From Füred to the Gellák

Itinerary

• We start from the start location on the K trail, following this trail for a little over 4.5 km.
• After leaving the K trail, we cross the Pinke Hill on unmarked roads, then join the Z trail, which we follow for 7 km.
• After Balatonszőlős, we switch to the P trail, and on the last 3 km, we return along this trail to the starting point.

Detailed description of the route

From the starting point, we start uphill on the K trail along Siske Street, on asphalt. At the top of the street, turning left, we reach Régi temető Street and soon arrive at the cemetery and the Papsokai church ruins, where the first beautiful view awaits us of Lake Balaton and the Tihany Peninsula. Turning right together with the street, we continue running along the left side of the cemetery, still ascending. Then, at the top of the street, by the barrier on the right, we switch to a gravel road and relatively flat terrain. We enter a rare, grove-like, low forest with some tall pine trees emerging. Crossing this, we reach the vast Evetes Meadow, where we turn left and run along the edge of the meadow, then enter the forest again, descending along a single-track path. This section can be steep, rocky, and root-filled, so proceed carefully. Descending into the Evetes Valley, a scenic section follows. We run along a creek to a large meadow where we turn sharply right and follow the fence around the corner of the meadow. Turning left, we do the same along half the length of the fence, then turning right again, we enter the forest. After a right turn, the K trail sharply turns back; pay attention to navigation. Soon, we reach a T-junction where we turn right, but the sign is hard to notice, so stay alert. From here, a straightforward, relatively flat section follows, ending at the first houses. The K trail goes right, and we turn left onto an unmarked road, descending slightly right to soon reach the paved road above Balatonszőlős.

We turn left on the paved road, but after about 50 m, we turn right to leave it. Turning left, we join a straight asphalt road; after 100 m, we turn right and start a long, steady but not too steep climb on a straight gravel road toward Pinke Hill. At the top, at the sparkling cellar, we turn right, then left and run straight again to the highest house, where we enter the forest on the right. We run on a rocky, double-track road and then reach an asphalt road where we continue straight for a few meters to a junction: the sign points left to Papok borozó (priests' wine tavern), but we continue straight on the gravel road. We still climb, soon entering a green, rocky forest road, then crossing the wooded area, we reach a wide, rocky road coming from the right. Crossing it without changing direction, we continue running in the forest on the Z trail.

Soon, we arrive at a wide clearing under high-voltage power lines. Crossing it, the Z trail does not continue on the straight path but turns left on an inclined path higher up. The sign is not easy to spot at first here, so be careful. From here, we first meander uphill along a narrow single-track path, which turns into a double-track forest road. We run below Kis-Gella, then make a half-turn to a large meadow, which we skirt on the left along the forest edge, then re-enter the woods. A narrow, single-track path winds uphill, becoming steeper, until we reach the Nagy-Gella. Unfortunately, there is no view at the peak; only the triangulation stone is found there.

The descent is on a comfortable, single-track, stone-free section. Reaching the asphalt road, we turn left; after 100 m, we reach a junction: the K trail and asphalt go right toward Cseri Castle; going left, we remain on the Z trail on a dirt road. After a junction, we turn right, and the landscape suddenly opens: a beautiful view spreads out over Lake Balaton, with the Tihany Peninsula jutting into the lake between two bays. From here, with a slight descent and winding path, we run downhill while the lake intermittently appears on the horizon. We reach a long, straight road, the upper quarter of which is asphalted, but we can run on the grass on the left side; then, it becomes gravel again. We arrive in Balatonszőlős, where we turn right onto Fő Street at the bus turnaround, still on the Z trail. At the end of the street, turning left, we continue running by a lake to the riding stable before the forest, then turn left onto the P trail in the forest. We meander comfortably on a single-track path in the forest, then descend into a charming small valley where the Szőlősi-Séd stream flows. At one point, we cross to the left bank of the creek, then ascend a steep but short stairway to a dirt road between vineyards and houses. Turning right, we get continuous magnificent views of Tihany. Near the end of this section, we cross a grove, then turn right onto Szőlősi Road, running along it to reach Vázsonyi Road. Turning right here, after 150 m, we return to the start location.