On the hills between Mogyoród and Fót

Itinerary:

• From the HÉV station we start southwards on the Z▲ trail, and after crossing Gyertyános we follow it until Mogyoród, Dózsa György Street.
• Turning right we walk 70 meters along the Z signs, then switch left to the Z◼ signs towards the side of Fóti-Somlyó.
• We continue on the Z trail and after 120 meters turn left to the Z▲ sign, which leads to the Somlyó peak.
• Turning right next to the peak, we follow the KT signs of the Fóti-Somlyó Nature Trail to the southeastern side of the hill.
• Turning right, switching to the Z+ sign, we hike back to Mogyoród.
• In Erdő street, turn left onto the Z signs and return to the HÉV station.

Details of the route:

To the Szent László Lookout

The starting point of our hike is the Mogyoród HÉV station from where we head south along the Z▲ trail. We cross the road and step onto a narrow asphalt road starting opposite. Passing two gates we quickly reach the edge of the settlement; gently ascending along the arable land we head towards our first stop, Gyertyános (also known as Mogyoródi-Somlyó), located 1.5 km away. From the wooded hillside, the top of the Szent László Lookout built on the peak peeks out, serving as a landmark for orientation. Reaching a right-angle right turn, we get a view of the houses of Kerepes and the Bolnoka hill rising above. As we ascend, the surrounding landscape opens increasingly. Roofs of Mogyoród color the foreground of Fóti-Somlyó, while in the distance the Visegrád Hills, Börzsöny, and Naszály appear frosted. Near a farm enclosed by a fence, turning left we leave the asphalt and switch to a sandy path. We circumvent a barrier and after a few minutes arrive at a resting place in front of an ornate lookout on the peak. The towered building, named after Saint László, was inaugurated in 2001 based on designs by Imre Makovecz. Its lower level houses a chapel with a wooden statue of the saint king, and the open upper floor serves as a lookout. From there we can enjoy a splendid panorama. The horizon stretches from the Buda Hills through the Pilis, Visegrád Hills, and Börzsöny, through Naszály and Cserhát, all the way to the Mátra peak and ridges. Among the closer terrain, there is a clear view of the capital's Buda side with recognizable districts; in the foreground of Budapest's scenery is the Hungaroring racetrack and stands. Fóti-Somlyó’s elongated ridge and the roofs above Csomád also stand out clearly. The viewscape is complemented by the M3 motorway winding at the foot of the hills. In this direction, the Fót church and the Megyeri Bridge are easy to identify.

The lookout is currently under renovation and visiting is forbidden and dangerous. Completion is expected in summer 2022.

Descent to Mogyoród

We leave the peak on the Z▲ trail. Mogyoród center is 2.5 km away, reached by continuous descent across open terrain. At first, we descend on a steep, brushy narrow path on the hillside, then at the bottom turn left onto the wide Panorama street. The path soon becomes covered with concrete slabs and leads past a riding stable. Opposite we see the hills around the Danube Bend, looking back we can see the lookout crowning the hilltop. Soon we reach the outermost houses of Mogyoród. We turn into Dombóvári street and walk down among garden houses until the fence protecting the area of the M3 motorway. At the junction, we turn left and walk 300 meters parallel to the motorway to the overpass. The previously quiet atmosphere is briefly interrupted by the noise of cars rushing below. Crossing the transport corridor dividing the village, the Z▲ trail continues through Mogyoród streets.

Soon we reach a square with a small hill. Here stood until the Turkish era a Benedictine abbey founded in memory of the Battle of Mogyoród fought in 1074. In the battle, the Árpád princes Géza and László won a decisive victory over King Solomon supported by the German emperor. A memorial witness stands in the well-parked place. We leave the square along Kiss Ernő street, then after a 500 m walk arrive in the village center among neat, orderly houses and yards. If time permits, with short detours we can view the local protected cellar row and the Saint László statue. The majolica-adorned pedestrian bridge is circled to the right on the Z trail, crossing the main road, then we start uphill on Rózsa street opening to the right: this leads to the Z◼ hiking trail going towards Fóti-Somlyó.

On the way to Fóti-Somlyó!

