Kowalskie Błota: Nature Reserve and the Way of St. James

Two topics with different geographic scopes are relevant when planning a trip to Kowalskie Błota: the nearby Źródła Rzeki Stążki Nature Reserve and a stage of the Człuchowska Route of the Way of St. James, in Cekcyn municipality. The first focuses on the river and valley landscape of the nearby nature reserve; the second places the Way of St. James stage, with its intermediate locations and route markers, in Cekcyn municipality. If you are looking for a hotel, this geographic distinction can help with your specific travel plans: the nature reserve is close to the destination; the Way of St. James stage is within Cekcyn municipality.

Nature Reserve near Kowalskie Błota

The partial nature reserve covers 250.02 hectares and is located near Kowalskie Błota. It lies entirely within Cekcyn municipality and the Tuchola Forest District. A section of the valley at the sources of the Stążka River is under permanent protection. Its landscape features include forest, flowing water, agricultural land, and wasteland. This combination does not describe a single, uniform land type: forest and bodies of water sit alongside cultivated and open areas. The reasons for protection include scientific, educational, scenic, and tourist aspects, as well as exceptional floristic value. The two geographic references complement each other: Cekcyn identifies the municipality, while Tuchola identifies the forest district. This places the nature reserve within both municipal and forestry jurisdictions.

It was established on December 31, 1993, by an ordinance of the Minister of Environmental Protection, Natural Resources and Forestry. This also provides a date for its designation.

The Way of St. James stage and route

The 26.7-kilometer Śliwice–Tuchola section of the Człuchowska Route of the Way of St. James passes through Lińsk, Zaroślak, Kowalskie Błota, and Gołąbek. The settlement of Kowalskie Błota is listed at kilometer 16.5 in the route description. The section in Cekcyn municipality is characterized by its total length, the sequence of locations, and the kilometer marker for Kowalskie Błota. To understand this stage within Cekcyn municipality, distinguish between the total route and the settlement’s position: 26.7 kilometers refers to the entire Śliwice–Tuchola section; kilometer 16.5 places Kowalskie Błota along that route. For the section in Cekcyn municipality, the route description specifies about 2.6 kilometers on a paved road after the settlement, up to the junction with the road to Tuchola. Turn right at the intersection. The route information therefore gives not only place names but also a specific road surface and direction.

The figures answer different questions when compared directly: 250.02 hectares describes the size of the nature reserve; 26.7 kilometers is the length of the Way of St. James stage; kilometer 16.5 marks the settlement within that stage, and about 2.6 kilometers describes the following paved section. The hectare figure refers to the nearby nature reserve; the route distances relate to the Way of St. James section in Cekcyn municipality.

Discover more destinations: Byslaw, Śliwice, Cekcyn, Klonowo, Cierplewo, Legbad, Tuchola, Lubiewo

For the broader travel overview: Tuchel.