This part of the Forest Trail passes through the historical centre of Valmiera. In Valmiera you can visit St. Simon’s Church, the Ruins of the Livonian Order Castle and Valmiera Museum. We also suggest walking the barefoot trail in “Sajūtu Parks” (Park of Senses). After sightseeing in Valmiera, the Forest Trail goes through Atpūtas (Recreation) park, the beautiful pine forest and Baiļi winter ski centre. Further on you will walk along the River Abuls Trail, curving along the banks of the river until reaching the Brenguļi brewery built in an old Hydroelectric power plant. You can enjoy unfiltered and unpasteurised beer here. Further down you will enter unpopulated forest areas and the Northern Gauja protected landscape area.

The forests in Northern Gauja (“Ziemeļgauja”) are very diverse. There are old or natural boreal (northern) forests and marsh forests, oak forests, alluvial forests (formed on river sediments which periodically flood) and mixed oak, wych elm and ash forests along the river. The tour will end in Strenči Town.

On the banks of Little Lake Ludza is a farm with a house, windmill, threshing barn and the workshop of the Lettigalian ceramicist Polikarps Vilcāns.  Various events related to craftsmanship and culture are organised there.

This village appears in historical documents from 1310.  A census in 1582 and 1583 recorded eight farms in the village, while a 1731 census conducted by the Dundaga Estate found only three.  In 1826, each farm had 16 or 17 people, with some 60 in total.  A census in 1935 showed that all 49 Livonians in Saunags spoke the Lithuanian language, but only 11 of them spoke the language at home.  There was a store that was owned by Kārlis Tilmanis, who also owned a factory where sprats were salted.  Also born in Saunags was the seafaring captain Arvīds Ludeviks (1912-1996).  In May 1945, he captained a tugboat, the Rota, in an attempt to bring Latvian refugees to Sweden.  The ship was detained, and the captain was sent to Siberia.  Another seafaring captain from Saunags was Visvaldis Feldmanis (1938-2017).

Located on the main pedestrian thoroughfare in town, the baker offers bacon pierogi, cottage cheese and cinnamon pastries, sweet pretzels and tortes. Vintage bicycles can be rented.

Atrodas Kraujā – Daugavas ielejas krasta malā un nogāzēs. Atrodama informācija, ka šajā vietā Livonijas kara laikā atradusies krievu karaspēka nometne. Muižas nosaukums cēlies no vācu Hof zum Berg – „Kalnu muiža”. Pēdējie muižas īpašnieki līdz 1. pasaules karam bija grāfu Šahno dzimtas pārstāvji. Viens no tiem – Marians Šahno 1910. gadā uzceļ muižas pili, kas bija būvēta eklektisma formās. Daļēji nojaukta tā pārdzīvo padomju laikus, līdz 2002. gadā nodeg. Līdz mūsdienām saglabājušās vien ēkas sienas, kuras slēpj biezs augājs. Var tikai iedomāties, kādi skati šeit kādreiz pavērušies uz Daugavas ieleju! Muižas parks ir vietējo iedzīvotāju pastaigu vieta.

Madona is probably the only town in Latvia, in whose area a lake settlement was located around the 9th century. Its residues are preserved in the northern part of Salas Lake (Baznicezers) under water. Until the end of 19th century, a small estate with the same name (Madona) was located in place, where present town is located, Latvians called the place Bizi. In 1898 construction of narrow gauge railway between Stukmani (Plavinas) and Valka was started. The development of railway helped the development of the town. Today Madona is well maintained Vidzeme town with its own charm typical for small town. Interestingly that it can also be considered as one of the most highly placed towns in relief of Latvia.

One of the biggest castle hills in Estonia, which is surrounded by walls built of stone. It is mentioned in Livonian Chronicle of Henry as one of the best fortifications at that time.

Guest house Pinska is a family-owned company located on the former Lõpinska country manor land. The food is prepared from local ingredients and according to local traditions.

On the right bank of the Bērze River and in the western part of Dobele, the castle hill and its fortified forecastle were occupied between the 10th and 13th centuries, with an ancient town at its foot (currently the square between Tērvetes Street and the Liepāja highway).  As was common, the Livonian Order used this ancient Semigallian castle hill to build a brick castle between 1335 and 1347.  The castle was sacked during the 18th century, and its fairly impressive and beautiful ruins have been conserved.  A viewing platform is part of the charm.

This summer terrace café is on the beach of the Preiļi park, and it offers 100% natural ice cream with berries, as well as fresh pancakes.  The café is only open from Mother’s Day (May 8) until Father’s Day (September 11).  Tourist groups are offered tours and tastings of cheese-based ice cream.