There is nothing like a chair lift ride to the summit, a quick look at the amazing views across the mountains then careering down the pistes only to start all over again. Especially on a July day! In the snow free months, the ski slope at the Straže ski centre in the Slovenian town of Bled ... Read review
Advantages: Tremendous fun, easy to get to, good value for money, get some great views if you remember to look Disadvantages: None at all
...something new to do. The summer toboggan is signposted from the road that circles the lake and is between Hotel Grand Toplice and the hamlet of Mlin. A two minute walk from the road brings you to the bottom of the slopes. This is where you buy your tickets – assuming you have started at the bottom (maybe you can by them at the top too, I must confess to not knowing).
You take your ticket to the barrier, and go through the electronic ... ...grown up kids loved the summer toboggan and all the “real kids” we saw seemed to be loving it too. This is about as close to Alton Towers as it gets in Slovenia so maybe some kids would find it a bit tame; I would be disappointed if that was the case because this activity is great fun and you get to do it in such picturesque surroundings.
The summer toboggan operates at the following times
There is nothing like a chair lift ride to the summit, a quick look at the amazing views across the mountains then careering down the pistes only to start all over again. Especially on a July day! In the snow free months, the ski slope at the Straže ski centre in the Slovenian town of Bled – overlooking the picturesque lake with its tiny island – is home to a “summer toboggan” - a 520 metre run where you are seat-belted into a plastic sledge that runs along a single rail about two feet off the ground.
My parents wanted to visit Bled and as we (the CM and I) had been before we looked for something new to do. The summer toboggan is signposted from the road that circles the lake and is between Hotel Grand Toplice and the hamlet of Mlin. A two minute walk from the road brings you to the bottom of the slopes. This is where you buy your tickets – assuming you have started at the bottom (maybe you can by them at the top too, I must confess to not knowing).
You take your ticket to the barrier, and go through the electronic turnstile. First is the ascent in the chair lift which takes just a couple of minutes and is good fun although it never gets particularly high. As you go up the tobogganers pass underneath you – we cheered as they went by but got no response which we found a bit disappointing (we were getting much more excited than is decorous for people of our age). The downside of the chair lift is that it’s not easy to turn round and get views of the lake as you ascend so you should take a minute or two to appreciate them once you get to the top before you descend. If you don’t want to make your descent immediately – or have just come up for the views – there is a café at the summit.
Once you are ready to go, you step round to the starting place. In my excitement I jumped into my toboggan before the assistant had removed the two ends of the seat belt and I had to lift my buttocks so he could retrieve them. Although there are signs at the top, he quickly went through the instructions again; the toboggan has a single joystick control – forward to accelerate and back to brake – “Seemples!”
The Curry Monster went first with a little push from the assistant then it was my turn. There’s a corner near the start so I applied the brake – far too cautiously and came to an undignified standstill in front of the café. I tried to get going again pushing the control forward but nothing happened. I tried moving my weight forward to propel it into motion but still nothing happened. As I turned round to call the attendant the thing started to move (Curry Monster was by this point at the bottom) and with not inconsiderable speed. I was away! Apparently the maximum speed is 40KM an hour - I was in no danger of getting any points on my licence. speed is
There are plenty of ups and downs and good corners – and usefully placed signs at the more extreme bends telling you to brake. A couple of the bends take you right up on your side – I was mightily pleased to be seat-belted in! It wasn’t until I got to the bottom that I remembered I’d gone under the chair lift – in the excitement I’d forgotten it was above me and I totally understand why we’d got no response. You are having far too much fun to notice someone’s legs dangling above you, as they sit suspended from a wire.
As we were short of time we made only one descent each at a cost of €6 per person (for adults). Two rides cost €10 and three cost €13 which I think is pretty good value. However, you have to buy individual tickets per person. If you have two children you can’t buy a two-ride children’s pass for them to share; you’d have to buy singles. The ticket price includes the chair lift ride to the top. Children under eight must be accompanied on the toboggan by someone over fifteen years of age. Prices for children (5-14 years) are €4, €6 and €8 Euro, so still good value. If you just want to ride the chair lift, the price is €3 for adult and €2 for children.
We grown up kids loved the summer toboggan and all the “real kids” we saw seemed to be loving it too. This is about as close to Alton Towers as it gets in Slovenia so maybe some kids would find it a bit tame; I would be disappointed if that was the case because this activity is great fun and you get to do it in such picturesque surroundings.
The summer toboggan operates at the following times
22 March - 25 April - open Saturdays, Sundays and holidays 11.00 - 17.00 26 – 30 April - daily - 11.00 - 17.00 1 May - 20th June - open Saturdays, Sundays and holidays 11:00 – 18:00 21 June – 31 August - daily - 11:00 – 20:00 September - Saturdays, Sundays 11:00 – 18:00 October - Saturdays, Sundays and holidays 11:00 – 17:00 November 2, 8. and 9 November 11:00 – 16:00
There are toilets and a place to buy refreshments at the bottom of the run beside the ticket office, as well as the café at the top.
