Right Bank of River Gauja

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Rāmkalni – Bīriņi – Ungurmuiža – Sietiņiezis Cliff – Valmiermuiža

The route (between the right bank of the River Gauja and road A3) crosses the whole Gauja National Park in the direction from southwest to northeast. It covers the most excellent nature monuments, and most scenic spots. To diversify, the route includes also the most significant culture and history monuments, which are often closely related to the nature. For example, Ungurmuiža Manor Park is a significant place for several endangered species of Europe, while in the pond of Turaida Museum Reserve grass-snakes can be seen in spring having a tasty meal — the green frogs.

	Route Leisure Park “Rāmkalni” – Ragana – Bīriņi Palace – Krimulda – Turaida – Inciems – Straupe – Stalbe – Ungurmuiža – Rubene – Vaidava – Sietiņiezis – Valmiera bypass – Valmiermuiža.
	Distance ~125 km.
	Duration 2–3 days.
	Road pavement Gravel roads in Vaidava–Sietiņiezis Cliff vicinity. The rest of the route runs on asphalt.
	Starting point / Destination Leisure Park “Rāmkalni” / Valmiermuiža.
	Worth knowing! Following long rainy periods, the gravel road can be of poor quality at some places. Prior to the trip, check the working hours of museums and other sites. Visit to the local Tourism Information Centres is recommended (for information and local maps). Announce your visit in advance for sites which should be visited (or where one cannot find the working hours). The activity is at one’s own risk. Emergency services: 112.
	Recommendation The route can be continued in direction of Riga City on the left bank of the River Gauja. The route can be merged with a route running on the other bank of the river by crossing the River Gauja at Līgatne Ferry Crossing.

	1. Leisure Park “Rāmkalni” Located on the slope of the primeval valley wall of the River Gauja offering many activities — summer toboggan, skiing, etc.
	2. Primeval Valley of the River Gauja
	3. River Loja
	4. Bīriņi Palace The Bīriņi Palace area covers a broad park and forest park from the 19th century, where one can study the diversity of plants, mushrooms, animals, and habitats.
	5. Krimulda Lutheran Church
	6. Kubesele Nature Trail Along the trail — grave of Kaupo, Kubesele Cave and Hillfort, and Lielais (Runtiņa) Stone on the right bank of the River Gauja. Powerful spring comes out at the feet of the stone.
	7. Krimulda Manor The romantic landscape park in its vicinity is a place to study lichen and moss.
	8. Piķenes Cliff A 10 km circular hiking route starting from Krimulda Manor, leading along the upper and lower part of Piķenes Cliff, with a visit to Velnala Cliffs. Piķenes Cliff is covered in forests of slopes, which are protected habitats.
	9. Turaida Museum Reserve Located in a place where the right side of primeval valley wall of the River Gauja is split by several deep ravines of small brooks. Grass-snakes eating frogs can be observed in springs at the manor pond. Skandinieku Spring flows out of a cave located in a small sandstone outcrop on the slope of Dainu Hill.
	10. Turaida Castle
	11. Gūtmaņala Cave It is the largest cave in Latvia in terms of width (12 m) and height (up to 10 m), and one of the largest in terms of volume. Its ancient inscriptions on the walls and ceiling (eldest of which dates back to the 17th century) are undervalued.
	12. Viktors Cave
	13. Primeval valley of the River Brasla The primeval valley starts at Straupe and ends where the river flows into Gauja. From Brasla water reservoir (in its lower reaches), the valley is up to 30 m deep and 300 m wide. This is among the most beautiful river sections in Latvia, where the reddish and yellowish sandstone outcrops from Gauja suite are seen.
	14. Lielstraupe Castle
	15. Vējiņi Underground Lakes As a result of suffusion underground hollows have formed in the vicinity of the private house “Vējiņi”. When the upper covering rock layers above the underground hollow fall in, a suffusion sink is formed. In one of these, Ezerala Cave is found. Behind the deep, shaft-like portal there is the first, and further on — the second underground “lake”. Slightly further, near the River Brasla, is the 42 m long Upes Cave. Both caves were discovered in 1984.
	16. Straupe farmer’s market On every first and third Sunday there is a market in Plācis.
	17. Creative workshop “Ezeriņi” A lodge in beautiful rural surroundings with art works from stone and metal around the lodge. Subject to a prior announcement, visitors can watch the craftsman at work (stone processing) and shot from a real cannon from stone.
	18. Ungurmuiža Manor In the manor park, there is a project launched to preserve and reproduce a beetle rarely found in Europe — the hermit beetle.
	19. Lake Ungura Largest lake in Gauja National Park.
	20. Lake Vaidavas The ca. 4 km long lake is located in a ridge created by a glacier, which is seen in its stretched shape, steep banks and depth (maximum 9 m). Several interesting sites are found on the banks of the lake — Vaidava Hillfort, Veselības Spring, Zviedru Pine, and a collection of ancient household items in “Meldri”.
	21. Manufacturing plant “Vaidava Ceramics”
	22. Antonu Stone Length — 5.6 m, width — 5 m, height — up to 2 m. Only half of the stone is above ground. The stone is a gneiss shiver with feldspar and quartz zones.
	23. Sietiņiezis Cliff One of the largest white sandstone outcrops in Latvia. Maximum height of its cliff reaches 15 m, while the total length of the cliffs — around half a kilometre. Here one can see small caves and hollows, erosion ravines, and formations similar to poles. One of these is called Velna papēdis (Devil’s Heel), while the small, but 10.5 m long cave — Velnala (Devil’s Cave). From southern side of Sietiņiezis Cliff, there is a beautiful view over the primeval valley of the River Gauja with nearby scenic pine forests.
	24. River Jumara (Imara) A 20 km long right tributary of the River Gauja with a typical valley at its reaches. Suitable to watch salmons.
	25. Beste Milestone An ancient Swedish post road stone.
	26. Kokmuiža Manor
	27. Valmiermuiža Brewery Visit to the brewery will reveal its history’s impact on the beer-making process, and how the live beer is made from natural raw materials. Everybody can taste the beer as it has once been done by the masters of manors. Excellent catering.