Veresegyház three lake route

Malom Lake

We start from the small towered building of the Veresegyház lake beach, which has been in operation since 1928. Turning right at the corner of the building, we immediately find ourselves on a narrow iron bridge crossing the northern tip of Malom Lake. Also called the “Old Lake,” this lake was created in the 14th century by damming the Sződrákosi stream. Its special, protected flora, the realm of swimmer plants, once served as a refuge for both poor peasants and the local population. Its fauna is also diverse; alongside reed warblers, cuckoos, colorful kingfishers, and mallards, it remains a habitat for fish and amphibians. The center of the iron bridge offers an ideal panorama, with the natural shore of the beach to the right, fishermen’s stations to the left, the large, contiguous reeds, and scattered white willow trees with airy foliage over the water along the shore.

Our first serious challenge awaits beyond the bridge: we descend a steep concrete ramp to the ground level, commemorating the old times' DIY tunings. This few-meter section is advisable to overcome backwards and with assistance. Now walking on the western side of the lake, we head south in an environment fit for fishing paradises, with the city's wealthier villa district pressed between us and the lake on the right. Playgrounds, groves, and accessible fishing piers (!) indicate that we are in a particularly frequented and beloved part of Veresegyház. After minor obstacles, curbs, and a short cobbled section, we reach the end of Malom Lake (the boardwalk to the reeds is not accessible). If planning only a very short walk, here we can turn left and circle the small lake, which, showing a shadier, woodier, and more beautiful face, would lead us back to the starting point after a circle just over 1 km.

Ivacsi Lake

However, we proceed straight ahead, crossing the dry, barren gravel parking lot between Malom Lake and Ivacsi Lake, arriving at the fishing lake created by dredging, known as the city’s fish kingdom, Ivacsi Lake. On its western shore, we continue south on a path winding among protruding roots. Once a dense reed, aquatic weed, and fish-rich, spacious water surface, the lake now only occasionally retains these former virtues due to human impact. However, the gentle water surface conforms to the needs of water birds and anglers, stretching regularly at our feet. Its sheltered shore is even suitable for accessible fishing. Leaving behind the rhythmically appearing roots on the path, the southern shore reveals a shadier, more natural, and nicer face.

We slowly arrive at the railway line dividing Ivacsi Lake and Pamut Lake. Here we again turn onto a built, bitumen pavement heading towards the Ivacsi railway stop and the next creek culvert. Looking back, a magnificent panorama opens at the southern tip of the lake, with the long-extending water and scattered Veresegyház buildings on its shore. From the railway embankment, we can see in both directions, enjoying views of two lakes at the same time. If our physical and mental energies are satisfied, here we can shorten our tour by turning back along the eastern sides of Ivacsi Lake and then Malom Lake, closing a 2.7 km loop back to the starting point.

Pamut Lake

Pamut Lake is surrounded by the least urbanized environment due to its location. Under the railway embankment, we briefly pass along the clean water Sződrákosi stream, once the realm of river shrimps and now of invasive signal crayfish. The third lake on the route is approached from the eastern side. Here we can also see orchid species such as the marsh helleborine or the flesh-colored finger orchid. On this side of the lake, we roll on a soft-surfaced, attractive, forest- and black pine-bordered path – however, it is not possible to reach the lakeshore directly by wheelchair. The entire tour is characterized by ambivalence: both still-existing native species and artificial groves, sluice gates, and abundant fish are present.

After a small elevation difference, the tour route runs closer to the shore on a desert-like but shady, winding forest path. The pines were planted in the 1950s to stabilize the sand. This section, completely free from the urban environment, is where we travel on a waving ground and parallel tracks along the lake shore. Steep forest paths leading down to the lake are skipped this time. We reach the southeastern curve of Pamut Lake, then encounter poplar trees and mainly the dusty road environment characteristic of the Alföld lowland.

We cross the Sződrákosi stream feeding the lake, then, after a small ascent, we turn back on a bitumen road along the lake's western long side, having reached the furthest point of the tour from the starting point. If we are in good shape – and have a companion – it is worth venturing down to the lakeshore on the return as there is a very friendly resting place near the southwest corners, equipped with wooden tables and benches, offering an idyllic lakeside experience. The tidy environment mostly built for anglers and picnickers is noticeably less visited than the lakeside areas we passed at the tour’s beginning.

After our rest, we continue west along the lake towards the closed waterworks sluice gate, then back to the embankment running along the eastern side of Ivacsi Lake. On the open section, we can admire the beautiful panorama almost from a bird's eye view. Arriving at the shady shore of Malom Lake, we get an insight into what the wetlands here may have been like in earlier times, in their full naturalness: small trickling water, frogs, and birds living in peaceful coexistence. The floating reed islands also offer the best perspective from here. The many large-leaved tree roots and the gently rolling old-time landscape gradually merge into the suburban gravel road leading to the beach bath.