Helka Kör 36

Itinerary:

• From the start to the Aranyház geyser cone, follow the S+ marking
• After the geyser cone fork, make a loop following the ZΩ marking
• For a short section, follow Z+ up to the ZT fork, then continue on the nature trail all the way to the meadow below the Watchtower lookout
• Descend toward Sajkod on the Way of St. James (yellow scallop shell marking) to Aszófő
• Before the village, make a detour to the Kövesdi church ruins on the SL path
• From Aszófő to Pécsely, follow the S trail
• At the church, switch to the KL marking up to the Örvényes church
• Cross an unmarked road parallel to the main road to reach Aszófő
• Reach the Apáti church via the bike path
• The S path leads up to the Watchtower lookout
• From the lookout, follow S▲ then Z▲ to Kis-erdő Hill
• Cross Kossuth Lajos Street, then follow the Z trail and the ZT marking to reach the harbor through the Old Castle
• From the harbor, follow the Z▲ marking up to Echo Hill, then along Pisky Promenade to the abbey
• Return to Kossuth Lajos Street, from where the S+ marking leads back to the starting point at Kotyogós Café Terrace on the Inner Lake shore

Detailed route description:

The Helka Kör starts from the Inner Lake shore near Kotyogós Café Terrace Tihany, which also serves as the finish point, heading southwest on the S+ marking. Before setting off, verify the Start point! Passing by the football field, we soon find ourselves in a Natura 2000 area as we turn left from the coastal road toward the geyser fields. After a few hundred meters of climbing, we reach the Hármashegy cone first, offering a beautiful view of the lake and the abbey alike. Then comes the Aranyház geyser cone that decorates the finisher’s medal, where at the fork, turn left to continue, then shortly after, turn left again on a small path to make a loop marked by ZΩ, leading us to the Átjáró, Kalapos, and Borsókőves cones.

At the end of the loop, we merge into the Z+ trail, soon veering right to rejoin the S+ and ZT markings. Reaching the geyser field, follow ZT to make a half loop around the field. Here, we pass by the Sajmeggyes cone, then Kis cone, and later have the opportunity to explore Borzvár and Félbevágott cone. The nature trail ends with a right turn heading northwest toward Hálóeresztő peak, then continues along the peninsula’s western side. (The 1st checkpoint is at the confluence of the S trail!) The road running with the S trail offers several wonderful panoramic views of the western basin of Lake Balaton.

At the Tihany Lavender Forest School, we cross an asphalt road continuing on the yellow trail, which here runs concurrently with the ZT marking toward Gurbicza Hill. The highest point of the climb is Csúcs Hill above the Sobri Jóska cave at 232 meters above sea level. From here, there’s a magnificent view not only of the western basin but also of the Bázsa Bay. Following the earlier S and ZT markings along the hillside, we reach the fork, where we turn left toward the Watchtower lookout (Apáti Hill lookout), continuing to follow the yellow marking (we will pass the lookout on the return, no worries!). The 2nd checkpoint can be validated at the clearing below the lookout.

From the meadow at the foot of the lookout, we descend toward Sajkod on the Way of St. James (yellow scallop shell marking). Before arriving in Aszófő, we make a short detour to the Kövesdi church ruins, where the 3rd checkpoint is located. At Aszófő, where the main road turns left, we turn right onto Balaton Street, where on the right, we can admire the St. László church, and then through Öreghegy Street, we start into the Balaton Uplands. Walking along the side of Öreg Hill, we soon reach the intersection with Road 7307, where we need to proceed about 100 meters to the right to find the continuation of the S marking next to Rigótanya. After strong right and left turns, the path leads northwest between vineyards and arable lands. On the right is Csengő Hill, on the left first Meggy Hill, then Nyáló Hill, which borders the path that finally flows straight into the eastern part of Pécsely, Vásártér Street.

Here, we turn left, pass by the Municipality of Pécsely, then via Iskola Street passing the Christ the King School Chapel, and finally entering Fő Street, where at the Reformed church, check in at the 4th checkpoint. Here, turn left onto the KL route, descending panoramically back to the Tihany Peninsula along Örvényesi-séd. At the Pécsely Cemetery, there is a water point, with views of the Dobogó highlands on the left. Continuing to follow KL and the stream, we pass the foot of the cemetery, Ő-well, and the Csikós Riding Court on the right. At one point, the trail sharply turns left and then joins Road 7307, following it for about 700 m before sharply turning right. Meadows, views, and vineyards characterize the path downhill, which finally reaches Örvényes between the cemetery and the Mill Museum. Another water point is here. On Szent Imre Street, a short distance uphill is the St. Imre church (5th checkpoint), behind which is the Pán Spring, also serving as a turning point.

From here, we briefly return toward KL (where we came from), but leaving Örvényes, we turn right northeast toward Aszófő. On this unmarked road parallel and higher than the main road, an amazing view opens up of the Tihany Peninsula and the unique reed bed surrounding it. We arrive at Aszófő via Köbölkúti Street, where we continue on the already known S marking to the railway crossing. After crossing the tracks, we continue opposite on the bike path toward the peninsula’s interior. At the Apáti church, we turn right with the trail and begin climbing toward the Watchtower lookout.

After checking in at the 6th checkpoint and admiring the reed-rich Outer Lake from the lookout, our path turns east again following the S▲ then Z▲ markings, passing between the two lakes. After the lavender fields, we turn left, the trail passing among cellar cottages, now complemented by the ZT marking. Following this, at the Szélmarta Rocks (Kis-erdő Hill at the 7th checkpoint), we reach Kossuth Lajos Street via the lower road. After crossing it, we climb again on the eastern side of the peninsula.

From Vámraktár, another descent follows with several viewpoints up to the cozy old Monks’ Houses built by monks nearby, and then to Ciprián Spring. Alongside the ZT, the Z trail joins on the shore road, and at Tihany ferry terminal (8th checkpoint), this is replaced by Z▲. The path turns up to the Parasztgazda farmhouse, then heads toward the Tihany Benedictine Abbey. From the abbey, descending along Kossuth Lajos Street, we switch markings again, returning to S+ where we started. The quaint little streets soon lead down to Kotyogós Café Terrace Tihany on the Inner Lake shore, where the well-deserved finisher’s medal can be collected after scanning the FINISH checkpoint.