Polianky

Polianky is a 1066 m summit in the Skorušinské vrchy in Slovakia (Polish geographers call the range the Orava or Skoruszyna Foothills). It rises directly above the village of Malé Borové, about 13 km south of Tvrdošín, in Liptovský Mikuláš District, Žilina Region, within the municipality of Malé Borové. The nearest villages are Malé Borové at its north-eastern foot (about 1 km), Veľké Borové to the south-west (2.4 km), Huty (3.6 km) and Chlebnice to the north-west (4.5 km). A few kilometres to the east rise the Western Tatras.

Polianky lies in the south-western part of the Skorušinské vrchy, in the Kopec subunit, on the ridge running from Diel (1051 m) north-east to the dominant Kopec (1251 m). According to Polish sources it stands on the main ridge between Blato and Súšava; two spurs run south-east from it towards the Huty valley, separating the valleys of the Sviniarsky potok and Roztoka. Around it rise Lysec (945 m) and Blato (1138 m) to the north, Kraviarska (770 m) and Súšava (1077 m) to the west, Prosečné (1372 m) and Ostrý vrch (1128 m) to the south, and Prípor (1003 m) and Kopec to the east. The hill sits on a watershed: the north-western slopes drain via tributaries of the Chlebnický potok to the Orava, the southern and eastern ones via tributaries of the Kvačianka to the Váh.

How to get there / routes

The red ridge trail crosses the summit area – a long route Oravský Biely Potok – Mních – Machy – Prieková – Kopec – Malé Borové – Polianky – Súšava – Veľké Borové – Diel – Malatiná.

• From the north-east – from Kopec via Malé Borové.
• From the south-west – from Malatiná via Súšava.

The shortest ascent is from Malé Borové, right below the summit. The sources give no walking times.

What you can see from the top

The summit is covered by broken woodland that gives way to large mountain meadows, so the view is unobstructed. You see the surrounding peaks of the Skorušinské vrchy and the Choč Mountains and, in good weather, the Western and Low Tatras, the Lesser Fatra and Oravská Magura.

Nature and history

The summit and much of the slopes are treeless, taken up by the meadows and fields of Malé Borové, giving the hill the mosaic landscape of arable strips, hay meadows and spruce woods typical of the Skorušinské vrchy. A telecommunications relay tower stands below the summit.

Safety, season and rules

Polianky is a low, safe meadow ridge accessible all year, but it is exposed to wind, so it is unpleasant on the meadows in a thunderstorm; in winter the snow lies deep. Keep to the marked path and do not trample hay meadows. Slovak Mountain Rescue Service (HZS): 18 300 (+421 18 300) or 112.

Interesting facts

• Malé Borové lies so close that the summit is only about a kilometre from the last houses.
• Water from the slopes of Polianky flows into two different rivers, the Orava and the Váh.

Photos: Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0; Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0; Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons.