Guide to Walking in Hungary - Europe

• Location
• Description
• Contents
• Introduction
• Sample Route
• Maps
• Reviews

The Highlands of Hungary

Every nation projects an image of its landscape to the outside world and in Hungary it is the Great Plain and most visitors to Hungary are unaware that large areas of the country are covered in highlands and rolling hills with deep wooded valleys, high karst meadows and rocky viewpoints. A walk along the ridges of the Mátra and the Börzsöny or the limestone outcrops of the Bükk will dispel the myth that Hungary is a flat country. Hungary’s highland chain of hump-backed mountains, limestone plateaux and buttes was formed by a combination of volcanic activity and the raising of tropical sea bed sediments. There are about 13,000 kilometres (8,025 miles) of tracks and trails in the hills. For centuries they have been used by medieval miners, Turkish janissaries, pillaging Hussites, herders, beekeepers, charcoal-burners and foundry workers. These ancient highways are now a network of walking paths with a system of waymarks first set up in the nineteenth century.

How The Guide Is Organised

This introductory chapter provides practical information about getting to Hungary and what to do on arrival. There is advice on the public transport network, accommodation, maps, the waymarking system, and access. Finally, there are introductions to the natural, social and walking history of the hills.

The routes are set out in the guide by region. For simplicity’s sake the highland areas of Hungary are divided into two main regions: Northern Hungary (north and east of the Danube) including the Aggtelek karst, Börzsöny, Mátra, Bükk and Zemplén; and Transdanubia (west of the Danube), including the Bakony, Balaton Uplands, Buda Hills, Mecsek, Pilis and Vértes. The guide’s map of Hungary shows approximate position each range.

All the major highland groups of Hungary are described in the guide and each range has an introduction including a brief description of the hills and their position, regional history, and useful information about how to get there. Individual route instructions provide a short facts section: a summary of the route; walking distance; which map to buy; local public transport; refreshment stops if any; and, a brief description of the type of walking to be expected. Distances are initially calculated in kilometres. Miles are given in brackets but the conversion has involved rough rounding to the nearest half mile. Alternative routes, diversions and quick escapes are clearly demarcated from the main description by the use of italics. Timings are not given as experience suggests that they depend on the fitness of the walker. The walks are not aimed at the incredibly fit and even the longest route should take no longer than a day at moderate speed. Accompanying the route information is a route map. Every walk stands alone but a few can be linked up to lengthen the route. Hungary’s rich and complex history ensures that the walking passes many interesting features from fortress ruins to beehive stones. With the exception of a sentence here and there in the route description, points of interest are marked bold in the main text and explained at the end of each regional section in order not to disturb the flow.

Finally, the appendices supply an introduction to the Hungarian language - a list of simple words and phrases to help the English speaker get by in rural Hungary; a glossary to aid Hungarian walking map interpretation; and a list of useful addresses.