Helyszín címkék:
Still in the saddle in winter: off-road bike routes all over the country
Szabó Sára
Hideg Hill top tour
If you need a shorter and pleasantly strenuous hike, the “Olive H” tour circuit is a great choice. Its length is only 23.5 km, but the difference in altitude is all the more challenging: the tour takes you up to the top of the 385-metre-high Hideg Hill, not far from Pécsely, and this altitude requires serious training, but it can also be completed by e-bike. The surrounding countryside is gently rolling and hilly, so the scenery is spectacular. The Huszár Restaurant in Örvényes is the almost perfect starting and end point for the tour, as it is a fully cyclist-friendly establishment. On the way, if you get hungry, you can stop at the Kuti-Kerti Kisvendéglő (Small Restaurant) in Vászoly for a hunger and thirst-quenching break.
Cycling in the green – or birdwatching on the back of a bike
If the previous route is a bit much, here is a more pleasant tour of South Balaton, with relatively little elevation gain, at around 35 kilometres. It is worth paying attention to the fact that the road is not only on asphalt, because on the Jódi Hill, the terrain is gravel for one and a half km, so we can only cycle carefully here. The loose ground between Alirét and the Cinege rest area can become very slippery in case of rain, so keep your eyes open! The traffic on the road is quite light, so even older children can join in the winter cycling. A special feature is the 350-year-old oak tree with stems, the “Képes-tree”, which is also a popular pilgrim resting place on the road from Alirét to Ságvár.
On the border of three counties – Field land and Somogy country
Would you like to try what it is like to set off from Lake Balaton on a two-wheeled ride that is not the lake circuit? Our offer is a longer (78 kilometres), but definitely steep route along the Sió River, where you can ride your iron horse on beautiful hills, enjoying the beauty of nature. As for the terrain, the road is very varied, mostly asphalt, but there are also some grassy, sandy stretches, so it is pleasant to ride in winter. It is also worth paying attention to the more dangerous parts here, as the sand between Lajoskomárom and Ozora gets deeper in drier weather, making the tour more difficult. As water is scarce on the line, it’s a good idea to fill up your canteens before you set off, if you can!
Reservoir-spring-lookout circle in the Mátra
At around 34 kilometres, the section has 570 metres of climbing and can be described as a moderately difficult route, but the view at the end will make up for everything.
The march starts from Mátraszentlászló. If you want to spend the night there, check out the bike-friendly Kétkerék Guesthouse, which not only offers accommodation but also bike rental. If the weather is good, we recommend a short detour to the Vörös-kő lookout, from where you can enjoy a magnificent panorama. In the Mátra mountains, you can roll on mostly rocky and forest terrain, so the tour can be easily completed in winter, as well. A good stop is the Ágasvári tourist house, from where you can head towards the Hasznosi Reservoir, where you can visit the Hasznosi Castle, which has a history of more than 700 years, the Buddha Park in Tar, and then continue cycling towards the Csevice Spring and then through the valley towards the Tuzson Arboretum. To wind down, head for the Ágasvári tourist house, and at the end, you can reach Mátraszentimre, where, if you are hungry by the end of the trip, you can have a good meal at the Vöröskő restaurant to recharge your batteries.
