Nógrád - Becske (OKT-18)

Itinerary

Follow the Blue (K) marker all along the trip.

• From Nógrád hike to Magyarkút via Nagy-Kő-hegy.
• Hike uphill to Szendehely.
• From Szendehely climb up to the peak of Naszály and proceed to Ősagárd.
• Hike through woods, clear-cuts and pastures to the outskirts of Felsőpetény and proceed to Alsópetény along a valley.
• Cross the hills to reach Romhány and proceed to Kétbodony on a paved road.
• Traverse the woods to finish the section in Becske.

Detailed description

Nógrád – Szendehely

Past Nógrád the trail begins to ascend a hill affording great views of Börzsöny you have just left, although it is still the same volcanic bedrock that you are hiking on. Traversing a series of meadows along Morgó Creek cross the rails to hike uphill towards Nagy-Kő-hegy (383 m). Despite its low height you may feel like standing high due to the steep cliffs in the north and west (stamper at Lokó picnic spot).

The grassy top offers a view over the Danube and Börzsöny in the background. Check the path among the trees along the rim as in a few maters at a memorial pole a view of wider angle unfolds. The trail gets a little monotonous descending towards Magyarkút (stamper at the pub near Irma-forrás).

Hike along the valley of Keskeny-bükki Creek to Szendehely. Past Holy Trinity Chapel the trail turns left to the center and the busy main street (stamper at Szepi fogadó (Szepi Inn).

Szendehely – Ősagárd

Proceed to the Picnic Center of Katalinpuszta in the valley near the village (stamper at the ticket office). The trail follows the nature trail of Gyada gradually ascending along the northern slope of Naszály. You will cross a suspension bridge over a draw and pass a picnic spot at Bik-kút. After a lengthy hike the trail turns sharply right and begins a steep ascent.

Following the tiring climb you will reach a side plateau of the hill. The sinkhole on the right signals the calcareous activity inside the hill. Szinlő Cave was formed on the border of sandstone and limestone. It is an important habitat for bats in winters. Make a short detour on Blue ▲ (K▲) spur trail to the right for the great view over the Danube from Látó-hegy.

The next ascent finally takes you to the peak of Naszály (652 m). This is the highest point of this section, however, the view is somewhat obstructed by outgrowing trees even from the top of the decaying geodesic tower. From the peak the trail starts to ascend to the bottom of the hill and turns northeast towards Ősagárd along a forest track. After crossing a meadow and rounding a hill you will arrive at the village (a stamper on the Blue Trail pole on the corner of Rákóczi Street and Szabadság Street; another on a pole on the corner of Rákóczi Street and Dózsa György Street).

Ősagárd – Alsópetény

Past Ősagárd the trail continues on a dirt track ascending on the hill near the village. After rounding the head of Bogárdi Creek valley the trail continues in the woods. Hike downhill through the fields and pastures that stretch up the slope to arrive at Felsőpetény (stamper at Petényi Pub).

The trail does not cross the village but continues east towards Alsópetény. Cross the creek connecting the two villages and hike along the slope of Homok-hegy (Sand Hill) to enter Alsópetény at the lower end (stamper at the bus stop and at Retro Man Pub).

Alsópetény – Kétbodony

Climb up to Korpa-hegy above the village on a dirt track. Following a short descent you will pass Kékesi hunters’ lodge with a log structure on the top stone walls. The trail ascends another hill and starts rolling northeast through hornbeam woods. Past a picnic spot you will exit the woods and the view unfolds with Romhány in the basin. During Socialism the town was an important center of ceramic industry obtaining raw material from a mine near Felsőpetény. By today most of the production capacity and jobs have been cut. Make a detour to visit the 200-year-old Rákóczi Turkish hazel tree. Legend has it that Rákóczi was observing the course of a battle near Romhány (1710) from here but the age of the tree rules out this scenario.

The trail across the town is lined by signs of declined industry. Follow the road to Kétbodony (stampers in Romhány at Lilla Pub and Fáradt Vándor Family Hotel and Restaurant; stamper in Kétbodony in the pub).

Kétbodony – Becske

Although the Blue Trail avoids it, make a detour to the reservoir among the hills north of the village. Hike up to Cser-hát (349 m), which has a significance for two reasons. On the one hand it is the eponym of the region, on the other hand, despite its low height it is the dividing range for Zagyva and Ipoly rivers. The landscape gets dominated by groves scattered with fields as the trail approaches and crosses the railroad along Galga Creek. Cross the hump to arrive at Becske (stamper at a small food store past the bridge over the creek (8/A Ady Endre Street), and at Galga Pub, and at Máder ice cream shop).