Mária-út, M01-14A (Ördögárok, elkerülő)

The Mária-út M01-14A (Ördögárok, elkerülő) is a waymarked point-to-point bypass stage in Hungary, threading through the forested Buda Hills on the edge of Budapest. Part of the International Walking Network (IWN), this alternate pilgrimage segment routes walkers around the Ördögárok stream valley through shaded woodland, past historic chapels and Marian shrines — accessible for day-hikers and long-distance pilgrims continuing along Central Europe's most celebrated Marian walking route.

About the Mária-út, M01-14A (Ördögárok, elkerülő)

The Mária-út — Hungarian for "Mary's Way" — is Central Europe's most significant Marian pilgrimage trail network, connecting dozens of sacred shrines, chapels, and holy springs across Hungary and into neighbouring countries. Operated by the Mária Út Közhasznú Egyesület, the association has developed an interconnected web of marked routes spanning hundreds of kilometres and linking communities of faith, natural landscapes, and cultural heritage sites. The network holds designation as part of the International Walking Network (IWN), placing it alongside some of the world's most prestigious long-distance footpaths.

The M01 main route is the backbone of the system, running east to west across Hungary and serving as the trunk line from which numbered stages and lettered alternates branch. Stage M01-14A is one of these officially designated alternates: the elkerülő — the bypass. It was developed to offer walkers a practical detour around the M01-14 main corridor, which follows the Ördögárok (Devil's Ditch), a historic stream and canal cutting through the western fringe of Budapest in the Buda Hills district. The bypass rejoins the primary route once the Ördögárok valley section has been skirted, keeping pilgrims on well-marked, accessible terrain regardless of conditions along the stream.

The Ördögárok itself has been part of Budapest's landscape for centuries. Its name — "Devil's Ditch" — reflects both its steep-sided valley character and the folklore attached to the mysterious underground waters that once powered mills along its banks. Today the stream flows through a green urban-fringe corridor in the Budai-hegység (Buda Hills), a beloved weekend retreat for Budapest residents and a protected natural area home to diverse deciduous woodland, spring wildflowers, and abundant birdlife. The M01-14A bypass takes walkers through this same forested highland rather than along the valley floor, offering elevated vantage points and quieter woodland paths.

As part of the IWN-accredited Mária-út, the M01-14A carries trail signage consistent with the wider network: the characteristic Mária-út waymark medallion combined with painted markers on trees and rocks. Route maintenance is coordinated by the trail association and local volunteer groups, and the path is passable year-round for reasonably fit walkers. The bypass designation makes it particularly valuable during spring when Ördögárok stream levels are highest, or whenever the primary M01-14 segment is temporarily restricted.

For pilgrims walking the full M01 from Budapest toward the east, M01-14A is a short but meaningful link in a journey that ultimately connects Hungary's capital with the Marian shrine of Máriapócs in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg county — a distance of well over 500 km. For day-visitors from Budapest, the segment offers a rewarding half-day or full-day excursion into the forested hills immediately accessible by public transport.

Route Overview & Stages

The M01-14A operates as a single bypass segment rather than a multi-day route, picking up from where it diverges from the M01-14 main alignment and rejoining it after the Ördögárok valley section. The terrain is typical Buda Hills walking: moderately rolling forested ridges with periodic short climbs, earth-and-root paths underfoot, and occasional open meadow clearings with westward views across the hills. Navigation relies on the Mária-út waymark system; dedicated signage guides walkers clearly onto and off the alternate path. Detailed GPS tracks and updated stage descriptions are available through the official Mária-út website at mariaut.hu and its downloadable offline maps.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Ördögárok Valley — The "Devil's Ditch" is an atmospheric stream corridor bordered by steep wooded slopes on the western fringe of Budapest. The bypass routes walkers above the valley floor, offering glimpses down into the shaded ravine and the sound of running water from the stream far below — evocative of the landscape's medieval folklore.
• Budai-hegység (Buda Hills) — A protected natural landscape directly adjacent to Budapest, the Buda Hills encompass oak, hornbeam, and beech woodland rising to summits above 500 m. The M01-14A threads through this green lung of the capital, giving walkers a genuine wilderness feel within minutes of the city's outer suburbs.
• Hűvösvölgy (Cool Valley) — A beloved recreational gateway at the foot of the Buda Hills, Hűvösvölgy is where Budapest residents have headed for weekend rambles for generations. The narrow-gauge children's railway (Gyermekvasút) terminates here, providing a charming public transport connection to the city centre.
• Roadside Marian Shrines — Like all segments of the Mária-út, M01-14A passes small wayside shrines — stone niches and painted alcoves, often adorned with fresh flowers and votive candles. These are integral to the spiritual fabric of the route and serve as natural rest-and-reflection points along the bypass.
• Budakeszi Wildlife Reserve — The western edge of the Buda Hills near Budakeszi hosts a protected game reserve where red deer, roe deer, and wild boar are commonly spotted. The forested corridor of the M01-14A passes close to this zone, making early-morning wildlife encounters a genuine possibility.
• Buda Hills Ridgeline Viewpoints — Several clearings and short scrambles onto viewpoint ridges along the bypass reward walkers with sweeping vistas across the Budapest basin. On clear days the Danube is visible as a silver ribbon cutting through the city to the east, with the Hungarian Great Plain stretching to the horizon beyond.
• Szépjuhászné Clearing — A traditional woodland glade in the Buda Hills near the M01 corridor, Szépjuhászné ("Beautiful Shepherdess") is an iconic gathering point with a historic inn and popular walking-route crossroads — often used by Mária-út pilgrims as a restorative lunch stop before continuing the bypass.
• Historic Woodland Chapels — Throughout the bypass, small Catholic chapels dating from the 18th and 19th centuries punctuate the route. Built by local communities to shelter pilgrims on the ancient roads to Marian shrines, these chapels remain actively maintained today and give the route its distinctive sacred character.

