The West Coast route running from Rudbøl to Skagen offers some of Denmark’s most beautiful sights with its own impressive, tough and thought-provoking scenery. With the wind blowing in from south-west and the scent of seaweed and brine, you sense the changing landscape from the South West Jutland coastal mudflats (the Wadden Sea area) to the undulating dunes and broad sandy beaches following the route all the way to Skagen. You can feel and sense the grandeur and power of the sea all along the route and, if you visit one of the numerous local history museums, get an idea of how the inhabitants once struggled to secure the essentials in life and nature’s endless fight against the North Sea.

National route no. 1 in brief

You can cycle in either direction, but due to the prevailing west or south-west wind you might prefer to go in the south-north direction.

The North Sea route is 550 km long, one-third of which is gravel or stone dust tracks. So you should take care not to use tyres that are too thin. The rest of the route is tarmacked. Large stretches of the route are running along own tracks where cars are not allowed to go. There are no ascents, and the route is charming and varied – truly a route for the whole family.

You need these country maps if you choose this route and want to cover it all: South Jutland, Ribe, Ringkjøbing, Viborg and North Jutland.

The countryside from Rudbøl to the Skaw

From Rudbøl to Esbjerg you will be going through the Danish part of the Wadden Sea (Vadehavet) – a very special landscape that is neither sea nor terra firma. The landscape is incredibly beautiful, and there is ample opportunity to see the special fauna and bird life.

Wadden Sea Centre and Mandøhuset offer fine exhibitions about the coastal mudflats and the marshland. Or you can observe nature close up by going on one of the guided tours with a Ranger. A trip to the coastal mudflats in your sea boots to the mussel beds with a Nature Guide will be a highly educational experience.

When you say the North Sea and sand beaches, you must also say amber. Amber is the gold of the sea and has a long history in Denmark. If you are lucky, you may find your own amber one morning after a good storm – otherwise you will just have to look at it in one of the marvellous amber museums in, for instance, Oksbøl, Sønderlev or Skagen.

Along the coast

From Blåvandshuk and all the way to Skagen – going along the entire west coast, you will see moors, dunes, plantations and broad sand beaches. This stretch is one of the preferred holiday areas in Denmark, but thanks to a diligent coast protection law in Denmark, you scarcely notice it. The holiday houses and camping sites lie snuggled up to the coast, at you will see no tower blocks or hotel-covered stretches à la Mallorca.

The trip along the North Jutland coast is a study in itself. The forces of the sea and the shifting of the sands can be observed at the scenic phenomena Rubjerg Knude, Svinkløve, Skallerup kirke and Råbjerg Mile. In the new Skagen Odde Nature Centre, whose buildings were designed by the famous architect Jørn Utzon, you can see an exhibition on sand, water, wind and light.

Attractions along the way

Meet the Vikings along National route no. 1. Ribe is where you will find Museet Ribes Vikinger and, if you go a little further than Ribe, you will find Ribe Vikingecenter, an open-air museum with working ”Vikings” in the summer period.

The history of the area may be explored in one of the many local history museums, several of which have been set up in old life saving stations, as for instance in Nymindegab. Visiting interesting places such as Abelines gård and Nørre Lyngvig fyr (a lighthouse) adds fine impressions and historic information to your impression of this particular part of Denmark.

Denmark’s most famous fine art originated in Skagen. Among the Skagen artists are the world-famous Anne and Michael Ancher and P.S. Krøyer. The pictures painted by the Skagen artists can be admired at Skagens Museum and in Anne og Michael Anchers Hus.

The fishermen and the sea

Holmsland Klit is a 40 km long tongue separating Ringkjøbing fjord from the North Sea. Here you can practically see water on both sides. Hvide Sande is the town where the fishing industry still flourishes, and the throbbing activity at the harbour and the newly caught fish is always worth stopping for.

A scenic fishing culture can still be seen further north in Vorupør, where the characteristic blue fishing boats are still drawn ashore and in Skagen, where the harbour and the fishing culture make Skagen one of the most known holiday towns in Denmark. To see the more active and modern fishing, you should go to Hirtshals and Hanstholm, where it is possible to go to a fishing auction.

The fauna of the sea can be seen several places along the route: in Jyllands Akvariet in Hvide Sande, Nordsøakvariet in Nørre Vorupør, Fisheries and Maritime Museum in Esbjerg and the North Sea Museum in Hirtshals.

National route no. 1 is a scenic tour full of interesting things to see and witness. And best of all – the sea is never too far to go for a quick swim.

