Lovely news from Kastamonu, which we visited in 2017 and adored while visiting: the city of Kastamonu was put forward by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey for evaluation by the International Organisation of Turkic Culture, 'TÜRKSOY'. Aaand it was declared the "Cultural Capital of the Turkic World" for 2018! A true World heritage with its natural beauty and historic texture; let's introduce it as it deserves this year. Congratulations! May the Küre Mountains be visited plenty!
Magnificent places are now waiting for you on the blog. Come on, let's look at them in detail together.
1. ILICA WATERFALL
The waterfall is in Ilıca Village, very close to both Karabük/Safranbolu and Kastamonu/Pınarbaşı. Park Ilıca is on your right; when you follow the walking path from the bridge into the village, the signs guide you anyway.
Ilıca Village
The lovely national park welcomes you, with small shrubs typical of the Western Black Sea around. On their branches, red berries: kiren*, rosehip**, blackberries and cornelian cherries..* In some places it's also called kızılcık, and it's very famous in this region.. We recommend its marmalade! ** One more delicious marmalade suggestion: village women set up stalls in front of their houses, and you can buy from them. It's very hard to make because of the thorns, but if you're keen you can also find it fresh in the spring and summer months. Dried ones remain for winter.
At one part of the path the sound of the waterfall grows, and pouring from 15 metres high into a pond, you've reached the waterfall deep inside the forest. Sparkling water! As at Park Ilıca Hotel, this is one of the top places sought out for peace. You can rest a while in the quiet nature around the pond and read your book to the sound of the waterfall and birds.
Near where the waterfall pours down, some people go into the waterfall too. If you want to go in, don't forget to take your swimsuit and camera! You can swim in the cool, cool water and photograph the extraordinary view.
Note: Entry is free.
Getting there: You can get to the area by your own car, and you can also reach it with various travel companies. You can come directly to Kastamonu and reach the area from Kastamonu by public transport.
2. VALLA CANYON
Continuing the Pınarbaşı trips with Valla Canyon.. You can add this place to your route after the waterfall.
Valla Canyon became known in 1994 when 4 students from İTÜ got lost and came out at Cide 14 days later. Even though I didn't know the area well, I'd heard its name. As you know, the canyon in the Küre Mountains National Park is, with its 800 m depth, Turkey's deepest and the world's second-deepest canyon. The length of the gorge formed by the Devrekâni Stream cutting through the Küre mountains is 12 kilometres. While on our Western Black Sea tour, we said we can't not come here, and set off.
What can you do here? Well, the ideal and compulsory activity is the 1.5-kilometre walk to reach the canyon. You'll have the chance of a walk immersed in nature. It's very important that your shoes are suitable for walking. If possible, even bring sports clothes with you... When you get here, you'll see that from time to time outdoor sports and festivals are held with the municipality's support. Another activity at Valla Canyon is going up to the Viewing Terrace, where many people visiting the canyon stop. Going up to this terrace takes a special courage, and looking at nature from the top is a special pleasure. From what I've heard, the railings and protections have been renewed and restructured compared with previous years. The state we saw it in was safe, I think.
After the walk, I strongly recommend having a homemade ayran and gözleme with seasonal vegetables at Gözlemeci Erol Abi's. It's a break after the walk, and you need to meet this lovely family. :) With his warm welcome, Erol Abi suggests the gözleme with chard, and Berna, who knows the kitchen, asks for mushroom. Indeed, if the mushrooms are freshly picked, you can't get enough of the taste! It must be tried! On your way you can pick tomatoes and peppers from the garden, and buy the cornelian cherry and rosehip marmalades and fruit juices made by Erol Abi's wife.
Erol Usta's Place
Because of its location, Valla Canyon isn't a suitable place to stay. The nearest accommodation is again possible in the Pınarbaşı district. If you prefer a central hotel, we can also suggest going a bit further and staying in Safranbolu.
Isn't it lovely!
Erol Abi's place
Note: Entry is free.Getting there: It's 26 kilometres from the Pınarbaşı district. Those going by private car can enter Muratbaşı Village in the navigation.
3. HORMA CANYON
In Horma Canyon, which displays all the beauties of the Western Black Sea, you can go trekking, take photos immersed in nature, or sit and watch the canyon. When we went, the wooden walking platforms were being renovated. Because of the restoration we couldn't go to the end of the canyon.
Horma Canyon
The exit of the canyon, made up of deep pools and waterfalls, will catch your attention with its natural pool. Throughout the canyon there are impressive giant potholes in the rock. Also, people who want to cross the canyon should definitely get help from local guides. In this area, where nature lovers come with great excitement, you need to be careful while exploring.
You can go up to a certain point in the canyon; beyond that it's not allowed
At its entrance there's a very nice picnic area under small trees called the hidden garden. Please don't light fires, but take sandwiches, fill your thermoses and spend time here as a family!
Wonderful for a little picnic
We'd like to write that the more people come, the more they dirty this place:( If only we'd protect it; what natural wonders they are! Why write names on the lovely rocks with spray paint, and leave it full of rubbish with seed shells and plastic bags! It saddens us every time we see it...Note: Entry is free.
Getting there: It's 5 kilometres from the Pınarbaşı district.
4. ILGARİNİ CAVE
Definitely don't go here alone! It's recommended that you go with a guide or with someone who knows the area. Why? Because it can only be reached with a walk of about 1.5-2 hours from the village, and there aren't enough signs. Ilgarini Cave, an important tourist site, is, with its 858-metre length, the world's 4th-largest cave. It formed over 160-220 million years. Inside the cave there are many stalactites and stalagmites, and a chapel, tombs and cisterns from the Late Roman and Byzantine periods can also be seen.Note: Entry is free.
Getting there: It's 36 kilometres from the Pınarbaşı district. Those going by private car can enter Yamanlar Village in the navigation.
5. ÇATAK CANYON
Çatak Canyon is the world's fourth-largest canyon. Seeing its lovely nature takes a bit of effort. At the canyon, which you can reach with a long walk, you can look at the unique view from a height of 900 metres.You can cross the canyon, with its perfect nature made up of a thousand and one flowers, on foot. For this canyon, where big steps have started to be taken in recent years, a wooden accessible walking trail has been built, and work on building a glass terrace is continuing.
Note: Entry is free.
Getting there: The canyon, in the Azdavay district of Kastamonu province, is 7 km from the Azdavay district centre. 6 kilometres are covered by car and 1 kilometre by walking path.
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