Nagyvázsony - Városlőd (OKT-07.)

Itinerary

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

• Follow the Blue (K) markers from Kinizsi Castle to Road 77 just outside the village. Head left and past a few hundred meters and a farm building take the gravel track on the right.
• The trail winds up to the peak of Kab-hegy along clearances. Past the radio tower the Blue (K) Trail turns left at the junction and to the right spur trail Blue▲( K▲) leads to the peak (3 min.)
• The trail follows a paved road but shortcuts a loop on a dirt track and arrives at Úrkút.
• Follow the Blue (K) markers along the main street of Úrkút. Head right at Kéktúra Vendéglő (Blue Trail Restaurant) and trail leaves the village along the same street.
• The trail skirts a clear-cut and descends into Csollányos-völgy (Csollányos Valley). Follow the gravel track until the level crossing.
• Pass below the rails and turn right to arrive at Városlőd-Kislőd railway station.

Detailed description

Nagyvázsony - Kab-hegy

Set off from Kinizsi Castle to start the 7th section through Bakony. Take the footpath near the ruins to reach Varga Street and head left. Past the last buildings of the village turn right at the junction to descend to the valley of Vázsonyi-séd. In a few minutes you will reach the road leading to Tapolca. Turn left and hike along the road. Right before a distance sign (Tapolca and Sümeg) take the wide dirt track on the right to cross the fields at the foot of Kab-hegy.  At a crossing dirt road change to the other side of the bushes and the trail arrives at the woods called Bogárdi.

The forest around Kab-hegy is divided into plots in chessboard pattern for intensive use. Clearances (nyiladék) are numbered from left to right and crossing clearances bear letters of the alphabet. The trail follows Clearance 5 and turns right onto Clearance H. Turn left onto Clearance 6 at the next corner. After a lengthy hike the trail crosses Clearance G and ascends steeper and steeper towards the towers. The peak does not seem high and yet it rises 300 meters above. Except close to the peak do not expect steep slopes on Kab-hegy as thin and highly fluid basalt lava could spread over a large area creating a shield volcano with a low profile. 

Hike along the fence lining the dirt track. At the gate climb the ladder over the fence. Follow the Blue (K) markers across the fenced grove. Climb over the fence on the other side of the grove and continue through the old growth forest along a more accessible logging track. The trail is steeply descending to the fence around the building on the peak, where head left. Soon you will reach the end of the paved road. A spur trail branches off to the right to Kinizsi lookout tower and some benches on the southern edge of the hill.

It is highly worth the detour to enjoy the most memorable view of this section. From the tower the hill surrounding the peak seem nearly flat with an extensive green cover. In clear weather even the bright surface of Lake Balaton is visible in the south. Turning to the other side the next part of the section reveals with round hills and small villages.

Kab-hegy – Úrkút

Return to the paved road. Pass the buildings and descend past the TV tower. Hike along the straight clearance and check the stamper at the former forester’s lodge of Kab-hegy (the building opposite).

Descend onwards along Clearance D. In 1.5 km the trail passes Clearance 7, which opens the view towards High Bakony. Turn left onto Clearance 8 to shortcut a loop of the paved road and trail soon returns to it. Keep hiking along the winding road. The trail passes Tönkölyös-víznyelő (sinkhole), an evidence for karst processes in Bakony and crosses a young grove. Climb the ladders again to get over the fence. Continue through a denser grove to arrive at Úrkút. Take the main street towards the center and get the stamper at Kéktúra Vendéglő (Blue Trail Restaurant).

Úrkút – Kislőd

At the end of Gubiczahegy Street the trail arrives at the paleokarst area of Csárda-hegy (Inn Hill). Fortunately, despite past mining activities tropical karst formations remained. These karst formations from the Jurassic period hosted manganese ore serving as a basis for local economy for decades. After finishing the educational loop trail continue along the Blue Trail to exit the village.

The trail follows a dirt track to a large fenced grove and then descends into Csollányos Valley. The gravel road, which replaced a former logging railroad, traverses a series of cozy clearings to reach Sobri Jóska Adventure Park and the mining village on the outskirts of Kislőd. Cross the bridge over Torna Creek and the railroad through an underpass. A short climb will take you to the road connecting Kislőd and Városlőd. Turn right to arrive at Városlőd-Kislőd railway station (stamper near the office on the wall).