For those who do not know Denmark, cycle route no. 2 is a good introduction. The tour will take you through a cross section of the Danish countryside, from the sea, fjords, winding valleys, fertile fields and green forests.

National route no. 2 in brief

All in all: a 420 km-long varied tour, about 20% of which is unmetalled roads in the form of tracks and forest roads. The rest is tarmacked. You can go in either direction, but if you wish to avoid the prevailing westerlies in summer, you might prefer to go in the direction from Hanstholm towards Copenhagen. There are several short stretches of 2-4km, where the route runs along normal roads with some car traffic, however mostly in the northern part of Sealand.

You need these maps if you are going all the way: Viborg, Århus, West Sealand, Frederiksborg and Copenhagen.

Hanstholm - Viborg

From Hanstholm you are going along a bird sanctuary in the direction of the island Mors. A beautiful trip across Mors will lead you further through the Limfjord landscape to the soft valley of Jutland.

Crossing Salling from Glyngør to Skive you will see rural Denmark surrounding the towns. Both Mors and the peninsula Salling in Limfjorden has an interesting local history which can be studied in the local history museums along the route. The road towards Viborg runs along Hjarbæk Fjord, and between Viborg and Randers you will cycle on nice asphalt on disused railway tracks. Viborg is worth stopping for to see its charming centre, fine shopping and dining places, and you should visit Viborg Cathedral.

Randers – Horns Herred

On your way to Randers in the beautiful Nørreådal, you will suddenly see the strange structure ”Ø” emerge, as a small mountain placed in the wrong scenery.

In Randers you will find Randers Regnskov, where tropical animals and plants live in natural surroundings. But also Randers Kunstmuseum, Kulturhus and Kulturhistorisk museum are interesting breaks.

The route continues around the Djursland peninsula where there are fine beaches near Bønnerup and Gjerrild, and where beautiful manors such as Sostrup, Mejlgård and Fussingø embellish the landscape on your way to Grenå, where you have to go by ferry to Sealand.

Before going by the ferry, you should not miss Kattegat Centret showing all fishes in Denmark, including the types of sharks that live in the Danish waters.

Sjællands Odde – Copenhagen

From Sjællands Odde you continue towards Copenhagen. The tour is scenic and varied with a few more ferry trips before you get to Hornsherred with the 1000-year oaks: Storkeegen, Snogeegen and Kongeegen. The latter is still living and is estimated to be between 1,400 and 1,900 years old.

Having passed through Nørreskoven you will cross Kronprins Frederiks Bro on your way to Frederikssund. The route winds on through Denmark’s largest subglacial stream trenches, where the meltwater of the Ice Age has cut deep trenches through the landscape. The route continues through small forests and along lakes and, in a slightly hilly country, to the source of Mølleåen at Bastrup-søerne.

From Farum and the last 20km to the Copenhagen town hall square you follow cycle tracks running along large roads. Copenhagen is the city of cyclists. It is easy to find your way on a bicycle and you are certainly not alone, because one third of all trips in Copenhagen each day are made on bicycles. In Copenhagen you should spend a few days seeing, tasting – well, just enjoying – the city.

For over 1,000 years, travellers have been using this north-south route along the Jutland Ridge between Viborg in the north and Padborg in the south. The route has since been extended further north to Skiveren in North Jutland.

National route no. 3 in brief

The route is 450km long, about 22% of which is unmetalled. The rest of the route is tarmacked. You can go in either direction and follow small county roads, forest roads and field lanes. You need these country maps if you choose this route and want to cover it all: North Jutland, Viborg and South Jutland to cover the entire route..

The past revisited

Hærvejen is a must, and you will sense the presence of history all along the route. Hærvejen is part of the European pilgrims’ route starting in Trondhjem in Norway and ending in Santiago de Compostella in Spain.

Along the entire route, burial mounds, Vikings, runic stones and medieval churches tell their story. The scenery is incredibly beautiful and varied in the way you want it to be on a cycle tour: new impressions each time you turn a new corner. Magnificent beech forests on the eastern side of the ridge and vast moors on the western side. Add to this the distinctive areas such as Tversted plantage, Dollerup bakker, Rebild bakker, Tolne bakker and the beautiful Vrads Sande, Randbøl Hede, Pebermosen and Vejle Ådal – just to mention a few.

