Baltischer Küstenwanderweg - For visually impaired

No Bernātiem līdz Liepājai Jūrtaka ved pa platu liedagu, kur sauszemes pusē sākotnēji ir vērojami noskaloti krasti, bet, tuvojoties Liepājai, augstas priekškāpas, apaugušas ar smiltāju kāpukviešiem un kāpuniedrēm. Tālāk tā izlīkumo cauri Liepājas vecpilsētai un Jaunliepājai un, šķērsojot Karostas kanālu, nonāk līdz Karostai - militāro un fortifikācijas būvju kompleksam, kuras apskatei ir vērts ieplānot vismaz pusi dienas. Noteikti jānogaršo Liepājas īpašais ēdiens – ”Liepājas menciņi”, kas gatavots no kūpinātas mencas pēc senas Dienvidkurzemes receptes.

Pirmie četri Jūrtakas kilometri ar daudzu fortu un krasta aizsardzības bateriju paliekām var interesēt militārās vēstures entuziastus, taču no iešanas viedokļa tas ir tehniski sarežģītākais Kurzemes piekrastes posms. Aiz Cietokšņa kanāla Jūrtaka īsu brīdi izlokās pa piekrastes pļavu, tad izskrien liedagā un turpinās līdz pat Ziemupei. Liedags ir plats, stiprāka vēja laikā - ar sašaurinājumu starp Lenkupi un Kārļupīti. Dažviet nelieli stāvkrasti, pārējās vietās – augstas, vietām noskalotas priekškāpas. Stāsta, ka Ziemupes selgā nogrimuši daudzi kuģi, viens pat ar bronzas lielgabaliem.

Maršruts ved cauri Ventspilij un tās apkārtnes mežiem. Jūrtaka no Dienvidu mola izlīkumo cauri vēsturiskajam Ostgalam un Vecpilsētai, šķērso Ventu un tālāk cauri Pārventai pa gājēju – veloceliņu turpinās Staldzenes virzienā, kur, apmetusi loku ap Ventspils ostu, atkal atgriežas jūras krastā. Ir vērts paņemt vienu "brīvdienu" un iepazīt pilsētas interesantākās vietas, kā arī apmeklēt Piejūras brīvdabas muzeju.

No Ģipkas līdz Rojai stiepjas smilšaina, ne pārāk plata pludmale ar skaistām kāpām un piekrastes priežu mežiem, bet pirms Rojas – tā ir aizaugusi ar niedrēm. Savukārt, posms starp Roju un Kaltenes baznīcu ir savdabīgākais visā Latvijas piekrastē, kur jūras krasts ir izrobots ar maziem zemesragiem un līcīšiem ar ļoti šauru pludmali, kuru viscaur klāj dažādu izmēru laukakmeņu krāvumi, virs kuriem līkst melnalkšņu zaļā lapotne. Dažviet krastā slejas izskaloto koku plašās sakņu rozetes. Vietām gar pašu krastu iet zemes ceļš, gar kuru rindojas daudzas bijušās zvejnieku sētas. Maršruts piemērots aktīviem un izveicīgiem gājējiem!

Lībiešu valodā Ģipka senais nosaukums Gipk.

A sandy beach that is not too wide and has beautiful dunes and coastal pine forests stretches from Ģipka to Roja, but before reaching Roja it is overgrown with reeds. Conversely, the section between Roja and the Kaltene Church is one of the most extraordinary parts of the seashore of Latvia, where the coast is notched by small capes and coves with a very narrow beach. All over the coast, there are piles of boulders of different sizes with the green foliage of black alders hanging over them. In some places, the large gnarled root systems of the trees washed ashore rise before your eyes. In some places, an unpaved road goes right along the coast and a lot of former fishermen homesteads are aligned next to it.

In Ragaciems village, you can clearly see the whole length of the Jūrmala coast. The first third of this day's itinerary is part of the Ķemeri National Park where you can get to know historic fishing villages, the Ragaciems village fishing area with net huts and a fish market, dune habitats, as well as watch birds in the estuary of the Starpiņupe River. Starting from Jaunķemeri to Dubulti, the walk takes you across the widest sandy beach of the Gulf of Riga through the historic resort in Jūrmala and the longest city in Latvia. Keep in mind that on warm and sunny summer days there will be a lot of beachgoers.

