Helka Circle 15

Itinerary:

• From the start to the Aranyház geyser cone follow the S+ trail
• After the geyser cone junction, make a loop following the ZΩ trail
• On a short section, follow Z+ to the ZT junction, then continue on the nature trail all the way to the Watchtower lookout
• Below the lookout, turn onto S▲ trail, then when Z▲ joins, follow it through Kis-erdő-tető to Kossuth Lajos Street
• Crossing the road, follow the nature trail ZT for a long distance to the boat dock
• From the port, the Z▲ trail leads up to the echo point
• On the Pisky promenade, reach the abbey (Z)
• Cross Kossuth Lajos Street again, following S+ arrive back to the starting point by the shore of the Inner Lake.

Detailed description of the route:

The Helka Circle starts from the shore of the Inner Lake, also serving as the finishing point at the Kotyogós Kávéterasz Tihany, heading southwest on the S+ trail. Before starting, validate your Start checkpoint! Passing near the football field, you soon enter a Natura 2000 area as you turn left from the lakeside road towards the geyser fields. After climbing a couple of hundred meters, you first reach the Hármashegy cone with a wonderful view of both the lake and the abbey. Next comes the Aranyház geyser cone, decorated with the finisher's medal, where turn left at the fork, then shortly after left again on a small path, making a loop on the ZΩ trail leading to Átjáró cone (1st checkpoint), Kalapos cone, and Borsóköves cone.

At the end of the loop, join the Z+ trail but shortly turn right, reconnecting with the S+ and ZT trails. Reaching the Geyser Field, take a half circle on the ZT trail around the field. Pass first the Sajmeggyes cone, then the Kis cone, followed by exploration opportunities of Borzvár and Félbevágott cone. The nature trail eventually turns northwest toward Hálóeresztő peak and continues along the western side of the peninsula. (2nd checkpoint at the junction with the S trail!) On the path shared with the yellow trail, breathtaking panoramas of the extended western basin of Lake Balaton open up.

At the Tihany Lavender Forest School, cross an asphalt road and continue on the yellow trail, now coinciding with ZT toward Gurbicza hill. The highest point of the uphill section is Csúcs hill, towering over the Sobri Jóska cave at 232 meters above sea level, offering wonderful views not only to the western basin but also to the Bázsai bay. Following the former yellow stripe and green T trails along the hillside, you reach the fork leading to the Watchtower lookout (Apáti-hegy lookout) (3rd checkpoint).

After admiring the reed-rich Outer Lake from the lookout, head east again on the S▲ and then Z▲ trails, passing between the two lakes. After the lavender fields, turn left on a path between cellar cottages, now also marked with ZT. Then reach Kossuth Lajos Street at Szélmarta Rocks via the lower path; crossing it, climb again on the eastern side of the peninsula. (Kis-erdő-tető, 4th checkpoint)

From Vársánc, descend again with several lookout points until you reach the former monastic Friars' Abodes hidden on the right side of the returning road, followed by Ciprián spring. The Z trail lane joins the ZT at the shore path, then at Tihany's boat dock (5th checkpoint) the previous trail is replaced by Z▲. The route climbs to the Peasant Farmer's Homestead then heads to the Tihany Benedictine Abbey. Leaving the abbey, descend along Kossuth Lajos Street, switching back to S+, and soon the charming small streets lead back to the Kotyogós Kávéterasz Tihany by the Inner Lake shore, where you can collect your well-deserved finisher medal after checking in with your mobile at the Finish.