Attractions along the route

Going on national route no. 3 you can supplement your knowledge of the area by visiting some of the vast number of beautiful churches which used to be well-attended by the pilgrims. You might for instance go to see Øster Nykirke, which is the most elevated church in Denmark – 127m above sea level. In 1150-1200 people would flock to the church to drink from the curative spring which is still there opposite the church, although nobody today believes the water has any curative effect. The spring in Vorbasse was once a well-known destination for pilgrims as well.

The birthplace of Denmark

Close to the church in Jellinge you will find Denmark’s most well-known runic stone, which was erected by Gorm den Gamle and Harald Blåtand about 900 A.D. The stones are the oldest proof of Denmark’s name and the introduction of Christianity in Denmark. Opposite the stone you can see the two burial mounds named Gorms høj and Thyras høj. There are visible signs of the cultural history in many places, for example in the form of mounds and bronze age mounds at Røverhøje, Klebæk høje, Firhøje, Lokes Høje, Mannehøj, Sturbøl Plantage and Hjulgraven near Hjordkær. You can also see engraved runic stones at Bække Kirke, Rygbjergstenen at Randbøl Hede and Hærulfstenen at Hovslund.

There is art to see along Hærvejen too: the North Jutland Art Museum in Aalborg, Hjørring Art Museum and Ibsen’s Collection of Modern Art in Hobro. Tørskind grusgrav contains a selection of impressive landscape sculptures made by the well-known Danish sculptor Robert Jacobsen. An intriguing innovation that created quite a stir among artists and something of a sensation in Denmark as a whole.

From the sandy beaches and dunes of the North Sea, this route continues towards the modern city of Copenhagen – most likely with the wind behind you, as westerlies and south-westerlies are the prevailing winds in Denmark.

National route no. 4 in brief

The route is 310km long, and only about 10% of the route is unmetalled. The rest is tarmacked. You can go in either direction and follow small country roads, forest roads and field lanes. You need these country maps to cover the entire route: Ringkøbing, Århus, West Sealand, Roskilde and Copenhagen.

The Lake District of central Jutland

From the flat sandy agricultural fields of Jutland, the route now crosses Jutland over Denmark’s highest point, which is 160m above sea level, to Søhøjlandet in the central part of Jutland, which offers Denmark’s highest concentration of forests and small and great lakes in a charming and varied scenery.

Søhøjlandet is a centre of scenic sights and it seems obvious to spend a few days in this area. You really should visit the towns Silkeborg, Ry and Skanderborg, including the Aqua Freshwater Aquarium, Silkeborg Museum of Art, and go for a trip on the old paddle steamers on the lakes, paddle a canoe from one of the numerous canoe rentals, go to Himmelbjerget, Denmark’s highest point, and much more.

From ”the world’s smallest city” to the ”world’s most charming capital”
After Søhøjlandet, the next destination is Århus, known as “the world’s smallest city”, where you can enjoy the cosy café scene in the city’s charming old streets with abundant shopping opportunities and a rich cultural life. Århus Concert Hall, Den Gamle By, which is one of the finest open-air museums in North Europe, and the beautiful city centre are places you should see. Århus is also a university city, and you sense the great number of young people in the city and their influence on the café and music scenes.

From Århus you can go by ferry to Kalundborg. In Kalundborg you can see the special five-tower church and then proceed quietly to Roskilde through small forests. Roskilde is the old town of the kings, and no less than 38 monarchs are buried there. The famous Viking museum with workshops and Viking ships sailing on the fjord is worth seeing.

From Roskilde you go on towards Copenhagen, where the route will take you easily all the way to the Town Hall Square. Copenhagen is the city of cyclists. It is easy to find your way on a bicycle and you are certainly not alone, because one third of all trips in Copenhagen each day are made on bicycles. In Copenhagen you should spend a few days seeing, tasting – well, just enjoying – the city.

The East Coast route clings as a fine lace edging along the east coast of Jutland all the way from Skagen to Sønderborg. Going along fjords, round bays and peninsulas, alternating between towns and the countryside, this route is particularly interesting. As you will never be far from the sea, you can go swimming anytime.

The east coast is ornamented with small towns like beads on a string with 30-35km between them. Most of the fjord towns are small provincial tows with a historic centre, offering charming accommodation and a variety of sights.

In the northern part of the route all of the towns were originally fishing hamlets, and fishing is still important for those towns.

National route no. 5 in brief

National route no. 5 is particularly suited to those who want much more than just cycling. Due to the many stops on the route, you will need at least a fortnight’s holiday to cover the 650km.

