Mária-út, M01-29 (Kács – Miskolc, Görömböly)

The Mária-út M01-29 is a 24.42-km point-to-point trail in northeast Hungary, climbing +490 m through the forested foothills of the Bükk Hills from the thermal village of Kács to the Miskolc district of Görömböly. Rated difficulty III, with many steep ascents and harder-to-traverse sections, it forms part of Hungary's celebrated Marian pilgrimage network — one of Europe's most distinctive and culturally layered long-distance walking routes.

About the Mária-út, M01-29 (Kács – Miskolc, Görömböly)

The Mária-út (Mary's Way) is Hungary's flagship long-distance pilgrimage trail: a network of waymarked routes connecting Marian shrines, historic chapels, and rural villages across the country and into neighbouring states. Recognised as part of the International Walking Network (IWN), it carries the same institutional standing as the Camino de Santiago or the Via Francigena — routes that define a region's spiritual and cultural walking heritage. The Mária-út was formally established and is maintained by the Mária Út Közhasznú Egyesület, a non-profit association whose members waymark, document, and advocate for the route across every Hungarian county.

Stage M01-29 is the twenty-ninth leg of the M01 main corridor, a full day's walk of 24.42 km that stitches together two very different landscapes. It begins in Kács, a quiet village famed for its sulphurous thermal springs on the southern edge of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County, and finishes in Miskolc-Görömböly — the southwestern district of Miskolc, Hungary's fourth-largest city. Between those two endpoints lies a rewarding traverse through the Bükk hill country: oak and hornbeam forest, pastoral clearings, and the medieval settlement of Kisgyőr with its limestone-bluff castle ruins rising above the valley.

The route is rated difficulty III by the Mária-út association, reflecting multiple sustained climbs, occasional rough underfoot terrain, and sections where trail markings are described as incomplete (hiányosan jelzett). Walkers should download a GPS track and allow extra time for navigation checks on the ridge. With a total ascent of 490 m and descent of 560 m the cumulative elevation movement is moderate — equivalent to climbing a typical alpine valley — but spread unevenly across the day, with the steepest work concentrated between Mocsolyástelep and the Kisgyőr ridge.

As a pilgrimage route, M01-29 is not a technical wilderness trail. Its appeal is a layered walking experience: thermal wellness at the start, deep forest immersion through the middle section, and the practical urban edge of Miskolc at the finish, where restaurants, accommodation, and onward rail connections are readily available. Walkers completing this stage as part of a through-hike on the M01 corridor benefit from the city's infrastructure before pushing north toward the next stage.

Route Overview & Stages

The 24.42 km from Kács to Miskolc-Görömböly can be walked in one day, typically in 6–8 hours depending on pace and stops. The four official waypoints — Kács, Mocsolyástelep, Kisgyőr, and Miskolc-Görömböly — define three natural sub-segments:

The trail is waymarked with the standard Mária-út blue cross symbol on red-and-white striped posts. Marking density thins on the exposed ridge sections between Mocsolyástelep and Kisgyőr — download the GPX file from the official Mária-út website before leaving home. The stage carries a net descent of 70 m overall (490 m up, 560 m down), so legs will feel the accumulation on the final kilometres into Görömböly.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Kács Thermal Springs — The stage opens in the thermal resort village of Kács, where 32°C sulphurous waters have been used for bathing since at least the 18th century. Arriving the evening before to use the baths makes an excellent way to begin the pilgrimage; the thermal pool complex operates year-round.
• Kács-völgy (Kács Valley) — The first kilometres follow a narrow stream valley through mixed oak and hornbeam forest. In spring the valley floor floods with wood anemone and wild garlic; in autumn the canopy turns deep amber above the trail. The valley provides welcome shade on warm summer mornings.
• Mocsolyástelep — A scattered forest-edge settlement roughly a quarter of the way along the route. Mocsolyástelep marks the transition from easy valley walking to the main climb of the stage and is the last reliable water source before Kisgyőr. Rest here and top up bottles before the ascent.
• Bükk Foothills Ridge — Between Mocsolyástelep and Kisgyőr the trail gains its most significant altitude, rewarding the effort with broad views across the Bükk Hills toward the Bükk National Park plateau. The ridge walking here, through open beech and hornbeam stands, is the scenic high point of M01-29.
• Kisgyőr Village — A medieval settlement in the Bükk foothills with a parish church dating to the 14th century. The village square offers a natural rest stop at roughly the 15.5 km mark. A small grocery store operates on weekdays; a rural guesthouse takes walkers wanting to split the stage overnight.
• Kisgyőr Castle (Kisgyőri Vár) — Perched on a limestone bluff above the village, the ruins of Kisgyőr Castle date to the 13th century and were garrisoned during Hungary's Ottoman-era frontier wars. The ten-minute signed detour from the Mária-út waymarks delivers panoramic views across the valley — one of the finest viewpoints on this stage.
• Görömböly-Tapolca District — The trail finishes in the Görömböly neighbourhood of Miskolc, passing close to the city's famous Miskolctapolca Cave Bath — a natural cave system flooded by 30°C thermal water. Walking directly from the trailhead to the cave bath entrance takes under fifteen minutes, making it a fitting reward for completing the 24.42 km.
• Mária-út Pilgrimage Shrines — Roadside Marian shrines and stone wayside crosses appear throughout the route. Many date from the 17th and 18th centuries and are maintained by local parish communities, reminding walkers that this is a living pilgrimage route rather than simply a recreational trail.

