The wooded dome of Suur-Munamägi (“Great Egg Hill”), 12km south of Võru, would barely register as a bump in most other European countries, but at 318m above sea level it’s the highest point in Estonia (indeed in the Baltic States) – and a popular focus for Estonian day-trippers. The surrounding landscape of farmsteads, hump-backed hills and forests is as attractive as any in the region, and the lanes are perfect for cycle rides and undemanding hikes.

Summit path

The path to Suur-Munamägi’s summit heads uphill about 1km south of the village of Haanja, starting from a roadside monument recording an episode from the War of Independence, when a clash with Bolsheviks on March 20, 1919, left seven Estonians dead. It takes just five minutes to reach the fir-tree-carpeted hilltop, where a 1939 Art Deco viewing tower (Vaatetorn) offers a superb panorama of the surrounding countryside.

Transport

Regular buses make their way from Võru to Haanja, an uneventful village, 1km north of the hill. There’s also a daily bus to Haanja from Tallinn (passing through Tartu on the way), which arrives in the early afternoon and heads back after about ninety minutes – giving you ample time to clamber up and down Suur-Munamägi.

Practical Info

Vaaetorn: mid-April to Sept daily 10am–8pm; Oct Sat & Sun 10am–5pm; mid-Nov to mid-April Sat & Sun noon–3pm; €4 elevator, €2 by steps.