Malý Vlhošť is a modest volcanic hill rising to 439 metres above sea level, tucked away in the forests of the Kokořínsko - Máchův kraj region in the Czech Republic. It's a quiet, unassuming destination for hikers who prefer wooded trails and a sense of untouched nature over crowded viewpoints.

The hill is made of phonolite rock that pushed through the surrounding sandstone some 31 million years ago, giving the whole area a distinctive geological character. The summit is covered in dense forest, so views are only partially open, but the walk through the Vlhošť Nature Reserve more than makes up for it. Beech woods, pine stands, heather patches and lichen-covered rocks create a rich mosaic of habitats. In spring and summer you might hear grasshoppers rustling in the undergrowth, while peregrine falcons and stock doves nest among the cliffs. Autumn brings golden beech colours, and winter wraps the whole hill in a peaceful hush.

How to reach the summit

• Hvězda pod Vlhoštěm village - blue trail from Zahrádky and Holany, moderate difficulty
• Litice village - green trail from Kravaře, meeting the blue trail in the Vlhoštěský důl valley

Practical information

• No marked trail leads directly to the summits of Malý Vlhošť or Vlhošť - a short off-trail approach is needed
• Cycling route 0059 also passes through the Vlhoštěský důl valley
• The area lies within the Vlhošť Nature Reserve, protecting flowering beech forests, heathland and lichens

The reserve is home to a surprising number of snail and spider species, and overhead you may spot the peregrine falcon - one of the fastest birds on the planet - patrolling the cliffs.