Best Time to Hike the Mária-út, M01-29 (Kács – Miskolc, Görömböly)

Northeast Hungary has a continental climate with four well-defined seasons. Each brings different conditions on M01-29:

April–May (spring): Temperatures range from 12–22°C. Forest wildflowers peak in April and early May, and the trail dries out progressively after winter. Expect occasional afternoon thunderstorms and muddy north-facing slopes on the Kisgyőr ridge well into April. Spring is popular with pilgrims beginning through-hikes on the full M01 corridor.

June–August (summer): Warm to hot, with July averaging 26°C across the region. The forest canopy provides significant shade, but the 490 m of climbing feels demanding in heat. Starting before 07:00 avoids the worst midday sun. Tick activity is high from April through September — carry repellent and check skin after passing through tall grass sections in the valley.

September–October (autumn): The best overall conditions. Temperatures drop to a comfortable 10–18°C, the Bükk foothills forest produces outstanding colour as of 2026, and trail surfaces are firm after the summer. Daylight hours remain sufficient for 6–8 hours of walking without early starts. Autumn is also the quietest period on the route outside the summer pilgrimage season.

November–March (winter): Snow is possible from December through February. The steep sections between Mocsolyástelep and Kisgyőr become hazardous when iced, and incomplete marking makes ridge navigation harder. Winter walking is not recommended without microspikes and a downloaded GPS track.

Single best month: October. Comfortable temperatures, autumn foliage at its peak across the Bükk foothills, firm trail surfaces, and reduced crowds combine to make October the optimal time to walk M01-29.

Practical Information

Accommodation

Kács is a tourist village built around its thermal resort, so accommodation at the trailhead is straightforward to find. Several guesthouses and self-catering apartments cluster around the bath complex, with prices typically ranging from 30–55 EUR per night for a double room. Booking ahead is advisable on summer weekends and during public holidays. For walkers wanting to split the stage, Kisgyőr village has a small number of rural guesthouses (szálló / szoba kiadó) at approximately 25–40 EUR per night — call ahead as availability is limited. Wild camping is technically prohibited in the Bükk foothills but tolerated by many forest landowners for discreet single-night stays well away from residential areas.

Miskolc-Görömböly and central Miskolc provide the widest choice at the finish: budget hotels from 35 EUR, mid-range properties from 60 EUR, and the Thermal Hotel Miskolctapolca directly adjacent to the cave bath at around 90–120 EUR per night. The latter is an atmospheric end to the stage if the budget allows.

Getting There & Back

Kács is served by regional bus from Miskolc (line connecting Miskolc–Eger via Kács), with a journey time of approximately 45–55 minutes. Buses run several times daily; check current schedules before travel. Miskolc itself has frequent direct rail connections from Budapest Keleti station, with journey times of 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes depending on the service. From Western Europe, the nearest international airport is Budapest Liszt Ferenc International, approximately 150 km from Miskolc — roughly 2 hours by train or 1 hour 40 minutes by car via the M3 motorway.

Because M01-29 is a point-to-point stage, the most practical logistics are to catch the morning bus from Miskolc to Kács, walk the full stage, and return to the city centre by tram. Miskolc tram line 1 connects Görömböly-Tapolca directly to the city centre and the main railway station in around 20 minutes.

Permits & Fees

No permit is required to walk M01-29. The trail crosses a mix of state forest, agricultural margins, and municipal land — all legally open to walkers on foot. Entry to the Bükk National Park buffer zone, which this stage skirts, is also free. The only costs you will encounter are optional leisure facilities: the Kács thermal bath charges approximately 8–12 EUR entry, and the Miskolctapolca Cave Bath charges around 12–16 EUR. A voluntary donation to the Mária Út Közhasznú Egyesület helps fund ongoing route maintenance and waymarking work.

Gear & Packing List

M01-29 is a single-day stage covering 24.42 km. A 30–45 litre pack comfortably carries layers, water, food, and a first-aid kit. If you are through-hiking the full M01 corridor over multiple days, a 50–65 litre pack gives room for camping gear and spare clothing. Getting the weight right is worth time in advance — read Best Ultralight Backpacks of 2026: 7 Packs Tested and Ranked to find the right pack for your load.

