Veclaicene Hills

Veclaicene lies on the Aluksne upland in the far northeast, a landscape of steep glacial hills, kames and kettle holes with more than thirty lakes among them, and it holds Dzerveju ezers, the highest lake in Latvia at around two hundred and fifty metres. It is the closest thing the country has to hill walking, with relief of well over a hundred metres between valley floors and hilltops, unusual in a flat country. Marked trails, the Korneti-Peļļi valley walk and viewpoints such as Dzērves and the Drusku hill fort cross the area. The protected landscape holds old forest, meadows and a rich flora. Winter brings skiing on the slopes.

What you actually see

• The glacial hills - the steep kames and hollows of the upland.
• The lake scatter - the many small waters among the hills.
• The Korneti valley - the deep trough walked on the marked route.
• Viewpoints - the hilltop outlooks over the lake country.

When to go

May to October for the trails; autumn colour on the upland is the best time. Winter brings snow and skiing. Spring thaw makes the tracks muddy. Nights are colder than elsewhere in the country.

Honest expectations

Trails are marked but signage is in Latvian and a map helps. Facilities are limited to a few information points and guesthouses. The area is remote from any city. Roads are unsurfaced in places.

Nearby

Aluksne lies south; the Estonian frontier is north.