Best Time to Hike the Mária-út, M01-14A (Ördögárok, elkerülő)

The Buda Hills enjoy a temperate continental climate with warm, dry summers, cold winters, and two excellent shoulder seasons that represent the prime window for hiking this segment of the Mária-út.

Spring (March–May) brings the Buda Hills to life: wildflowers carpet the forest floor, migratory birds return, and the woodland paths are at their most picturesque. Temperatures range from 10–22 °C — ideal for walking without overheating. The elkerülő bypass is especially valuable in March and April, when snowmelt and rainfall can render the main Ördögárok valley path slippery and waterlogged. May is the single best month for this trail: the canopy is fully leafed out, temperatures are comfortable, and the Mária-út's annual pilgrimage season is in full swing with fellow walkers on the path.

Summer (June–August) is warm to hot, with July temperatures in Budapest occasionally exceeding 35 °C. The forested hillside of M01-14A provides considerably more shade than exposed pilgrimage routes, but carry at least 1.5 litres of water per person and plan early morning starts. As of 2026, heat peaks in late June and July make the May and September windows even more attractive for international visitors arriving from cooler climates.

Autumn (September–October) is the second peak season. The Buda Hills turn spectacular shades of amber and copper, temperatures cool to 12–20 °C, and the trail is dry underfoot. September combines residual summer warmth with the first touches of autumn colour — an exceptional choice for day-walking the bypass.

Winter (November–February) is possible for experienced cold-weather walkers but brings frost, ice, and short days. The forested paths can become treacherous after overnight freezes, and the spiritual atmosphere of the route is very different — stark and meditative rather than inviting. Most visitors wisely save this segment for the warmer months.

Practical Information

Accommodation

As an urban-fringe stage directly accessible from Budapest, M01-14A benefits from the full range of the capital's accommodation options. Budget travellers will find well-rated hostels in central Buda and Óbuda from approximately €15–25 per night. Mid-range hotels in the Zugliget, Hűvösvölgy, and Budakeszi districts — the neighbourhoods closest to the trailhead — run €50–90 per night. Pension-style guesthouses in Budakeszi village, within 3 km of the M01 corridor, typically charge €40–70. For pilgrims walking extended sections of the M01, the Mária-út network maintains a list of pilgrim-friendly accommodation — farmhouses, parish guesthouses, and community halls — many charging €10–20 per night with advance booking through the official trail association.

Getting There & Back

The M01-14A is one of the most transport-accessible segments of the entire Mária-út system. From central Budapest:

• Bus 22 / 222 from Széll Kálmán tér metro station (M2 red line) reaches Budakeszi in approximately 25 minutes.
• Tram 61 connects to Hűvösvölgy terminal in 20 minutes from Széll Kálmán tér.
• Children's Railway (Gyermekvasút) departs from Széchenyi-hegy (reachable by cog-wheel railway from Városmajor) and stops at key Buda Hills trailheads.
• By car, Budakeszi is 15 km west of central Budapest via Route 1 and the M1 motorway. Parking is available at the Budakeszi entrance to the Buda Hills Game Reserve.
• Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport is approximately 35–45 minutes from the Hűvösvölgy area by public transport (metro M3 + metro M2 + tram 61).

For the return leg, the same public transport connections apply. The point-to-point nature of M01-14A means many day-walkers arrange a pick-up at the endpoint or use the bus network to loop back to their start.

Permits & Fees

No permit is required to walk the Mária-út M01-14A. The trail crosses publicly accessible woodland managed by the state forestry authority and the Duna-Ipoly National Park Directorate, which oversees protected natural areas in the Buda Hills. Entry is free of charge. The Mária Út Közhasznú Egyesület issues optional pilgrim passports (útiokmány) for those walking extended sections of the M01 — these can be stamped at participating shrines, churches, and guesthouses along the route as a personal record of the journey.