You can go in either direction. The route follows small roads, forest roads and field lanes and tracks. For instance disused railway tracks that are now the nicest of cycle tracks – such as the stretches between Aalborg and Hadsund and between Stentoft and Åbenrå. About 9% of the route is unmetalled, the rest is tarmacked.

The route is relatively hilly, and those who think Denmark is a flat country will have to think twice once they have cycled along this route! If you wish to make the trip shorter by using public transport, you can take your bicycle on the train between Sønderborg and Kolding and between Kolding and Århus.

You need these country maps to cover the entire route: South Jutland, Vejle, Århus and North Jutland.

The focus in on culture

National route no. 5 is one of Denmark’s cultural routes. No place is as well supplied with art museums, etc. as the east coast of Jutland: Grenen Museum of Art in Skagen, Anne og Michael Anchers Hus in Skagen, Frederikshavn Museum of Art, Århus Museum of Art, Vejle Museum of Art, Trapholt Museum of Art in Kolding and Brundlund Castle in Åbenrå.

Beautiful manors characterise the scenery especially on Djursland and around Århus. The manors Sostrup, Mejlgård, Fussingø, Rugård and Katholm are but a few examples.

Attractions along the route

There are so many sights along the route that it is difficult to single out a few.
A few highlights are Kattegat Centret in Grenå and Fregatten Jylland, a restored 3-mast warship from 1960, which lies in the harbour of Ebeltoft. There is also a glassware museum (Glasmuseet) in Ebeltoft. Den Gamle By in Århus, Moesgård forhistoriske museum in the Marselisborg forest south of Århus, Koldinghus slotsruin, a castle which has been carefully restored and unites new and old in an most successful manner.

Skamlingsbanken and Dybbøl Banke memorials, testifying to the Danish-German borderland, and Sønderborg Castle at Flensborg Fjord.

You can also choose to focus on fine dining. You will find a number of good restaurants along the entire route, especially in the many towns along the coast. Denmark has many regional dishes, especially in North Jutland and in South Jutland. You can find fish dishes everywhere. Dining need not be expensive - the choice is all yours.

On this direct route from Esbjerg to Copenhagen, you will see beautiful Danish farmlands. Cows grazing and pigs running free, rippling cornfields and numerous farms as well as manors and castles. Agriculture past and present is still visible all over Denmark, and on this route you will see a good cross-section, from the lean land in West Jutland, where hard-working farmers toiled, to the more fertile farmlands on Funen and Sealand, where wealthy landowners and the nobility have left their mark on the region.

National route no. 6 in brief

The route is 325km long, and cyclists will usually prefer to go from Esbjerg to Copenhagen to avoid the prevailing westerlies. Only 7% of the route is unmetalled, the rest is tarmacked. The route follows small county roads, cycle tracks, forest roads and field lanes. The route is flat with the exception of the central part of Sealand, which is slightly hilly.

You need these country maps to cover the entire route: Ringkjøbing Amt, Vejle Amt, Fyns Amt, Vestsjællands Amt, Roskilde Amt and Copenhagen.

Attractions along the route

The tour through the beautiful landscape is interrupted by a number of interesting provincial towns such as Kolding, Odense, Slagelse and Roskilde.

All of these towns have attractions worth stopping for. In Kolding you can see and admire the impressive, recently restored castle ruin Koldinghus, uniting new and old in a unique manner. Outside Kolding is the Trapholt Museum of Art, which, given its beautiful location and relaxed atmosphere, is an interesting place to visit for children as well as adults – even if you are just wearing cycle shorts!

In Odense, the Hans Christian Andersen Museum, the writer’s childhood home and the new culture centre for children, Fyrtøjet (“The Tinderbox”), are absolute musts. Fyrtøjet is a beautiful and interesting house entirely equipped for children. It offers travels into Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales and stories through tales, dramatic games, a get-up and make-up saloon, a pictorial art studio and music. I have heard children saying that Fyrtøjet is as good as Denmark’s most well-known attractions for children, such as Legoland and the Tivoli Gardens.

In Odense, you can also go to Den Fynske Landsby, Jernalderbyen (Iron Age Settlement) and Odense Zoo. Those interested in art might wish to go to the fascinating Brandts Klædefabrik, which shows varying exhibitions, and Odense Museum of Art.

