Stary Groń, Silesian Beskids

Sheep grazed the meadows of Stary Groń for more than three hundred years – a man named Gawlas set up the first shepherd's hut here as early as the first half of the 17th century, making this ridge the oldest pastoral centre in Brenna. Today a wooden 12-metre observation tower stands below the summit (791 m), next to a hut built according to the old rules of Beskid timber building. It is one of the most accessible viewpoints in the Silesian Beskids.

A ridge with a shepherding past

The name Stary Groń refers not just to the top but to an almost level ridge nearly 3 km long that branches north-west from Grabowa and separates the Leśnica and Hołcyna valleys. The slopes above the Hołcyna are steep and wooded, while the gentler slopes above the Leśnica are covered with meadows dotted with the hamlets of Brenna: Grabowa, Pod Stary Groń and Na Tłoczki.

A shepherds' camp called "Stary Groń" is recorded in documents as early as 1689. In 1913 the researcher Ludomir Sawicki noted a hut here where eight partners grazed 186 sheep and 10 cows. Grazing continued until the 1960s; today sheep appear on the meadows only occasionally.

What to see

• The observation tower – 40 steps lead to the platform; it is free and open at all times. The view takes in the Hołcyna and Brennica valleys, the Błatnia range, Skrzyczne, Orłowa, Równica, Stożek and Czantoria, and on the horizon Lysá hora in the Moravian-Silesian Beskids.
• The hut and picnic tables – a good spot to eat food you have brought.
• Nature boards on the wildlife and plants of the Silesian Beskids, plus a large map of the area.
• A wayside shrine on the pass (752 m) by the green trail.

Interesting facts

The meadows of Stary Groń hold Poland's richest sites of purple foxglove, which colours the grassland in summer. Note too that on the official Geoportal maps the names Stary Groń and neighbouring Horzelica are swapped.

Tripto tip

The shortest approach is the yellow trail from Brenna Leśnica – about 2 km, steep in places and partly on concrete slabs; the descent takes about half an hour. The green trail leads down to Brenna Centrum, and the black trail runs along the ridge from Brenna to Grabowa. Another good option is the short, easy route from the Salmopolska Pass via Grabowa – but it ends in Brenna, so it is best done by bus. There was no food outlet on Stary Groń itself (a 2021 report advises bringing your own; the nearest places to eat are on Grabowa and at the Salmopolska Pass). Buses from the Brenna Leśnica stop are infrequent, so check the timetable before setting off.