Soon the asphalt ends, and on a narrow path beside the last house we enter the forest. The next mildly ascending section leads through dense acacia, which does not easily allow further progress. Halfway, we reach a triple power line clearing and exit the forest briefly, but continue struggling through guest-attracting shrubbery and brush on a difficult-to-follow path. Eventually, reaching the plateau, we join a wide sandy road. Our next stop is the top of Öreghegy before Somlyó, reached on a well-walkable comfortable cart road in soft sand. We walk on a panorama path: the long, winding hill ridge provides continuous views of the surroundings and further landscapes. Nearby are visible buildings of Fót, Dunakeszi, and Göd; beyond the Danube valley are houses of Pomáz and Szentendre. On the horizon stretch long mountain ranges on the other side of the river. We can see the northern parts of the Buda Hills, the Kevély and Pilis peak recognizable from the Pilis, while the Visegrád Hills block opens from Kő-hegy to the distinctive cliff of Vörös-kő. Behind the ridge, the peak of Prédikálószék peeks out.

On the right side of our route marked Z◼ are pastures and riding stable buildings; in the fence-enclosed area, horses kept outdoors look curiously at the hiker. Behind us, the wooded cone of Gyertyános, which we just visited, guards our steps. We pass through a truly charming section now. Reaching the side of Öreghegy above Fót, the path begins to gently rise, then at the sign marking the border of the Fóti-Somlyó Nature Conservation Area we enter a forest patch. A clear open area follows beyond it, revealing the panorama. Besides the surrounding settlements, we can see Margaret Island, and on the horizon the Cserhát and the Slovak Carpathian ranges emerge faintly in the haze. On the path coming from the right, the Z+ sign from Mogyoród joins: we will descend on this during the last section of our hike. Walking past fenced weekend cottages and houses, after a few minutes we reach a roadside bench and an information board. Here it is worth sitting down and relaxing for a while at the resting place established at the viewpoint, enjoying the panorama.

The Somlyó Hill

A part of Fóti Somlyó Hill was declared protected in 1953 due to extraordinary natural values. Its wildlife is diverse, and geologically the area is interesting because surface rock outcrops (limestone, andesite tuff), rare in the hilly region, occur here. In 2003, the 3.5 km long nature trail was inaugurated, which we now follow around Somlyó. The route marked with a blue butterfly symbol (a special sign referring to the rich butterfly species here) starts at the Fáy press house, where we can buy an informational booklet and explore this highly valuable part of the Gödöllő Hills with a guided tour. Information boards placed at stations also aid learning.

We continue our hike on the Z◼ trail, which interweaves with the nature trail signs. Our ascending path leads to the wide, bushy-grassy ridge of Somlyó, from where we get a prime view of the hills. Passing through a flower-rich grove on the ridge during the growing season, at the next junction we turn left onto the Z▲ trail and head towards the Somlyó ridge side. From the grassy viewpoint with benches for added comfort, we get a good panorama westward to the Danube settlements and mountains; directly below is visible the yellow building of the ornate Fót church designed by Miklós Ybl. Returning to the center of the ridge, we enter the forest among trees where small boards name various tree species. Along the path edge, we pass by World War II trenches and shelters, memorials to the fierce fighting in the surrounding area in December 1944. On the increasingly narrower and more defined ridge path, we finally arrive at the 288-meter-high Somlyó peak, which does not offer a view. An unmarked path leading to the northern viewpoint of the hill continues in a strictly protected area, entry requiring a permit.

Back to Mogyoród

Walking back 50 meters from the concrete marker at the peak, we begin our descent on the hillside along the right-turning KT trail. Mostly well-walkable but partly with loose stone and slippery hillsides, we can see weathered limestone rocks and a 200-year-old oak patriarch. Emerging among trees, our path joins a wide stony road, then soon we arrive at the Fáy press house on asphalt. András Fáy bought a vineyard here in 1837 which became a special intellectual workshop and legendary meeting place of the Reform Era. On weekends and harvest times, the reform intellectuals traveled here to discuss public affairs and the country's condition alongside partying and wine drinking. Among those present were Deák, Kossuth, and Vörösmarty. Today, the site operates as a restaurant, and we can also admire the wooden statue of the Fóti Betyár and get a good bird's eye view of Fót. Nearby stands the reed-thatched Vörösmarty hut, where the poet wrote his patriotic wine poem, the Fóti song, in 1842, and later recited it to the guests.

Following the KT signs, we traverse the south side of Fóti-Somlyó and soon reach the familiar Z+ and Z◼ hiking trails. Walking back 500 meters along this, then turning left and following the Z+ signs, we continue. On the last section of our hike, we walk on wide sandy roads, alternating between forest patches and open agricultural areas. Several times, we cross a double overhead power line clearing, then step alongside the modern buildings of the Lake Forest villa park. Soon we reach asphalt and cross a bridge over the M3 motorway. Arriving among the houses of Mogyoród, we turn left onto the Z signs in Erdő street, on which a few minutes later we return to our starting point, the HÉV station.