Trail of the Pistacia, Loop Hike in Britannia Park – Visitors Guide
Trail of the Pistacia is an easy loop hike located in Britannia Park. It is popular among families because of its length and abundant nature.
Map
Trail of the Pistacia is located south of Tel Azekah and near Srigim, about 10 km south of Bet Shemesh.
Directions for drivers: Link to Waze and Link to Google Maps
Directions for public transport: Link to Moovit
Interactive map of the area:
Here is a map of Britannia Park:
Notes:
- You can click on the map to enlarge it.
- On the map above, the trail is marked in black color.
Parking
This trail starts at the Srigim parking lot, which is located near Moshav Srigim on road #353. This parking lot was recently upgraded, and here are several photos from it:
From the Srigim parking lot entrance, continue driving about 300 meters until you see the trail sign to your right (the last photo).
Note: free parking.
Opening Hours
The KKL signs and website do not list opening hours. They only say, “Staying in the forest after dark is prohibited unless the required safety measures are taken.” Moreover, there is no artificial light, so visitors can only visit during the day.
Note: I visited Britannia Park many times, including on weekends and holidays, and it was always open.
Trails
Here is an interactive map from israelhiking.osm.org.il where the hiking trails are marked:
Here are the details of the marked trail:
| Name | Color of the Trail on the Map above | Description | Distance (km) | Total climb and descent (meters) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trail of the Pistacia | Black | This trail starts at the Srigim Parking Lot and returns to the same parking lot using the black trail. | 2.64 | 156 | Completing this trail at a slow pace took us two hours. Not suitable for baby carriages. |
What Ages is this trail Suitable for?
It is an easy trail suitable for families. My five-year-old daughter had no problems completing it, and I saw even younger kids while hiking.
Entrance Fee
Free.
Winepress
We started hiking from the sign shown above, and after several minutes, we reached the winepress.
This winepress has a shallow stepping area and a storing pit. There should also be a collection that receives filtered grape juice, but I have not seen it.
We hiked in February, and winter and autumn are generally the best seasons for this hike. As you can see from the photos, there will be many flowers during these months. However, since most of this trail is in shade, you can also hike in summer.
It is an easy trail, and most of the time, you will walk slightly downhill or uphill. However, this track is not suitable for baby carriages.
Approximately 40 minutes after the hike started, on the left side of the trail, we saw a sign on the hill. This Danger open pit sign marks the lime kiln.
After a while, we exited the forest and found ourselves in a more open area. There, we saw anemones.