Follow in the footsteps of the Vikings

Near Slagelse on Sealand, you can stop at Trelleborg Museum, which tells the story of the Viking castle of the same name. In summer, there are numerous activities, especially aimed at children, which bring the Vikings to life for us today. If you really wish to do something to make your children learn more about the Vikings or bring your own knowledge up to date, you should take a closer look at the famous Viking Museum in Roskilde. The museum, which exhibits excavated Viking ships, also has workshops and offers sailing trips on board a Viking ship on the fjord. You can both see and learn hands-on about the life of the Vikings.

Once arrived in Copenhagen, you have numerous possibilities – enough for several weeks! But if all you have is a couple of days, you should probably concentrate on the Tivoli Gardens, Nyhavn, Rosenborg, Rundetårn, Amalienborg and a canal tour. Although you will also find outstanding museums such as Glyptoteket, Thorvaldsens museum, Nationalmuseet and Statens museum for kunst.

 
National route no. 7 is absolutely ideal for families with children of any age. Along the route are some of Denmark’s most appealing attractions for children, such as Sommerland Sjælland near Højrup, BonBon Land outside Næstved, Sommerland Falster on Falster and Marielyst Aqua Park, also on Falster.

National route no. 7 in brief

The route is 230km long and very safe in terms of traffic, which makes it ideal for children. Ten per cent of the route is unmetalled, the rest is well tarmacked.

If you prefer unmetalled roads, you can combine national route no. 7 with, for instance, two regional stretches at Isefjordvejen and Jyderupvejen – and there will be no cars at all on the track. The route is completely flat except for a hilly stretch around the Tystrup Bavelse lakes in the central part of Sealand. You can go in either direction.

If you need to get to and leave the route using public transport, you can take the train to and from Nykøbing Sjælland and to and from Nykøbing Falster. By doing so, you will cut out the first and the last sections of the route, making it slightly shorter than 230km. You need these country maps to cover the entire route: Vestsjællands Amt and Storstrøms Amt.

Attactions along the route

The route crosses arable land and small forests and goes along lakes and the coast. The area around the Tystrup-Bavelse lakes is particularly beautiful, given the big lakes and the hilly country. Having passed the lakes, the route and the Suså wind in and out to where the stream runs out into the sea near Næstved.

North of Næstved in Fensmark you can see the famous Holmegård Glasværker and watch the glassblowers shape and blow glass, making the world-famous Holmegård Glas, now part of Royal Copenhagen. Right after Næstved you will see the peninsula Gaunø and Gaunø Slot, which has gorgeous flower gardens, an abbey church and butterflies. You can spend hours in the park, studying the hothouses where tulips and daffodils are grown on a large scale. Visiting Gaunø is particularly marvellous during spring in the tulip season, as thousands of tulips will be in bloom at that time of the year.

The route continues along Dybsø fjord over the peninsula Svinø to Vordingborg, situated beautifully at Storstrømmen – the water dividing Sealand and Falster. In Vordingborg you can climb up into the town landmark, Gåsetårnet, which is the last remains of a castle and defences built by Valdemar Atterdag in 1362-65 to protect the town against the Wends. There is a magnificent view from the tower of the town and the river Storstrømmen.

Falster

The bridge Storstrømsbroen takes you to Falster. You can cycle on the bridge, where the view is marvellous. The flat farmland on Falster makes the trip to Nykøbing Falster easy. Nykøbing is a lively town with charming pedestrian streets and cosy restaurants.

The trip ends in Gedser, but if you wish to see the southernmost point of Scandinavia, you should continue a couple of kilometres further down to Gedser Odde, where a stone marks the point. You can also get a view of the point from Gedser Fyrtårn. It is possible to sail from Gedser to Rostock in Germany and perhaps continue along the Copenhagen-Berlin route to Berlin.

The route starts at Rudbøl in the west on the Danish-German border and crosses Denmark to the island of Møn on Sealand – known for its fabulous white chalk cliffs.

The first part of the route is characterised by the borderland and its history, which both unites and divides the two cultures. The rest of the route is characterised by the sea, the fjords, the many islands and the small ferries. You could almost describe the route as an island-hopping tour, as you will be crossing no fewer than 9 islands.

National route no. 8 in brief

The route, which is 360km long, is fairly flat and includes several cosy ferry trips. Only 5% is unmetalled, and you may go in either direction. It follows small county roads, forest roads and lanes, tracks and cycle tracks. You need these country maps to cover the entire route: Sønderjyllands Amt, Fyns Amt and Storstrøms Amt.

A good place to start is Rudbøl Grænsekro. This inn serves good regional dishes from South Jutland. This is an interesting area for dining, and a lot of the old dishes and specialities may still be had, making meals a pleasant treat.

