Brela-Scirevac-Bast

Route described here is an interesting way of traversing northwest portion of
one the largest mountains in maritime chain of the Dinaric Alps. Some advantages:
- it is doable inside a single day
- one may pick-up two major peaks of Biokovo range enroute
- starting and ending point are not the same
- both starting and ending point are accessible by road
- descending section is seaside oriented,  which is much more scenic in terms of the views enjoyed
- route does not require any technical gear
Basic gear are sturdy hiking boots, water supply for a long day, kompass.
Also walking poles, your knees may apprecciate using those.

Route description: drive or take a bus to Gornja Brela village, 45km south from Split or 12km nordwest from Makarska. Split-Makarska is major coastal through route posted E 65 or 2. Drive till Dupci, here fork left direction Sestanovac-Imotski-Zagreb. Road leads uphill in numerous bends to Gornja Brela. If by bus, take off at a stop near the food shop, if by own transport, continue all the way to Bartulovici village (paved road).Arriving Bartulovici, a barking dog or two may welcome you. Nevermind the dogs, at small junction in Bartulovici, notice carriage road forking right, direction southeast. This is where marked path (white circle inside red border) begins. Path takes you gradually uphill, through the coniferous woods, in the summer carriage road is lined with blackberries so you have something to do enroute. First major landmark is water pond (not drinkable), here marked path for Scirevac peak forks right and  steeply uphill untill it catches with Biokovo's upper plateau. As you reach the Scirovac (on some older maps sometimes marked as "Miletinjak") peak, view widens, on your left (east) side,  mountain drops toward Imotsko polje karstic  deppression, on your right portion of Adriatic sea with Brac channel and the island of Brac is clearly seen. Two important landmarks that may help you in orientation now  clearly can be seen; infront of you, almost bang opposite and accross the Biokovo undulated limestone plateau is Sveti Ilija (St. Elias) peak with old chapel made of stone on the top. Behind the Sv. Ilija peak, sligthly toward left, highest peak of Biokovo range Sveti Jure is clearly seen. In the old days, Sv. Jure was also hosting small  made-of-stone- chapel, now it is hosting massive TV transmitter. Massive as it is,
it is impossible to overlook it. As long as you can see it almost straight infront, you are traversing Biokovo plateau, it is as simple as that.  
On your right (westside) dominating landmark is almost vertical  western flank of outposted Sibenik peak. Look more closely, and you'll notice large quarry not far beneath the foot of Sibenik. Querry may not be pretty to observe, however this is your landmark to follow in case of trouble, weather going bad, or any other reason for which you want to leave the  mountain as soon as possible. From Scirevac, continue down southwest toward Sv. Ilija peak, soon you'll notice the path forking right and downhill toward aforementioned quarry. This is fastest emergency exit from this part of the mountain, hence quarry is right above the Bast village. Otherwise, continue with the main path, now you'll notice the Ledenica pit entrance. Once here, it means you have already passed the emergency exit and you have accomplished half of the Scirevac peak-Sveti Ilija peak route. Sveti Ilija is in many aspects (ascend, views) quite similar to Scirevac peak which you have just visited.  As you leave the peak, it is time to concentrate to the geological formations and plants. Path now descends into  gallery of natural limestone formations, including several small pillars and gate-shaped tresspass, forking toward right downhill the large scree into black pine forrest, thus leaving the main Biokovo NW-SE traverse route. Be sure to stick with rightbound trail, anything leading left is not what you are looking for. Soon, you'll reach the Osicine hunter's lodge, nifty looking yet being of no use for mountaineers. Path continues due west, walking poles if you  have them now becoming quite handy, and takes us to the Korita water source. This is the only potable water source enroute, thus good place to have a break. Hovewer, from here under 50 minutes  of downhill stroll takes us to the upper housings of  Bast village (barking dog or two again  welcoming you), with parking lot close to the church and the end of our route.

Hiking route stages: 
1. Gornja Brela - Bartulovici village - Grjak water pond - Kale - Scirovac peak - Mijaci - Ledenica pit - Sveti Ilija peak
altitude difference 1378m/4520m, time required 6-7 hours
2. Sveti Ilija peak  - Jezero - Osicine  hunter’s lodge - Korito water source - Bast village
altitude difference - 1332m/4369f
length 5 and 1/2 km,  time required about 2 and 1/2 hours

^{(coordinates given in WGS84)}

Map
SMAND  32  Biokovo Park prirode mountain map 1:25000

Miscellaneous info
Makarska bus station info phone +385 021/612-333
Split bus station http://www.ak-split.hr/EN/vozni.red/index.html (from the drop-down list pick  "Brela")
Nearest airport: http://www.split-airport.tel.hr
Weather forecast for Bast
Mountain rescue service/Makarska 091/721-0011 (cellular)
National mountain rescue service Croatia, dial 112