VALKA/VALGA - APE 55 km
Green Railways walking and cycling trails Valga - Koikküla - Ape and Valka - Koikküla - Ape make use of former narrow-gauge train causeways that pass picturesque landscapes and forests of southern Estonia and northern Latvia.
The narrow-gauge railway between Valka and Ape was opened in 1900.
After the birth of Republic of Estonia and Republic of Latvia in 1918 and splitting Valga and Valka between the countries the first kilometres of the railway that is mostly on the territory of Estonia was located in Latvia. In a few years a parallel railway exiting Valga towards Ape was constructed on the territory of Estonia, because Estonians did not want to pay Latvian for the use of the railway. The two railways meet near Koikküla, ca 13 km from Valga.
The last trains rode between Valga and Ape in 1970.
The trails run mostly on gravel and surface roads. From Valka to Žuldini and from Koikküla to Hargla the trail is on bigger roads, as the old railway has become mostly impassable in these sections.
The trails are signposted and there are a lot of historic photos and newspaper articles by the trail.
RECOMMENDED TO VISIT
Valga and Valka – one town, two countries
Rail-bike riding in Valka – pedalling on real rails
Border crossing in the woods – twice between Valga/Valka and Ape
Tellingumägi – spectacular views on the flood plains of crooked Mustjõgi River
Metsavenna farm – unique underground bunker experience
Ape – sweet Latvian town by Estonian border
Rail-bike riding in Valka – pedalling on real rails
Border crossing in the woods – twice between Valga/Valka and Ape
Tellingumägi – spectacular views on the flood plains of crooked Mustjõgi River
Metsavenna farm – unique underground bunker experience
Ape – sweet Latvian town by Estonian border
Detailed info on pdf and Google map.
