What to do and see in Ida-Viru County, Ida-Viru County: The Best Nature & Parks

The Oru Park and grand palace in the beautiful valley of the Puhajogi River was built by Grigori Jelissejev – one of the wealthiest men in 19th century Russia. In 1935, three industrialists bought the palace and park and presented it to President Pats for his summer residence. The palace was totally destroyed during the Second World War. Today you can walk in the well-marked and well-maintained park, look at various species of trees and shrubs, explore the Silver Spring Cave, as well as enoy the sea view and the sunset from the petrel nest. Interesting fact: the Oru Park Promenade organized annually in August has become a tradition.

This hiking trail, which starts in the village of Toila, winds its way not only along high clifftops but also down onto the seashore below. Hiking along it you will enjoy the scenery of the Baltic Glint, its forests and famous blue clay sediments and granite, and find out more about local cultural history. You can cover the hiking trail as two different distances: the shorter, at 3.2 km, takes in the harbour and beach, the old fishing port and the German soldiers’ cemetery; the longer also takes in the geological features of the area, its ancient forests and a mill tower before returning to Toila along the old trade road.

Northern suburb of Narva, located on the coast of Finnish Gulf with a pleasant sandy beach.

Estonia’s highest limestone cliff, the Ontika cliff that is up to 55 metres high, is like a stone nature book, revealing the layers of various eras to the viewer. The best place to see the cliff is from the observation platform built near the Valaste cascade. Or take a hike along the coastal hiking trail to discover the unique forest on the limestone cliff. Interesting facts: - The Ontika Limestone cliff is the highest part of the over 1,100-km-long Baltic limestone bank that starts in Sweden on the Island of Oland and ends in Russia near Lake Ladoga. – The limestone cliff runs 23 kilometres from the Village of Saka to the vicinity of Toila, thus being the longest uninterrupted part of the cliff.

Narva's cascades are situated on the premises of the former Kreenholm factory. They have been flowing through the area for thousands of years, but in the early '50s a reservoir was constructed on Narva River and a new river bed was dug out for a hydroelectric power station in Ivangorod to supply Leningrad (now St Petersburg). The station allows water from the reservoir through its turbines out via the cascades during the high water season in spring, which is when you can admire their beauty from the Estonian side of the border. They can be admired two times per year in total in the Narva Canyon nature reserve.Did you know...?*Trips to view the cascades are organised by Narva Museum

The sandy beaches and pine forests on the shores of Lake Peipus are the perfect place to relax and offer great hiking opportunities. The unique sand dunes and 40 km of sandy beaches mean the lake is a haven for summer holiday makers. Its beaches offer great swimming in warm waters and great walking on its ever-shifting singing sands. There is a wide variety of accommodation options along the northern coast of the lake, including campsites. There are also picnic and rest spots for visitors.Did you know…? *‘Singing sands’ are the result of the friction of grains of silica rock on beaches and in deserts. They are a sign of the purity of the water and beach.

The Aluoja cascades are in the village of Puhajoe in Toila municipality, in the Magara creek, which flows into Puhajoe valley from the west. Aluoja is a unique slate valley with a variety of cascades, clefts and springs.Moving downriver, its terraces are 1.4 m, 0.7 m, 1.9 m, 1.3 m and 0.5 m in height. They expose different layers of limestone dating to different eras – the three top terraces from one era and the bottom two from another. The valley deepens suddenly by up to 10 metres. In places, particularly near the third terrace, it resembles a canyon.

Saka Klindimoisa hiking trail starts on the grounds of Saka Manor. The trail, which is 3 km long, winds its way along the Baltic glint by the sea. You will see cliffs, forests, waterfalls and more along the trail. You can climb to the roof of what was once a border guard viewing tower, where you will enjoy great views over the water - all the way out to the Tutarsaar islands in good weather.