• Pack: For a day walk, the Fjällräven Abisko Hike 35 balances capacity with comfort on mixed forest terrain. Multi-day through-hikers carrying camping gear should consider the Deuter Aircontact Lite 45+10 for a structured framed carry, or the Osprey Aether 65 for heavier overnight loads.
• Footwear: Trail shoes or light hiking boots with ankle support. The steep descents above Kisgyőr and occasional muddy valley sections reward grip and stability over speed.
• Layers: In spring and autumn pack a fleece mid-layer and a packable waterproof shell. The ridge section between Mocsolyástelep and Kisgyőr catches wind even on calm days lower in the valley.
• Navigation: Download the GPX track from mariaut.hu before leaving. Phone signal is intermittent on the ridge; a backup offline map is worth having.
• Water and food: Carry 1.5–2 litres from Kács. The spring at Mocsolyástelep is the last reliable source before Kisgyőr (~6.5 km in). For calorie planning across a full walking day, see How Many Calories Do You Need Hiking a Full Day?
• Tick protection: Long socks, insect repellent, and a tick removal tool. Check thoroughly after passing through tall grass in the Kács-völgy section.
• Pilgrim credential (útlevél): The Mária-út credential booklet can be stamped at churches and participating guesthouses along the route — a meaningful record for anyone completing multiple stages of the network.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the pilgrimage atmosphere, forested hills, and cultural depth of M01-29 appeal to you, Hungary and the wider Central European region offer several comparable long-distance routes. The country's waymarked path network spans the Danube floodplain, limestone uplands, and the Great Plain, giving returning walkers a wide range of terrain to explore after completing Mária-út stages.

• Camino Benedictus (Tihany – Pannonhalma – Lébény – Mosonmagyaróvár – Rajka) — a Transdanubian pilgrimage route connecting Hungary's greatest Benedictine abbeys, with strong parallels to the Mária-út in character and spiritual landscape
• ST307 Nagylók – Mezőfalva — an expert-rated route across the Mezőföld region of central Hungary, suited to experienced distance walkers
• ST311 Kalocsa – Bóni-fok — a Danube-corridor stage through the historic Kalocsa archdiocese, passing paprika farms and Baroque church architecture
• ST202a Čunovo – Lipót — a Danube-island expert route crossing the Slovak–Hungarian border near Bratislava, combining river scenery with agricultural plains
• ST203a Lipót – Győr — continuing the Danube corridor south through the ancient Baroque city of Győr and its riverside historic quarter

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike Mária-út M01-29?

October is the single best month. Autumn temperatures in northeast Hungary sit between 10–18°C, the Bükk foothills forest produces outstanding amber and copper colour, and trail surfaces are dry and firm after the summer. Spring (April–May) is an excellent second choice, with wildflowers in the Kács-völgy and cooler walking conditions on the ascent to Kisgyőr. Avoid December through February unless equipped for icy steep terrain.

How difficult is the M01-29 stage of the Mária-út?

The official rating is difficulty III — characterised by many ascents and harder-to-traverse sections. The trail is not technical but requires solid hill-walking fitness and basic navigation competence. The steepest sustained climb runs roughly 9 km between Mocsolyástelep and Kisgyőr, gaining around 230 m. Incomplete waymarking on ridge sections means a downloaded GPS track is strongly recommended for all walkers.

How many kilometres per day should I plan for on this stage?

M01-29 covers 24.42 km as a single stage and is typically completed in 6–8 hours at a moderate hiking pace. Most walkers treat it as one full day. If you prefer a shorter day, Kisgyőr village at approximately the 15.5 km mark has guesthouse accommodation and provides a natural split point, dividing the stage into roughly 15 km and 9 km halves.

Where can I stay along the Mária-út M01-29 route?

Accommodation is available at both ends and at the midpoint. Kács has thermal resort guesthouses at 30–55 EUR per night. Kisgyőr village offers rural rooms to let at 25–40 EUR; call ahead as capacity is limited. Miskolc-Görömböly and central Miskolc provide the widest choice at the finish, from budget hotels at 35 EUR to the Thermal Hotel Miskolctapolca at 90–120 EUR — directly beside the famous cave bath.

Do I need a permit to hike the Mária-út M01-29?

No permit is required. The entire M01-29 stage is freely accessible on foot and the Bükk National Park buffer zone the route passes through also carries no entry fee. The only costs you will encounter are optional: the Kács thermal bath (approximately 8–12 EUR) and the Miskolctapolca Cave Bath (approximately 12–16 EUR) at either end of the stage. A voluntary donation to the Mária-út association supports ongoing route maintenance.