Turna – Strenči
Turna – 17 km Jērcēni – 7 km Strenči ( Turna – 17 km Jērcēni – 12 km Seda – 5 km Strenči )
Stage consultant – Rita, WhatsApp or SMS, +371 29112999, e-mail [email protected]
This stage mostly follows rural roads.
Leaving the Community House, turn left towards the sports field, passing the swings. After 500 m, on the left side of the sandy road, you will find a well-maintained swimming area by Lake Valdis, created by Latvijas valsts meži, with a changing cabin and a table.
At the first forest road junction, keep to the left. After 800 m, at a V-shaped junction, turn right, and after another 100 m, turn right again. Upon reaching a more significant road, turn left. Continue along the winding road past fields, houses, and pastures. After 1.5 km, continue straight, passing the bus stop NORIŅAS and the houses ZAĶI. Further along, you will pass JAUNRŪĶI, MAZRŪĶI, and VECRŪĶI, while the hidden Rūķu ezers lies on the left side of the road.
After 3.5 km, at a crossroads, turn left following the sign indicating 3 km to Daksti. Continue towards Daksti, reach the Seda River, and cross it.
At a V-shaped junction, turn left towards Ēvele. After 3 km, at the next V-shaped junction, follow the sign to Jērcēni.
The next 6 km follow a straight gravel road. On the left, you can observe bird gathering areas within the North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve bog zones. Be cautious here, as vehicles tend to drive at high speed due to the straight road. You will then reach Jērcēni, where you’ll find a bus stop, a park, and a manor in the center.
Decision point. Here, you must decide whether to go directly to Strenči or take the longer, more exotic route through the bog and Seda. Due to road improvement works in the Seda bog during the 2026 season, walking along the bog trails may be difficult and somewhat unsafe. Waymarking may also be partially missing during construction. For this reason, pilgrims are advised to choose the safe, direct route from Jērcēni to Strenči via the Jērcēni Stone.
Direct route to Strenči. From the center of Jērcēni, continue straight until you see the sign “Jērcēnu akmens 1.2 km.” Turn left onto a scenic gravel road. After less than 1 km, just past the forest sign to Jērcēni Stone, turn right at the junction. After another kilometer, at a V-shaped junction, turn left. You will walk through open fields and meadows, where deer and other wildlife are often seen. After 2.7 km, reach a paved road. Turn left and carefully walk along the roadside for 3 km towards Strenči. After crossing the railway, take the first left and continue along Baznīcas Street until you reach your destination — Strenči Evangelical Lutheran Church. This route is well-marked and can be completed without a GPX track.
Route through Seda bog (not recommended in 2026). If you still decide to take the risk and go through the bog, from the central crossroads turn towards “Kaņepju ozols 1.4 km.” After 1 km, follow the sign right to “Seda bog nature trail 2.4 km.” The next sign directs right again to “Seda bog nature trail 800 m,” marked with a yellow circle on a white plate and the Camino yellow arrow.
At the start of the trail, there is a water ditch on the left, followed by spruce forest, leading to a boardwalk by the water and a small bridge. There is a rest area with a table and bench.
Continue along the lake to the right on a narrow path, following direction “478.” Stay on the trail marked with yellow circles until reaching a dismantled narrow-gauge railway and a concrete bridge. After crossing, at the trail junction, go right towards Seda (blue circle marking).
After the bog trail, the path turns into a wide, muddy road often used by quad bikes. In rainy conditions, this section can be very challenging. Keep to the right at the fork.
Beyond the bog, you will see abandoned houses and garden plots. Cross the former railway area with remnants of an old stop. The road leads into the town of Seda, known for its unique Soviet-era uniform housing.
In Seda, you’ll find a bus stop, post office, two shops, and a library, where you can rest and collect a stamp.
From the central circle, continue straight along Miera Street towards Strenči. Just before the railway, turn right onto a quiet asphalt road passing peat processing areas and abandoned Soviet buildings. After 3 km, reach another railway crossing.
Before the white brick house on the right, turn right onto a gravel road running alongside the railway to Strenči Railway Station. Cross the tracks and continue along the dirt road to the right. After 500 m, turn left onto the cobbled Trikātas Street, then right onto Raiņa Street, leading to your destination — Strenči Evangelical Lutheran Church.
