Circular hike from Gyertyánosi Park Forest

Itinerary

• We start our circular route from the Gyertyánosi Park Forest, from the Gyöngyvirág guesthouse, following the K◼ mark.
• At the Four Brothers spring flowing 400 meters away, we join the westward K+ trail.
• The K+ mark guides us through Zselickislak to Öreg Hill.
• We leave the ridge trail of Goat Ridge to the right (westward) on the S mark behind us.
• On the S mark, we descend into the valley of Zselickislak creek, which leads us through Töröcske all the way to the shore of Töröcskei Lake.
• Along the lake, going straight (turning right at the later junction) we join the P mark, on which we return to the starting point.

Detailed description of the hike

Along park forest walkways

From the parking lot at the forest entrance, we walk within a few minutes to the Gyöngyvirág guesthouse by the Hódos Lake, then continue towards the nearby flowing Kőr spring. Finally, we walk to the Four Brothers spring emerging 400 meters from here along the K◼ mark.

Our authentic Zselic circular hike starts here. Crossing the bridge by the spring and following the K+ signs, we head left westward in the valley. After 100 meters, we leave the P mark, continuing through a very charming ravine. We climb steeply from the creek valley, then turning right we reach weekend houses where we go left on the first street continuing south - Galagonya street.

We walk for a long stretch past vineyards and weekend houses, then emerging from a narrow valley we see the houses of Zselickislak. Leaving Újfalu behind, we pass by the listed monument church in the village center, then at the sign marking the edge of the settlement we turn right and start climbing the village's vineyard hill. We climb steeply to Öreg Hill, and with good reason: there is a great view of Zselickislak and the Zselic hill ranges.

The Zselic Protected Landscape Area

On the winding road on the vineyard hill, carefully follow the markings as they change direction several times. The press houses gradually disappear, and leaving the vineyards behind we reach the edge of a field bordered on the left by acacia. Following the forest strip, the road winds and soon takes us into the forest where we cross the border of the Zselic Protected Landscape Area. This valuable area mainly for its flora is special because its modest water sources and varied terrain have preserved the small village system up to the present day; towns have only developed on the edges of the region. Wide pastures and meadows are colored by large forests, and due to the settlement pattern, light pollution is so low that Hungary's first starry sky park was established here. Along the mainly north-south oriented long valley bottoms, marshes have accumulated on the clay soil in places, and elsewhere fishponds have been created.

Soon we reach the S mark on which we head right along the ridge, walking on a gentle rise. The road curves left, by a fence leading us to an increasingly steep path towards the Pölöskei meadow in the valley. Before reaching the creek, the signs direct us right into dense bushes where we cross Zselickislak creek. Leaving the wild valley, the charming Pölöskei forest spreads above us.

Reaching a wayside cross, we take one last look at Zselickislak nestled in the valley! After the cross, we descend to Töröcske in a steep gully and turn right onto the main street. The village center park is a perfect resting place. During the Turkish occupation, Töröcske did not become deserted, as its partial isolation kept it hidden from the conquerors’ attention.

By the lakes

Leaving the village through its long main street, the valley of Töröcske creek widens and roads branch off. Together with the Z mark, we turn right and cross the bridge over the valley creek. Along the wild path initially parallel with the floodplain, soon we walk by the shore of Töröcskei Lake, then turning right over a small hill we exit the forest to visit the Nature Friends' memorial opposite. The lakes were created as flood protection in the 1970s to regulate the Kapos river more effectively - and the memorial was erected then. The fresh meadow and the shade of centuries-old trees by the lake invite rest as we continue straight on the P mark.

We start left on the cart road, then after a few steps turn right onto a narrow path to tackle a steep climb. Following the valley top, we soon see the suburban houses of Kaposvár. Following the P mark, we turn right and enter the wild creek valley. In a very beautiful forest, we pass by the Esperanto and Scout springs flowing in the valley, then from the winding path we soon reach the highway, which we take left on.

After 500 meters, we arrive at the Gyertyános bus stop where public transport passengers can board buses to Kaposvár. If we take the last section, we enter the park forest and steeply descend into the valley where at the bottom of a built staircase we meet the K+ mark, on which we started our circular route a few hours and kilometers earlier. From here, we can comfortably walk back to the parking lot by Hódos Lake in ten minutes.