The widest sandy beach of the Gulf of Riga stretches from Dubulti to the Lielupe River. It is the main asset of the Jūrmala resort offering many beach cafés and different recreational possibilities. The coastal dune forests are permeated with a dense web of trails suitable for walking and stick-walking. The part of the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route located between the beach of the Lielupe River and Jūrmala beach is part of the Ragakāpa Nature Park. From here, you can easily get back to Bulduri by taking Bulduri prospekts and the 5th line.

Ikla is the start of the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route in Estonia. In the section connecting Ikla and Treimani, the route leads you along the old Pärnu–Riga road as meadows and reeds stretch across the seashore. After passing Treimani, the trail turns towards the sea and the next 2,8 km are covered across a narrow, sandy or rocky and occasionally thickly overgrown beach. After bypassing the Orajõe Brook, next to the parking lot the trail returns to the beach followed by a hike of ~ 4 km to Hotel Lepanina. There you will have to return to the old Pärnu–Riga road leading you to Kabli. Several good birdwatching sites are located on the itinerary. The coastal area up to Pärnu is a popular relaxation and swimming area.

In this section of the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route, you will see a traditional rural landscape. The littoral is notched by shallow coves, peninsulas and capes surrounded by coastal meadows, reeds, shallow lagoons, marshes, as well as hard to access islands. When walking along the small country roads, overhung by red rowans in autumn, you can see ethnographic-like individual farmsteads and farms with cows and goats. The landscapes of farmsteads interchange with the remains of rock fences, farmland and juniper forests. Access to the sea and rest areas are located south of Ranniku and near Kastna village.

Matsi beach is one of the rare sandy beaches in the subsequent section of the trail leading to Haapsalu. The Baltic Coastal Hiking Route takes you on a small stroll through Kulli village and for the next 5 km leads you along small trails surrounded by wide forests and dunes. In autumn, their surroundings are rich in berries and mushrooms. After bypassing Uue-Varbla Manor, the trail reaches Varbla village.

In the Village of Rusnė, the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route follows Taikos Street and Kuršmarių Street, crossing the Atmata River, a distributary of the Nemunas Delta, over the Rusnė Bridge. Then the trail follows the side of the road as a separate lane, continuing on to Šilutė. Shortly before reaching Šilutė, hikers will have to walk on the side of the road. In Šilutė, you will cross the historical bridge over the Šyša River. Rusnė Street, which connects Rusnė Island and Šilutė, brings you right into the center of the town. Up until Šilutė, the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route leads through the Nemunas Delta Regional Park where vast areas of the lower reaches of the Nemunas River flood in springtime — today these areas are agricultural land and swamp forests (Žalgiriai Forest).

Along Klaipėdos Street and Aukštumalės Street, the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route leaves the town of Šilutė in the direction of Kintai (Road No. 4217), briefly following the top of the polder dike (offering a good view of the Nemunas Delta lowland which floods in springtime), it then snakes along a rural road and returns back on to Aukštmalės Street (Road No. 4217). After less than 6 km, at the intersection in the Village of Rūgailiai the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route loops leftward towards Minija, and after 1.5 km it bears right, returning back on to the Šilutė–Kintai road. The Baltic Coastal Hiking Route crosses the Minija River and the Kintai Carp Lakes over a high and long bridge. From here, you will have one of the most spectacular views of the Lithuanian coastline with an expansive panorama of lowlands and waters. Before reaching the Village of Povilai, the trail turns left, leading through agricultural land for about 5 km where birds can be observed during migration season. Then the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route turns on to a beachside road (Marių Street, Road No. 2201) which leads to the Ventė Cape 5 km away. This scenic section of the route offers expansive views of the Curonian Spit across the Curonian Lagoon (the width of the gulf here is 8–9 km). Hikers can also enjoy the former fishing villages with their colourful, decorated buildings. This section of the trail is part of the Nemunas Delta Regional Park.