Balinka (708 m a.s.l.) is a quiet, rewarding summit in the Beskid Makowski range — a part of the Western Beskids that feels wonderfully off the beaten track. If you enjoy peaceful forest trails and authentic mountain landscapes without the crowds, this is a place worth seeking out.

The Beskid Makowski is built from Magura sandstones and shales, which shape its characteristic terrain of forested ridges divided by wide, inhabited valleys. Spring here is long and cool, summer slightly warmer than in the neighbouring Beskid Żywiecki range, and autumn is famously long and dry — arguably the finest season for hiking in this area. Snow typically covers the hills from late November through March, giving the landscape a quiet, wintry charm.

• Maków Podhalański or Sucha Beskidzka — the main gateway towns for trails in this part of the Beskid Makowski; difficulty: moderate.

• The only mountain shelter in the entire Beskid Makowski mesoregion is the PTTK Hostel at Kudłacze — a useful base for longer stays in the area.

The Beskid Makowski is also known as the Beskid Średni — the 'Middle Beskids' — a name that perfectly captures its character: less dramatic than the Tatras, but full of genuine mountain charm and tranquillity.