From Váralja to Komló through the Farkas Ditch canyon

Itinerary

• From Váralja to Komló, we follow the K+ trail.

Detailed description of the route

We get off the bus at the Váralja junction, from where we head south on the K+ trail for our hike crossing the mountain range. After leaving the railway stop, we walk among the houses of Váralja. On the long main street of the village, the KL trail invites us to the left, to Vár-fő Hill, where a castle once stood. Returning to our trail, we first pass by the Lutheran church, then the Reformed church. After nearly three kilometers of walking, we leave behind the small settlement of Tolna County. After the Mining Museum and the youth camp, we soon reach Váralja Park Forest. At the artificially created fishing ponds, a nicely built resting place awaits the traveler. Here we are joined by the S+ trail coming from Hidas.

Continuing on the park forest’s gravel-stony road, we often jump over the watercourse of Váralja Ditch. After one kilometer of walking, we arrive at guesthouses in the Váralja valley and the Váralja forester’s lodge sheltered by huge pine trees. Here, our path is crossed by the K◼ trail leading from Óbánya to Mázá, and here the S+ trail branches off from our route, which we will meet several times during our long hike. We continue our adventure in the wild valley of Farkas Ditch. Smaller cascades and waterfalls indicate that we are walking in one of the wild stream valleys of Mecsek. After one kilometer, on the K● trail we can cross over to the other side of the stream to the flowing Jäger’s Well, then marvel at the masterpiece of nature at Kalán Miska’s Well, which breaks the surface among the roots of ancient beech trees. Shortly after, we meet the Z+ trail, leading from Mázár to Óbánya. Here, in a small side valley turning to the right, we find the babbling Vadvirág Spring. It is worth taking a small adventure in the wild valley – wandering along the narrowing valley cliff wall, we can admire smaller cascades.

Returning to the hiking trail, we climb quite steeply up through the beautiful beech forest, then passing the increasingly deepening stream valley, we go past the Lendület Spring. We are now in Baranya when our path leads out to a wide cart road where, together with the S trail leading from Kárász towards Zengő, we turn left. Soon, our path crosses the P trail aiming from Vár Valley to Mecseknádasd.

The trail reaches very close to the summit of Cigány Hill; turning right onto the S trail, we can reach the tower. From the lookout, we can admire the panorama of Mecsek from Zengő to Misiná. Descending from the summit, at Lakkeri Pine Forest we reach the paved road leading to Kisújbánya. Here, for about two hundred meters, the K trail joins us. At the forestry road intersection, we meet the Z trail leading from Barna-kő to Pusztabánya. We follow the ridgeline on the wide, rolling dirt road of Hidasi Ridge, crossed by numerous hiking trail signs. First, we leave the trail linking Vár Valley and Pusztabánya marked Z+, then the P● branches off towards Hidasi Valley and Szederindás Well. Shortly after, we meet the S+ sign again, which leads from Máré-vár towards Takanyó. We leave the wide cart road for a left-turning path that descends quite steeply to a beautiful meadow beside the Szászvár country road. Here, on a wooden post, we find our trail mark. Crossing the Völgység Stream in adventurous circumstances, we then start climbing up the very steep trail of Fehér-part in the beautifully wooded area. At the top, we meet again and walk together for a while with the S+ trail leading from Zobákpuszta to Jánosipuszta. A few hundred meters later, we leave the ridge path to the left and descend into the outskirts of Komló, Zobákakna. Here, we have two options: at Zobákakna, you can board local bus number 1, or you can walk about one kilometer further through the forested area to the 8 bus in the Szilvás district and reach the Komló bus station.