From the Csesznek start-finish near Várkert Söröző, Bakonyi Mikulás heads straight into the Bakony, feeling like a hard winter outing rather than a polished road event. This is difficult winter terrain in the honest sense: the Ördög-árok is full of fallen trees, and the longer routes are treated as serious tours for experienced runners and hikers.
Expect slow, hands-on going through the Cuha Valley and around Porva-Csesznek, Zirc, and Vinye, with repeated river crossings and climbs onto steep and slippery hillsides. Some sections are recommended only in hiking boots, and with nightfall around 4 PM, a lamp is needed for longer distances, making this a course to respect. Aid is practical: sweets at Mikulás, pizza slices and tea in Zirc, more tea at Porva-Csesznek and Vinye, then tea and cold-cut sandwiches at the finish.