Fort «Obrutchev» and Kronstadtsky

Scenic road chapters

Waypoint introductions and full write-ups

1. 1. Fort «Obrutchev»

   Fort Obruchev stands on a man-made islet in the shallows of the Gulf of Finland, one of the chain of sea forts that gave Kronstadt its reputation as the strongest naval fortress in the world. Named, as I understand it, for General Nikolai Obruchev, a leading military planner of the late nineteenth century, it belongs to the northern line of the defences, built of granite and brick with casemates facing the main channel. Eight kilometres from Kronstadt town, it is reachable by boat or visible from the ring road across the dam, and in practice many of these forts are closed, derelict and under military control, so view it from a distance rather than expecting to land.

   Read the complete Fort «Obrutchev» write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Fort «Obrutchev» is where the day begins. Next is The Park «Dubki».

2. 2. The Park «Dubki»

   Peter the Great loved oak, because oak meant ships, and the little park of Dubki, whose name means little oaks, is said to date back to the trees he ordered planted near his arms-making settlement at Sestroretsk. Whatever the truth of the exact planting, the park is a pleasant tract of old trees on sandy soil, with paths, ponds and the slow rhythm of a town that has long been a seaside resort. Sestroretsk, on the Gulf of Finland, became a fashionable spa at the end of the nineteenth century, and its shore of shallow water and fine sand still draws crowds in summer.

   Read the complete The Park «Dubki» write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   The Park «Dubki» comes up about 27 km into the recorded legs. Next is Kronstadtsky.

3. 3. Kronstadtsky

   This stretch is the north shore of the Gulf of Finland, the coast that runs west from the Neva delta toward Sestroretsk and the Karelian Isthmus. The label points to the Kronstadtsky district name rather than a single monument, so think of it as a tract of seaside land, with the port town of Lisiy Nos about five kilometres away and the larger suburb of Lakhtinsky eight kilometres off. Lisiy Nos means Fox's Nose, a cape that pokes out into the gulf, and from here on a clear day you can look south across the water to the low silhouette of Kotlin Island.

   Read the complete Kronstadtsky write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   about 40 km into the recorded legs you reach Kronstadtsky. Next is back through The Park «Dubki».

4. 4. back through The Park «Dubki»

   Return visit. Read the place description above.

   Read the complete The Park «Dubki» write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   back through The Park «Dubki», late in the day. Next is Fort «Obrutchev».

5. 5. Fort «Obrutchev»

   Return visit. Read the place description above.

   Read the complete Fort «Obrutchev» write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Back at Fort «Obrutchev». That is the ride.