Gödöllő university loop

Itinerary

• Starting from the university's main building heading south, passing under the grocery store, we join the P trail marker, which we follow for 3 km through the Fácános park forest, then through the Újfenyves and Fenyves districts.
• Before reaching the railway station, we take a right onto the P▲ trail marker, running along the tracks for 1.5 km, then turning right into the forest, climbing up to Juharos Hill, and from there descending to the K trail marker.
• On the K trail marker, 4.5 km await us, passing through long straight sections to reach Béri Balogh Ádám Street.
• We return to the start via Béri Balogh Ádám Street–Köztársaság Street–Fácán sor–Egyetem tér Street.

Detailed description of the route

We start in front of the university's main building facing south. Passing around the grocery store from below, we join the P trail marker, continuing on it for 3 km. We pass between university campus buildings with a slight incline to reach the edge of the Fácános park forest. After some steps, we run on a comfortable path past an old Premonstratensian cemetery, slightly ascending to cross an asphalt road. Passing the botanical garden, before the university cattle farm entrance, we turn right onto a dirt road. From here, the road gently descends, passing through a long straight section following the P trail marker across the Fácános. In the middle, there is a six-way intersection; here, without changing direction, we continue straight on the narrowest route, a single-track path.

Leaving the park forest, we zigzag through the elegant garden city districts of Gödöllő Újfenyves and Fenyves, clearly following the P trail marker. From Fácános, we reach Őz Street, turn left, and run to the third street, Jászovár Street, turning left here for the first time onto Boróka Street and running to its end. We turn right onto Fenyvesi Street, then again left at the first opportunity onto Juhar Street, running to its end as well. Turning right onto Klapka György Street, then again left at the first opportunity onto Madách Imre Street, we reach the new railway station at the street’s bottom, but instead of crossing under the embankment, we turn right and continue along the railway on the P▲ trail marker. We will follow this marker for over 4.5 km.

Following gravel and dirt roads, we trace the railway’s curve. At the far end, where there is a large-diameter concrete culvert under the tracks, we turn right onto the P▲ trail marker into the bushes. We start winding up the hill on a soft single-track path in an acacia forest. We quickly climb first a simple, then a more significant fence ladder, after which we turn left onto a dirt road and run to its end. Looking left, we see the Máriabesnyő pilgrimage church, the Basilica of the Assumption of Mary.

At the end of the path, there is a closed gate and fence. Here we turn right and start a long ascent on a soft, root- and rock-free single-track path. Over 2 km, we face a 120 m elevation gain to the highest point of the route, but most of this, 100 m, is in the first kilometer. Higher, the acacia forest changes to oak forest, the ground remains comfortable throughout, and the upper part changes to a double-track forest road. In the middle of this section, shortly after the power line, there is a short left-right zigzag, but after that, going straight, we soon reach one of the highest peaks of the Gödöllő Hills, the 308 m high Juharos. Don't expect a visual summit experience since it is merely a plateau point with no marker and no view except for a clearing, but it is still pleasant for the spirit.

About one kilometer later, we reach an asphalt road where the P▲ trail marker ends. We turn right on the K trail marker (which we will follow for about 4 km), and after 100 m, we reach the Gödöllő–Valkó country road, carefully crossing it. After a barrier, taking a left-right zigzag, we continue on the K trail marker. We run on a comfortable dirt road, passing a ruinous hunting lodge destined for better days, next to an old mill road. For a section, we run next to a game fence on the left; afterward, the ground loosens up, becoming sandy in a Kiskunság-like landscape, and it stays this way for a very long stretch. Straight sections alternate, then the sand disappears, and the ground changes under us to a normal dirt road. We reach a road covered with concrete plates due to logging, where we gently turn right to continue running. We reach a barrier, behind which on the ground lies a large grid made of iron rods perpendicular to the road. This is meant either to shake mud off vehicle wheels or prevent wild animals crossing, but it is slippery when wet, so cautiously stepping over it is advised.

We continue straight on the wide dirt road. Further away, the K trail marker turns left toward the arboretum, but we continue straight on a now narrower, unmarked path. We reach the first houses and small farms; in the distance on the right, the previously seen Fenyves and Újfenyves districts are clearly visible. Suddenly, we arrive on asphalt and run a long stretch without changing direction on Béri Balogh Ádám Street. At the street's end, we cross to the far side of Köztársaság Street and directly opposite, run up a charming narrow street to Fácán sor. Here, we turn left and run to numbers 16–17, where we turn right and change onto Egyetem tér Street on a short green section. We return to the starting point through the university campus buildings.