Signs, Rules, Advices

Last weekend I was hiking in Buda-hills. It was the first organized performance trip I took part in and I’ll post about it next week. Not now, because I feel that I need to share some essential information you definitely need to know before you go to a Hungarian hike. The hiking signs, fire lighting regulations, and rules governing camping in the forest are different in various countries. If you don’t know how to interpret the signs, you can easily get lost; moreover, anyone who violates the rules may be punished. For these reasons, I strongly recommend that you read the following concise post. 

Hiking signs in Hungary are quite easy to remember and understand. These are painted on a 100 X 120 mm white background, using four colors (blue, red, yellow and green). In maps, trails are not indicated with these colors, but you can find capital letters next to them: K, P, S, Z; these are the initials of Hungarian words referring to the color of the particular route. The main and most important trails are indicated with horizontal line or cross . A triangle  is used to show a trail leading to a peak, hilltop, or lookout turret. If you would like to reach a populated area or a shelter house, you need to follow the square . Care for some fresh spring water? Look for the circle,  it leads to a place where you can find potable water! You can also find some special signs indicating caves and ruins . 

Light a fire only if it is permitted in the area you are hiking in. Check this website for information: Click here! (Red means forbidden). If it is allowed, find a built forest “fireplace” or simply form a circle with rocks and light a fire there. Make sure that you extinguished the fire properly before you continue your trip. Pour some water on the ember and cover it with sufficient amount of soil. Remember that even one little spark can cause a huge disaster. 

Finally some words about camping in the wild. Lots of people think that in Hungary it is completely forbidden to set up a tent in the woods and spend a night there. Actually it is not. Obviously, highly protected national parks are exceptions. If you contact a member of a local forestry and want to spend only one night in a particular area, than you may do so. Try to cause minimum harm to nature: Do not litter, do not break branches unnecessarily, and do not throw away your cigarette stub. 

Leave your camping place as if you had not been there. An example of a special hiking sign in Sopron-parkforest. It indicates the "cyclamen-trail". I shot the photo above this morning.