Ovčí hora (496 m) is a quiet, forested hill at the very northern tip of the Ještěd-Kozákov Ridge, wrapped almost on three sides by the meandering Lužická Nisa river. It's a spot for hikers who enjoy peaceful woodland trails and a touch of history rather than sweeping panoramic views.

The slopes are covered mostly by mature beech forest, so there's no open view from the summit — this is a walk to be enjoyed for the atmosphere of the woods themselves, especially gorgeous in autumn when the beech leaves turn gold. Across the river lies the hamlet of Andělská Hora, and the valley below is threaded by the Chrastava–Liberec railway line. Just to the south, on a rocky spur encircled by the Nisa, stand the romantic ruins of Hamrštejn Castle.

How to reach the summit

• Chrastava (railway station) — yellow trail, steep climb along the northern ridge, full traverse 4.5 km, moderate difficulty
• Machnín hrad railway stop — yellow trail via the junction below the Hamrštejn ruins, steep climb through beech forest on the southern side

Good to know

• Just north of the summit runs a line of roughly 20 Czechoslovak border bunkers built in 1938 — worth spotting along the ridge
• The trail connects with a walk past the ruined Hamrštejn Castle and its nature reserve

Fun fact: the hill is built from ancient metamorphic rock — phyllite and metagraywacke with marble inclusions — silent witnesses to processes hundreds of millions of years old, now hidden beneath a peaceful beech forest.