The primary purpose of Ulcinj as a base was to allow us to recharge our batteries in a pleasant setting i.e. an olive grove. That said we did go on a couple smaller rides poking around the neighborhood. Our efforts were rewarded with a beautiful panorama, some ancient wells and a little off-road.
Our first local destination was the Stegvas Viewpoint.
Located within meters of the once heavily guarded Albanian-Montenegrin border, the viewpoint is a great place to see both the Mediterranean (south) and the Shkoder Lake (north) at the same time. The path takes you right to the top of a ridge dividing the two watersheds.
Briska Gora, as the ridge is known on the Montenegrin side. Looking at the south-facing slope.
On the north side one can even get a good look at the Albanian Alps (faint, in the distance) when looking further north.
The roads here are not very heavily travelled, but of the couple times we went there we did see a couple larger groups of ADV riders on one mid-week afternoon.
P16, the actual road leading up to the ridge is neither narrow nor wide, but the surface can be uneven at times. In one instance, a washout was left half fixed with two thirds of the width dropping down 30-50cm. A speeding bike could easily go flying off course if the obstacle isn’t seen in time.
At a leisurely 70kph there’s not much to worry about, however.
If the 40 min ride from Ulcinj to the ridge isn’t quite enough, one can continue past the view point and east along the northern slopes to the Wells of Ostros.
Not much is known about the wells believed to date to the middle ages, but the setting amidst oak trees and hillside meadows is quite pictoresque . It’s also a fun little technical trail that some ADV riders may enjoy.
It helps to have an app like Gaia to see all the little routes leading to the Ostros.
The only way to reach the wells is via what must have once been horse and cart trails as they’re wide enough for the wheels of the Fiat500, but the car itself may not fit in every nook and cranny along the way.
Althought the trails are semi-paved some of the grades can be pretty steep. Going up the slope and executing a 90-degree turn at the same time may prove a challenge on a heavier bike without the skills to match.
Finally, for a little off-road. The Montenegrin TET doesn’t pass anywhere close to the area and there aren’t any formal enduro trails in place.
The best one can do is find some farm trails. I poked around about three places, but only this one 10 minute trail (each way) was worth the trouble.
The views are pleasant and the path is mostly empty — only ran into one Toyota Hilux while going uphill — and the trail is definitely good enough for a decent technical workout with enough loose rock and sloping potholes to keep things interesting.
To find the trail, head north of Vladimir on P16 and look for this small path splitting off westward around the village of Brajse, about 1-1.5km up. The first couple hundred meters is cement, then gravel and rocks begin.
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