or experience to evaluate them. Whilst every care and effort has been taken in the preparation of this guide, the user should be aware that conditions can be highly variable and can change quickly, thus materially affecting the seriousness of a mountain walk.

      Therefore, except for any liability which cannot be excluded by law, neither Cicerone nor the author accept liability for damage of any nature (including damage to property, personal injury or death) arising directly or indirectly from the information in this book.

      For the Mountain Rescue Service (GSS) in Montenegro, contact www.gss-cg.me, in English, or tel: [phone] or 063 466 466.

      Although travel within Montenegro is perfectly safe, visitors are strongly advised against straying over the border into neighbouring countries (with the exception of those itineraries detailed within this guide). In particular, there is a danger of landmines in Bosnia-Hercegovina, certain areas of Croatia, the border areas between Kosovo and Montenegro, and possibly over the Albanian border.

      Updates to this Guide

      While every effort is made by our authors to ensure the accuracy of guidebooks as they go to print, changes can occur during the lifetime of an edition. Any updates that we know of for this guide will be on the Cicerone website (www.cicerone.co.uk/731/updates), so please check before planning your trip. We also advise that you check information about such things as transport, accommodation and shops locally. Even rights of way can be altered over time. We are always grateful for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground, sent by email to [email protected] or by post to Cicerone, Juniper House, Murley Moss, Oxenholme Road, Kendal LA9 7RL.

      Register your book: To sign up to receive free updates, special offers and GPX files where available, register your book at www.cicerone.co.uk.

      Front cover: Zupci (‘teeth’) and Bandijerna, seen from the pass below Bobotov kuk in Durmitor national park (Route 6)

      CONTENTS

       Route summary table

       Map key

       Overview map

       INTRODUCTION

       Geography

       Geology

       Climate

       Vegetation and wildlife

       History

       Culture

       Food and drink

       Language

       Getting to Montenegro

       Local transport

       Accommodation

       Money

       Staying in touch

       Walking in Montenegro

       What to take

       Maps

       Trail