Natural wonders of the Meleg-mányi and Nagy-Mély valleys

Itinerary

• From the Kőlyuki betérő parking lot, we follow the P marking all along the Nagy-Mély-völgy.
• From the Nagy-Mély-völgy, we climb up to the ridge, where by changing direction and marking, we follow the K marking to the left.
• After 800 meters, we turn left again, descending into the Meleg-mányi-völgy by following the northern branch of the P+ from the Kereszt-kunyhó.
• At the Mánfa Árpád-era church we leave our current guide and return westward following the P◼ marking back to the Kőlyuki betérő restaurant.

Detailed description of the hike

Following Komló's water

From the restaurant parking lot, we head south into the valley along the P marking coming from Sikonda. Crossing the bridge over the stream, we pass by the building of the Ciframalom (whose wheel was once turned by the stream), then walk along the fence of the Mánfa fishing lake. After leaving the lake, the K● marking invites us left to the Bikfa spring, while following the P● marking to the right, we can cross the stream and discover the Kőfejtő spring hidden in a wild, rocky valley.

Returning, after 600 meters of walking, we arrive at the resting place of the Scout spring, named after the scout troop that once camped around it, with a lily symbolizing the movement on its sign. On the path, there is a 6-meter tufa deposit, next to which the Mánfa cave splits the limestone cliff. In the passage closed with an iron door, important waterworks operated: among others, a large reservoir ensured that the pipeline starting here served Komló's industry (the pipe can also be seen in the lower section of the valley). As the heavy industry, increasingly struggling with supply difficulties approaching the regime change, declined, the water lifting from Kőlyuk became unnecessary and ceased operations.

In the region of springs

Here joins the Z marking coming from Zsidó-valley, with which we continue towards the magical Nagy-Mély-valley. Leaving the waterworks behind us, the valley basin narrows more and more, and our way leads on a wooden bridge built in mossy rock walls. Following our path, we soon reach the confluence of streams where an adventurous “stream crossing” awaits us. Jumping across sometimes on the bank, sometimes on stones in the streambed, we move forward, enjoying views of small rapids, waterfalls, and a gentle gorge environment. Soon we pass by the Rocky spring flowing on the other side of the stream – the water dissolves the limestone absorbed in its crevices with its carbonic acid content and erodes it with its load, thus creating passages and caves, which then reappear in the springs.

We walk nearly one kilometer in the gorge valley of magical beauty, when from the left, from the direction of the Meleg-mányi-valley, the K● marking joins us, with which we walk to the rich Kánya spring, which breaks out about four hundred meters above surface, and the nearby trickling Mariska spring. For some adventure, it is worth climbing up to the Mély-völgyi stone alcove, whose entrance opens in a cliff.

In a beautiful beech forest, along a very steep path, at the end of the long ascent we reach the K marking running along the ridge, which we follow to the left. Soon we come out to the road running along the Western Mecsek ridge, where we walk past a forester’s lodge and arrive at the place called Kereszt-kunyhó, hidden by the road, where we can take a longer break. (There used to be a lumberjacks’ shelter here next to a cross, from which the name originates.)

The waterfalls of Meleg-mányi-valley

We change direction and head north along the P+ marking. Our path steeply descends in the charming forest, then at the end of the “knee-wrecking” slope, it is crossed by the K● marking. From the junction, we descend to the sinkhole of the Meleg-mányi cave, then to the nearby trickling Anyák well, which feeds the valley stream. About 300 meters from here falls the tufa stair Meleg-mányi waterfall, which is the largest and most spectacular waterfall of the mountain. The fascinating phenomenon originates from the relationship between the stream and the limestone: carbonic acid in the water dissolves the limestone, so when seeping deep into its crevices, it stores the calcium compound. From the spring, part of the carbonic acid escapes, precipitating the limestone – thereby forming freshwater limestone (tufa), which crusts over obstacles lying in the water's path (rock steps, tree trunks, stones, etc.). The porous rock, which may have formed about 15,000 years ago in the Meleg-mányi-valley, can be easily identified up close. (The same phenomenon can be observed at the beginning of our hike, at the rapids of Nagy-Mély-valley.)

Near Mánfa

The Meleg-mányi spring originates at the base of the fantastic natural formation, which roars in times of large water flow. Continuing, we are accompanied by the sight of smaller and larger waterfalls. Crossing plank bridges over the stream, we ascend directly to the forestry asphalt road running along the ridge, where we turn left. After 100 meters, a directional marking points right, and we steeply descend on a path into the valley. At the end of the long winding valley cart road bordered by clearings, we arrive at the Mánfa Árpád-era church, where we can rest under centuries-old linden trees. The heritage church was built in Romanesque style in the 12th century, then further expanded in Gothic style. Its twin-windowed tower is still semicircular, but the nave already has pointed arch windows.

From the church, continuing further, before the road, we leave the P+ marking and turn onto the P◼ marking heading left. We wander for another kilometer through the fairy-tale forest and thus return to the Kőlyuki betérő located in the large hairpin bend of the Pécs-Kaposvár road.