Bol Olive Grove Trail

The Bol Olive Grove Trail is a gentle walking route of about three kilometres through the olive groves above Bol, on the south coast of the island of Brač, in Dalmatia, in Croatia. It is a quiet alternative to the beach, a chance to understand the landscape that has fed and shaped the island for centuries, and it is particularly suitable for families and for visitors who want a shaded walk on a hot day.

Olives have been grown on Brač since antiquity. The Greeks and Romans brought the cultivation of the olive to the Dalmatian coast and islands, and the trees were planted on terraces held in place by dry-stone walls, which are still visible everywhere. The island’s limestone soil, mild winters and long, dry summers suit the tree well, and many old groves survive, some with trees several hundred years old. Documents show that olive growing in the Bol area goes back to the early Middle Ages, and the trail calls attention to this long history, with a heritage that its organisers date to the late eighth century. Olive oil was for generations the island’s most important product, alongside wine, stone and fish.

The trail itself is easy to follow and well maintained, and it is generally accessible for most walkers, though standard walking shoes are recommended because of the stony ground. It runs through the groves along paths between old walls, with the sea visible in places and the mountains behind. About eighteen information panels in several languages are placed along the way, and they explain the botany of the olive tree, traditional methods of planting, pruning, harvesting and pressing, the different products made from the fruit and the role of olive oil in local cooking and customs. This makes the walk both pleasant and educational, and children can learn to recognise the trees, leaves and fruit.

The landscape is calm. Silver-green leaves rustle in the wind, lizards dart over the stones and the smell of herbs, such as sage and rosemary, rises in the heat. In autumn and winter, harvesters work among the trees, shaking down the olives onto nets and carrying them to the press, so that visitors in the right season may see the work at first hand. The trail is free, and it is best walked in the cooler parts of the day, morning or late afternoon.

Bol has many other attractions. Zlatni Rat, the Golden Horn, is one of the most famous beaches in Croatia, a spit of white pebbles that changes shape with the wind. The Bol Art Gallery shows local art, the village of Gornja Sela is a pleasant hill hamlet, and Vidova Gora, the highest peak on the Adriatic islands, offers a magnificent view. The trail suits walkers, families and anyone interested in food and agriculture.