Somlai söndörgő

Itinerary

• Start from the start location on the S marking, then run on unmarked paths to the S+ marking, where we turn left and uphill, staying until the end of it.
• At the end of the S+ marking, turn right onto the P and S markings and run uphill to the hill plateau.
• Upon arrival, turn left onto the ST marking and run on it to the P and S markings, then turn right and reach the lookout tower.
• From the lookout tower, follow the ST marking until the point where you turn right onto an unmarked path leading to Somló Castle.
• At the castle, choose the ST marking again and run to the point where you start descending right on the S+ marking; then return to the village and, following this marking, run all the way to the P and S markings on the village's main road.
• Turn right on the P and S markings and run back to the start location along the already known path.

Detailed route description

Start from the start location on the S marking. After crossing road 8, we turn onto a gravel dirt road, run past the Vásártéri well where we can also take water. The S marking turns slightly right a bit later, but we continue straight on the wide dirt road. We run along the fence of Kreinbacher Winery to its corner, where we turn right and run on the gravel road to the crossroads, where we cross and continue straight on a slightly ascending dirt street, turning left at the end. On an unmarked dirt road, we ascend in the vineyard side to the second dirt road branching right, where we reach the S+ marking.

Turn left onto asphalt and continue uphill. About 150 m later, in front of a beautiful old house with a green tower, the S+ marking leaves the asphalt to the right and we ascend more steeply on a grassy dirt road up to the Kőkereszt, where there is a rain shelter. Turn right onto a concrete road and continue running toward a ruined building. After a left turn, we reach the uppermost road where the S+ marking ends: here we turn right and continue on the P and S markings. Soon we arrive at a 300-year-old linden tree and the St. Margaret chapel beside it. We turn left and start climbing steeply first on a gravel road, then on a single-track trail. The path gradually becomes more of a trail, and at the end, we climb basalt steps until we exit the forest and reach the southeast clearing of the plateau.

At the fork, turn left and start circling the edge of the summit on the Kitaibel Pál nature trail (ST marking). Along the way, we get several beautiful views in various directions: from a bird's eye view, we can follow the route so far, and in the distance, recognize Szent György Hill, Csobánc, and Badacsony. We make a half-loop along the clearing and edge of the hill, then, still on the ST marking, turn left and run through the bushy forest by the ruins of wineries. Then we reach a meadow from which we can nicely see Kis-Somlyó rising from the surrounding plain and, above it, the view to the west extends to the Kőszeg Mountains and the Pinka Plain. We enter the forest again and at one point turn right onto the P and S markings, starting a steep climb on a comfortable, single-track path, sometimes with steps. We reach the St. István lookout tower and the resting place below it.

From the lookout tower, on the right side of the building, we again start descending on the ST marking on a narrow, single-track but relatively comfortable trail. Roots and rocky patches may occur, and since this is the cooler, northern side trail, it can stay slippery longer after rain, so run carefully and attentively downhill. Upon reaching the concrete road, turn left onto the P, S, and ST markings and start ascending intensively. This continues for about 500 m, at the end of which, at a crossroads, turn right onto an unmarked path. The Somló Castle is only 200 m here, and before it, turning left closes the loop on the SL and ST markings, returning to the aforementioned crossroads.

From here, continue straight on the P, S, and ST markings for about 100 m, then turn right and start descending on the S+ marking. The terrain starts comfortably as a single-track but becomes trail-like near the edge of the hill. We reach a house, turn right, and run on a double-track dirt road to the fork, where we turn sharply left and run back towards the village on the concrete slab road on the S and S+ markings. At one point, the S marking turns right toward the Sédfő spring, but we remain on the S+ marking. After the St. Ilona chapel (a 200 m detour from the route), continue left and uphill on the S+ marking at the fork, then after some undulations and several turns, reach the historic Taposó Well. Turning right, we follow the P and S markings and start descending between the basalt stone retaining walls on both sides of the road. From the crossroads, we run back to the start location on the already familiar route.