Radio Bulgaria

The beauty of Bulgarian nature has long ago gained popularity across the world and attracts tourists, hikers, climbers, etc. Love towards nature and hiking brought to Bulgaria the members of a British club with 40 years of traditions. More than 7,000 people are members of the Long Distance Walkers Association, which organizes a great number of events and competitions every year.

At the invitation of Walk Bulgaria Organisation, the members of the British club arrived to Bulgaria in the end of July in order to head for the highest Bulgarian mountains. Radio Bulgaria met with these lovers of long distance walking to learn more about their impressions from Bulgaria. Secretary of the association is Philip Heneghan. It turned out it was not his first visit to Bulgaria. 

Guide of the foreigners in the Bulgarian mountains of Rila and Pirin was one of the most renowned Bulgarian mountaineers – Doichin Vasilev. He is one of the Bulgarian alpinists who conquered Everest and has rich experience in the Bulgarian mountains. The group visited the Rila Monastery in the heart of the Rila Mountain before heading towards the sublime peaks of the Pirin Mountain. The challenging route and beautiful ridges gave strong emotions to all hikers. Mr Heneghan says that the Bulgarian mountains could easily compare to the Dolomites or the Alps. The British hikers point out that the conditions in Bulgarian huts need improvement, but according to Philip Heneghan, Bulgaria could benefit from developing this kind of tourism.

The experience of the Bulgarian guides was extremely useful to the hikers, as the mountain routes were challenging. Safety has top priority in the mountain, after all. Here is what Michael Buckley, Secretary of the Association responsible for the heart of England said about the Bulgarian mountains and hiking together with Doichin Vasilev.

Mike gives some tips to the hikers who would come to Bulgaria for the first time. 

Jonathan Bateman is one of the members of the British association who came to walk across Bulgaria. He says he is a long distance walking fanatic and has walked all across Europe. He is a proof that after 50 years of age one could still have place for adventures, competition and sports in their life. Jonathan has won twice the annual marathon competition for veterans in London, finishing the 42-kilometer race in 2 hours and 55 minutes. This is his second visit to Bulgaria too but the February cold the first time prevented him from getting acquainted with the Bulgarian mountains. Now he is happy to be back.

Bulgaria is a country where people are lucky to have the opportunity to enjoy preserved nature. Efforts for protecting this beauty would not stop in the future, as this has already turned into a joint European task. For sure the beauty of the Bulgarian nature would continue to attract tourists from all over the world.