Once you have decided to leave Rudbøl, the next stop will be Møgeltønder and Schackenborg, where the very popular Danish Prince Joachim lives with his wife, Princess Alexandra, and their son, Nicolai. The palace garden may be visited by guided tour on certain days. Møgeltønder is a charming little town, whose main street is protected from development.

The next stop is Tønder, an extremely cosy town with an adorable centre and fine shopping opportunities. From Tønder, the route takes you to Padborg, where you will be cycling on the Gendarmestien to Hørup Hav, a little distance from Sønderborg. The track follows Flensborg fjord so closely that you feel you are almost going in the water. At Dybbøl Banke you will see the redoubts, Historiecenter Dybbøl Banke and Dybbøl Mølle, relics of the Danish-German wars of 1864.

Once in Sønderborg, you will be captivated by the lovely situation of the town on the seaside and the beautiful Sønderborg slot, which is now a museum and a natural starting point for exploring the plentiful sights of this small town.

Cyclists just love South Funen

The route passes Als and continues on to Fynshav, where you may go by ferry to Bøjden on the island of Funen. The southern part of Funen is a lovely cycling area. The route runs along the coast and one fabulous view after another reveal the numerous small islands scattered across the waters. Fåborg and Svendborg are another two gems, both with well-preserved urban environments and exquisite cultural sights, including the Danish COBRA artists at Fåborg Museum or the Maritim Center in Svendborg, from where you may go on a day trip on an old wooden ship. There is a bridge between Fyn and Tåsinge, where you proceed through the town of Troense. Valdemarslot is certain to take your breath away.

Another bridge leads from Tåsinge to Langeland. Here there is ample opportunity to make a detour either to the northern or southern part of the island before going by ferry to Lolland.

Lolland-Falster

If you like flowers and parks, an interesting small detour takes you to Frederiksdal Naturcenter and Købelevhaven to the north of the route. Otherwise, just continue to Nakskov, which is a well-preserved, 700-year old little town. You may take the mail boat from Nakskov around Nakskov fjord, go on a trip to the fjord with a ranger or visit the Whiskey class U359 Russian submarine, where modern technology allows you to sense what it must have been like during the cold war.

The Pederstrup manor, the setting of Rewentlovmuseet, Søholt Park and the romantic manor park at Fuglsang provide an introduction to the country-house ambiance of these islands.The small harbours at Bandholm and Kragenæs offer excellent opportunities to take a trip to one of the small islands, such as Femø or Fejø, where you can feel what it is like to live on a desert island.

Probably the greatest attraction in Lolland is the impressive Knuthenborg Safari Park. Designed in the English style, the park has a miniature castle, typical houses, a bird park and a swan lake surrounded by trees and flowerbeds. You will meet exotic and wild animals from all over the globe in the huge open areas. Cyclists need to take the bus through those areas where vehicles are required.

The white cliffs of Møn

Leaving Nykøbing F, the route winds north to Stubbekøbing where there is a ferry to Bogø. Cross the dam from Bogø to Møn, which is a gem in the Baltic and offers many wonderful sights. Klintholm Gods and Liselund Slot with their beautiful parks make you feel like going on a picnic or excursion.
Møns Klint is one of the most characteristic sceneries in Denmark. The cliff, almost 8km long and made of chalk, is about 100m high at its peak. Whether you are standing on the beach looking up or you are on the top looking down, you are bound to get a sinking feeling. Not only is the dramatic cliff a sight in itself, but the nearby forest and the open landscape is also very interesting. The legend of the cliff king will no doubt excite the imagination of children. The beach is rather stony and the strong current makes the sea unsuitable for swimming.

The cultural theme of this route is already evident in Elsinore, the town where famous Kronborg Castle lies on the Baltic’s narrowest strait between Denmark and Sweden. The first half of the route offers many cultural gems, whereas the second offers an interesting cultural scenery with castles and manors and beautiful views of nature with fjords, bridges and bays – typical of the islands.

National route no. 9 in brief

The route is 250km long and easy as there are no hills. Eight per cent of the route is made up of unmetalled roads, mostly however on the last stretch on Lolland (Holebystien). The route runs along small county roads, forest roads and lanes and tracks. You may go in either direction, and there are excellent train connections, where you may take your cycle with you – from the start or the end in Elsinore and Rødby. You need these country maps to cover the entire route: Frederiksborg Amt, Københavns Amt, Roskilde Amt og Storstrøms Amt.

