Over Lokomotiva to the Čáp lookout tower

The starting point is the Teplice nad Metují signpost by the square, below the railway viaduct. Teplice n. M. is the gateway to Teplice Rocks (a sandstone rock town with a nature trail, roughly 2 km from the centre).

The town is most well known as the venue for the International Mountaineering Film Festival (held on the last weekend in August every year) as well as a number of mountain and road bike races – such as the Rallye Sudety, Sudety Tour, and the Aprílová osmička.

From the signpost follow the green markers towards Lokomotiva. Cross the square and after 300 m or so you’ll reach another signpost; turn right, and keep following the green route. Go up the steps to the asphalt road and ascend slightly.
You’ll pass the Kamenec camp, above which you join the forest access road and continue along the contour to the ski slope. From the Nad Kamencem signpost keep following the green markers, cross the ski slope, and head upwards through the forest.

After 1.2 km you’ll reach the peak of Lokomotiva. This is a rock formation, from where there are beautiful views of the Teplice valley and rocks. (There are no railings on the viewpoint, so take care not to fall – especially when it’s icy!). Teplice Rocks are part of the Adršpach-Teplice Rocks national nature reserve.

This sandstone rock town is striking with its distinctive contiguous rock walls. There is a tour circuit (6 km) running through the rocks, which is very well marked and features the information panels of a nature trail.

From Lokomotiva, continue following the green markers to the Kraví hora signpost. The trail leads through woods, over rugged ground, between rock formations and through narrow gorges in places. Passing through the Three Musketeers valley you’ll come out below another viewpoint – Čáp (786 m a.s.l.).
There, turn left off the main route (be careful not to lose sight of the markers!). a steep ascent will take you to the Čáp signpost. Čáp is the highest lookout rock peak of this part of Teplice Rocks, offering a panoramic view: of Javoří and the Owl Mountains, Broumovské stěny rocks, Hejšovina, Bor, Ostaš, Policko, Turov, Dobrošov and the Eagle Mountains, the Hawk Mountains, the Giant Mountains and the Krucze Mountains.

Walk down from the Čáp signpost, still following the green markers, as far as the crossroads, and there join the forest trail. There, at the crossroads, turn left towards the village of Skály (by the chateau). Roughly 500 m later leave the forest and you’ll come to some holiday chalets. Follow the marked route between them, pass the little spring and keep going down as far as the Skály signpost by Bischofstein chateau.

This Early Baroque chateau was built on the site of an old stronghold in 1666 by the Bishop of Hradec Králové Karel Sobek of Bilenberk. The single-storey building, with its covered staircase and bell tower supported by eight Tuscan columns, was used as the summer office of the canons of Hradec Králové. After that the land around the chateau was farmed and beer was brewed in its own brewery until the end of World War II. One person who used to stay at the chateau was the writer Alois Jirásek, who loved Bischofstein and the ruins of the nearby castle so much that he used them as the setting for his novels Skály and Skaláci.

Nowadays Bischofstein provides accommodation and there is a pub. The route continues from the Skály signpost following the red markers, which will lead you to another signpost around 100 m further on. Here, you can either head up to the ruins of the mediaeval Skály castle (you need to come back via the same route), from where there is a lovely view of the chateau, the village of Skály, Ostaš, Hejšovina and Bor. Continue following the red markers; after roughly 500 m you’ll come to the edge of the forest, where there stands an unmarked half-demolished signpost.
From there, follow the yellow markers towards Teplice n. M. On the way you’ll pass the Chapel of the Virgin Mary and the St. Hubert spring. After 2 km you’ll reach the road above Teplice n. M. Turn left and then go right across the little bridge. Roughly 150 m further on, turn sharp left and join the blue hiking route. That will take you to the square in Teplice (a good place to stop for refreshments).