Gear & Packing List

The M01-14A is a moderate woodland trail accessible to most fitness levels, but good footwear and a sensibly packed day pack make a meaningful difference. Trail runners or lightweight hiking shoes with reliable grip are ideal for the root-and-earth paths of the Buda Hills. Trekking poles are helpful on the steeper bypass sections, particularly after rain.

For day-walkers, a 20–35 L pack is sufficient. Pilgrims integrating this segment into a longer M01 through-hike will want a larger load carrier. Top choices from the HikeLoad gear database:

• Osprey Aether 65 — a fully-featured 65 L pack built for multi-day loads, with excellent ventilation and load-transfer system for longer Mária-út stages carrying camping gear and pilgrim kit.
• Deuter Aircontact Lite 45+10 — a versatile 45–55 L option with a proven Aircontact suspension system, ideal for pilgrims carrying a mixed load on extended M01 sections through varying terrain.
• Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Windrider — for ultralight walkers tackling M01-14A as part of a longer through-hike, this sub-1 kg pack dramatically reduces base weight. See our full comparison in the best ultralight backpacks of 2026 guide.

Always carry at least 1.5 litres of water per person — refill points are limited on the bypass — along with sun protection, a basic first-aid kit, and an offline map. Mobile signal can be patchy in the deeper forested sections. Calorie planning matters too: see our guide on how many calories you need for a full hiking day before setting out on the longer M01 stages.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the Mária-út M01-14A appeals to you, Hungary and the wider region offer several other exceptional waymarked walking routes — from long-distance pilgrimage roads to Danube-corridor multi-day trails. The Camino Benedictus is particularly worth considering for anyone drawn to the spiritual pilgrimage dimension of the Mária-út: it links Tihany Abbey with Pannonhalma Archabbey and continues north through the Hungarian countryside in a journey of comparable cultural depth. For hikers who enjoy the dramatic reward of a hard-won mountain crossing in a completely different European landscape, the Theth to Valbona hike in Albania ranks among the finest point-to-point crossings in the Balkans.

• Camino Benedictus, Tihany–Pannonhalma–Lébény–Mosonmagyaróvár–Rajka — Hungary's Benedictine pilgrimage route linking two of Central Europe's most important abbeys through pastoral countryside.
• ST307 Nagylók – Mezőfalva — an expert-graded trail across Hungary's Great Plain, offering a striking landscape contrast to the forested Buda Hills.
• ST311 Kalocsa – Bóni-fok — a riverside and agricultural expert route near the Danube in southern Hungary, passing through the historic paprika capital of Kalocsa.
• ST202a Čunovo – Lipót — an expert cross-border trail following the Danube floodplain between Slovakia and Hungary, with rich birdlife in the riparian wetlands.
• ST203a Lipót – Győr — an expert stage connecting the Danube corridor to the historic baroque city of Győr in northwestern Hungary.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the Mária-út M01-14A (Ördögárok, elkerülő)?

May is the best single month: temperatures in the Buda Hills sit between 15–22 °C, paths are dry and firm, and the Mária-út pilgrimage season is at its most active. Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) are both excellent windows. The bypass is particularly valuable in March–April when the Ördögárok valley main route can be wet or flooded after snowmelt.

How difficult is the M01-14A bypass?

The M01-14A is a moderate trail suitable for walkers with reasonable base fitness. The Buda Hills terrain involves rolling forested ridges with periodic short climbs but no exposed scrambles or technical sections. Good grip footwear is recommended, particularly in wet conditions. Pilgrims in average health who are comfortable with a half-day's walking should have no difficulty completing this segment.

How far can I expect to walk per day on this trail?

The M01-14A is a single bypass stage rather than a multi-day route. Most walkers complete it comfortably in a half day, with time for shrine rest-stops and viewpoints along the way. Pilgrims integrating it into a longer M01 through-hike typically plan 15–25 km per day across the broader route, adjusted to accommodation availability and personal pace.

What accommodation is available near the M01-14A?

The Budakeszi and Hűvösvölgy areas adjacent to the bypass have pension guesthouses from €40–70 per night. Budapest's full range of hotels, hostels, and apartments is accessible within 30 minutes by public transport. Pilgrims walking the full M01 can access the Mária-út's network of parish guesthouses and community lodgings at €10–20 per night with advance booking through the trail association.

Do I need a permit to walk the M01-14A?

No permit is required. The trail runs through publicly accessible woodland managed by the state forestry authority and the Duna-Ipoly National Park Directorate — both free to enter. The optional Mária-út pilgrim passport (útiokmány), available through the trail association, is not a permit but a personal pilgrimage record that can be stamped at shrines and guesthouses along the route.