North Sealand - Copenhagen

From Elsinore the route follows the Sealand coastline towards Copenhagen, taking you through fashionable North Sealand with its gorgeous villas along the coast, built around the well-preserved fishing hamlets of earlier days. And there is ample opportunity to jump off your bike. Humlebæk is where you will find the fantastic Louisiana art museum, which has sculptures, pictorial art and a variety of exhibitions. This is also the part of Sealand where you will find the Karen Blixen museum – and you may easily spend a whole day visiting these two places.

Later, you will pass Dyrehaven, which is a huge forest area where the Danish Kings used to go hunting. The Eremitageslottet hunting seat offers a view onto the Sound and the plain where red deer proudly stroll together with the many walking, running and cycling visitors in the forest. This is also where you will find the world’s oldest amusement park, Bakken, which is a must for children and simple souls.

On your way to Copenhagen you will pass Eksperimentariet, a modern exhibition centre where you can learn about scientific phenomena and many other things through experimenting, playing and learning.
The route circles Copenhagen, but you may of course make a detour into the city, which is a safe place to go by bike.

Køge-Vordingborg

Køge, a well-preserved old town with cosy restaurants and good music venues, is situated south of Copenhagen. From there, the route passes through the small forests of South Sealand where there are several beautiful manors. This area is the most varied one could possibly hope for on a cycling tour. Vallø Slot, Thurebyholm Slot and Nysø Slot are examples of the castles that have contributed to influencing the development and appearance of this region. Today, Nysø Slot is fitted out in memory of the famous sculptor, Bertel Thorvaldsen. In the 19th century, the artists of the time would meet here.

In Vordingborg, you may climb up into the town’s landmark, Gåsetårnet, which is the last remains of a castle and defences built by Valdemar Atterdag in 1362-65 to protect the town against the Wends. There is a magnificent view from the tower over the town onto Storstrømmen.

Falster

The Storstrømsbroen bridge will lead you to Falster. It is permitted to cycle on the bridge, which offers marvellous views. The trip across Falster and Guldborgsundbroen to Lolland is a charming and easy stretch. Maribo is a fine little provincial town on Maribo lake, where you may swim in the clear water. You should also enjoy a trip on Anemonen, take a look at the cathedral and the open-air museum in Maribo. You might also make a detour along Regional Route no. 30 to the impressive Knuthenborg Safari Park, probably Lolland’s greatest attraction.

South of Maribo is an area covering 1,100 hectares with a maze of lakes, called Maribosøerne. The route follows tracks along the lakes. The disused railway between Maribo and Rødby has been laid out as a cycle track called Holebystien and offers a nice, peaceful and safe stretch to your goal in Rødby. You should stop in Holeby to see the Historisk Arbejdende Værksted, where old traditions in the blacksmith and engineering trades are cherished.

There is a train connection from Rødby to Copenhagen, or you may continue by ferry to Puttgarden in Germany and further on from there.

The sun, the cliffs to the north and the long, broad sand beaches to the south make the rocky island of Bornholm something very special. Distances are short on Bornholm, and you will find that the artistic, handicraft and decorative art attractions, fine swimming opportunities and the natural sights are in a class of their own. Bornholm has some of the best cycling tracks in Denmark.

Bornholm is situated in the middle of the Baltic, and there are several ways of arriving on the island – all of which, however, involve a ferry or a plane. Read more about the practicalities on www.bornholminfo.dk

National route no. 10 in brief

The route is 105km long, but there are so many possible detours that you may easily spend a week, or even two, cycling on Bornholm. 10% of the route is unmetalled, while the rest of the route follows tarmacked tracks, small county roads, forest roads and lanes. The route is slightly to very hilly on the north of the island and absolutely flat on the south side. You may follow the route in either direction.

This is the only place in Denmark where the signs are different from the blue signs with red/white numbers. On Bornholm, the route signs are green, displaying the number 10 in red. One map, Bornholms Amt covers the entire island.

Northern Bornholm

If you start in Rønne and go north clockwise towards Allinge, you will get to the hilly part first. From Rønne, a nice cycling track leads you to Hasle through Blykobbe Plantage. North of Hasle you pass two small fishing hamlets, Helligpeder and Teglkås. The small vehicular road ends at Ginesminde, but the cycle track continues up through some of the island’s most impressive rocky coasts, over a 115m long staircase, which is, however, difficult to pass with a trailer and very heavy luggage.

