Kemence loop

Itinerary

• Follow the P marker for the first eight kilometers of the run. 
• In the first part of the descent, after Salgóvár, proceed along the P+ marker for one kilometer at 600 meters. 
• After reaching the valley, turn left and switch to the K marker.
• At the Feketevölgy Guesthouse, cross the creek to the right and climb up the hillside on the Z◼ path.
• Soon we join the Z marker, which leads back to the starting point. 

Detailed description of the run

Starting from the Narrow Gauge Museum, we begin the run on asphalt, which is an ideal warm-up. Following the creek and the railway, shortly we turn right and continue running uphill on the P marker. Passing through streets with bird names and unusual layouts, we leave the settlement while gaining elevation on a challenging dirt road. Upon reaching the boundary of the pine forest, the climb evens out and a lighter, well-runnable section follows. At the end, turning left at the intersection, we start the long and strenuous climb toward the ridge. We persistently ascend on a rocky, steep path where running is difficult and only possible in short sections, so it’s advisable to walk most of it. Between the trees, the sky clears and we soon reach the Hollókő viewing point. From the rim of the collapsed structure of the former giant volcano’s caldera, we have a view of the Magas-Börzsöny’s impressive, forested mountain area.

From here, this landscape intermittently reappears during the run, but it’s best not to daydream as steep slopes sometimes rise to our left. After a few sweat-inducing climbs, finally a short descent awaits us, though only briefly. Crossing a forestry dirt road, the final ascent begins on the far side. After a few hundred meters of steep climb, we arrive almost on all fours at the Salgóvár rock cliffs and castle ruins. From this spectacular viewpoint, we can look down into the heart of Börzsöny.

On the far side of the castle, we start descending and jog on a dirt road to loosen stiff thighs. At the junction, we switch to the P+ marker and continue running downhill. On loose forest soil, after rainy weather, mud might make things difficult for us. Soon reaching another intersection, we sharply turn left on the K marker and begin our adventurous path through the Csarna valley. We descend the left side of the valley, while water quietly flows at the valley bottom, joined intermittently by small creeks from every direction. After one and a half kilometers of jogging, we reach the valley floor where the Csarna and Kuruc streams converge. Here, for the first time, we encounter the next section’s atmosphere, marked by an abandoned railway, and to the left, we can also glimpse the Hamuház.

Continuing through the strictly protected area, we experience a special atmosphere. The post-apocalyptic mood of the railway meets the fresh and energetic creek, all within a truly untouched natural environment. We proceed along an adventurous obstacle course, crossing sometimes the railway, sometimes the creek. With high water, it’s guaranteed that we won’t keep our socks dry during the run. Occasionally, it’s worth looking up at the cliff walls and steep hillsides that surround us from both sides.

The Feketevölgy Guesthouse is the first sign that we are approaching civilization again, but first, we take a small detour. We cross the creek on a plank-built bridge and start a steep climb along the Z◼ marker. The climb is not long but extremely steep, reminding our legs that we have already gained several hundred meters of elevation today. After this, we start descending again and switch to the Z marker. This long, straight path will be our farewell to the forest, as asphalt soon appears at the end of the path. We keep right, then cross the creek and turn left. Between guesthouses and hostels, a few hundred meters on asphalt will be the cooldown for this adventurous and physically challenging loop, during which we surely gathered lasting memories.