Jezerní stěna (Via ferrata Vír), Rocks in the Svratka valley B/C

Jezerní stěna is the best pick in Vír for a first-ever via ferrata. It starts at the bend in the road below the Vír I dam, on the left bank of the Svratka. The operator (Ledová stěna Vír, z.s.), who built the Vír routes with the public and especially kids in mind, grades it B/C.

You can't miss the starting ladder on the north-west face. The cable stays on your left all the way; about halfway up the route swings onto the south-west face and carries on to the top. The dam is at your back the whole time, and the summit gives you the best view of it. About 100 m of cable and 45 m of height gain, roughly 15 minutes of climbing. There's no real crux, just a few long steps that shorter people (around 150 cm) will notice more.

It's an ideal first ferrata, but it's still a ferrata: you need a complete set and should know how to clip past the anchors. If you're unsure, go with one of the operator's instructors. Neighbouring Ledová stěna (B/C) has one airy move by the rope bridge; Horní vyhlídka (C) needs some arm strength.

Gear: helmet, harness, via ferrata set with energy absorber, sturdy shoes and gloves – that's what the operator's rules require. Rental is at the Krabička hut below Ledová stěna, by the parking, not at Jezerní stěna, so gear up before you walk over.

Getting there: in Vír, turn off at the bridge over the Svratka towards Hluboké and park on the left along the road opposite Ledová stěna, about 650 m from the bridge. From there it's about 5 minutes along the road towards the dam. The operator explicitly asks people not to park below Jezerní stěna.

Descent: from the end of the cable a path carries on across the slope to the edge of the forest. Either drop back down to the road between the parking and the start (the path isn't marked and passes close to houses, so be considerate), or keep going up to the Klubačice viewpoint and on into Vír. Jezerní stěna is also the last leg of the waymarked ferrata loop (about 2.6 km, around 1.5 h) that runs from Krabička over Ledová stěna, Horní vyhlídka and the dam. The ferratas can also be folded into the longer loop from Vír up to the Karasín lookout tower (about 8.8 km, 354 m of ascent).

Season usually from early April. No access when wet, in snow, ice, thunderstorms or poor visibility; one-way only. The operator posts updates on the "Via Ferrata Vír" Facebook page.