On your way, you will pass Jons Kapel with steep, vertical mountain sides sloping towards the sea, the great granite quarry in Ringebakkerne, the fishing hamlet of Vang and Slotslyngen near the castle ruins of Hammershus at the northernmost point of the island. There are deep gorges alternating with magnificent views along the coast, and when the weather is clear over Hammervandet towards Skåne, you can see the old Danish landscape – now part of Sweden.

The characteristic beauty of the east coast of Bornholm, from Allinge to Svaneke, is something very typical of the island: prehistoric memories, a fantastically impressive rocky coast, obscure, cool rift valleys cutting into the country from the coast. And Allinge, Gudhjem and Svaneke – the three old towns that have all grown around a natural rocky harbour.

Southern Bornholm

Having visited Svaneke, you go on through Årsdale, Neksø and Snogebæk, approaching the southernmost point, Dueodde, which consists of kilometre after kilometre of the finest white sand. The water is well suited for children, and getting the children away from this place will be difficult. Leaving Dueodde you will proceed through farmland back to Rønne.

Bornholm’s fishing culture is reflected everywhere, although fishing no longer plays a dominant role on the island. Smoked herring is the national dish on Bornholm, and you can get it fresh and warm all through summer in one of the many smokehouses. There are herring smokehouses in Hasle, Allinge, Gudhjem, Årsdale, Svaneke, Nexø, Vestre Sømark and Arnager. All have set up outdoor facilities with benches and tables where you may sit and relish your herrings.

Bornholm is a national gem and a truly attractive holiday island. I do not know anybody who has not been captivated by the island, and I always recommend others to go there on their next holiday.

The landscape of the Limfjord is constantly changing. In some places water and land imperceptibly become one. In other places the coastal cliffs stand sharp and sheer, rising proudly against the waves of the fjord.
There are many sights to see along the Limfjord Route, and at several points you can find cliffs of special geological interest. There are also plenty of opportunities along the fjord to take an enjoyable and interesting break. Alternatively you can make a detour to one of the islands that are dotted like pearls in the waters of the Limfjord.
The Limfjord Route takes you through a landscape of fertile hills and fjord stretching as far as the eye can see, while in the fields animals graze in peace and tranquility. The Limfjord Route takes you through small, charming villages but also some larger towns where you can do some sightseeing. Enjoy the smell of the fresh wind blowing over the waters of the Limfjord and also the beaches which might even tempt you to take a refreshing dip.

The Limfjorden

The Limfjord country is superb for cycling and the fjord is also very popular among divers, wind surfers and sailors, as well as canoeists and kayak rowers.
Bathing in the fjord is an absolute must for all visitors during the summer months from May to August when, during the light northern nights, the Limfjord can be seen at its most beautiful.

Road quality and traffic

The road quality around the Limfjord is highly variable. The route alternates between asphalted roads carrying different degrees of motor traffic and non-asphalted roads through forests and on embankments, switching again to asphalted cycle paths and, occasionally, some rather uneven gravel roads.
On the first part of the route you will be cycling mainly on roads with moderate motor traffic and also partly on non asphalted roads on the embankment. Shortly before Aalborg the route runs for a few kilometers on a road with heavy traffic, but once in Aalborg itself the travel is not problematic.
The second part of the route runs mainly on asphalted roads. Here you will be cycling for only a few kilometers on roads with heavy traffic. In addition, this part of the route offers some good opportunities for excursions, for instance to the islands of Fur, Livø or Mors.
In comparison with the first two parts of the tour, the third part passes through the areas with most traffic. Between Humlum and Lemvig you will be travelling about 12 km on roads with moderate to heavy motor traffic. On the road from Thyborøn to Vestervig you will meet a stretch of 13.5 km on the embankment with heavier traffic. After this the route continues on roads with light traffic until you reach the end of the route, the railway station in Thisted.

Length

The total length of the route around the Limfjord, starting and finishing in Thisted, is 610 km., not including detours and alternative routes.

From Thisted to Løgstør: 232 km
From Løgstør to Struer: 242 km
From Struer to Thisted: 136 km

Signposting

The Limfjord Route is signposted on the entire stretch around the fjord with the number 12 (No. 12 is written in red, signifying that it is a national cycle route).
On a large part of the fjord stretch the Limfjord Route runs on pre-existing sections of regional, national cycle routes which have the following numbers: 1, 17, 55, 56, 23, 36, 29, 2, 20 and 32. This means that certain sections of the Limfjord Route are signposted by other numbers as well as No.12.