We have chosen to divide the coastal path into seven legs. This article describes leg four from Gudhjem to Svaneke.

Route description:

Discover idyllic half-timbered houses and tiny fishing villages where time stands still, not to mention the rugged rocky coast by Randkløve Skår, a wide fissure in the cliff and a natural phenomenon.

Leave Gudhjem Harbour via the steps at the southern end of the harbour. From here, the path takes you on and between cliffs along the coast to the campsite in Melsted. Cross the campsite and follow the signs to Melsted Harbour, where you can take a detour to the Melstedgaard open-air museum.

Shortly after Melsted Harbour, the route turns onto the road, where you follow the cycle path. Keep an eye on the signs and follow them for about 3 km along a trail to the left down towards the coast and through the woods past Randkløve Skår (follow the signs if you want to go down to the rocks themselves), idyllically situated half-timbered houses, the small and laidback Haralds Harbour and the slightly larger but still laidback Bølshavn, before heading back up the road to Listed.

In Listed you walk past the harbour to the path at the southern end of the town and along a particularly lovely stretch of Kyststien for the last two kilometres towards Svaneke: Gravel path close to the sea and the dramatic cliffs, and just before Svaneke with a lovely view to Vige Harbour and Marina. Follow the signs to the left up the steps after Vige Harbour and through the small streets to Svaneke Harbour.

The Coastal Path 7 hiking stages:

Leg 1 – Rønne – Hasle

Leg 2 – Hasle – Sandvig

Leg 3 – Sandvig – Gudhjem

Leg 4 – Gudhjem – Svaneke

Leg 5 – Svaneke – Snogebæk

Leg 6 – Snogebæk – Boderne

Leg 7 – Boderne – Rønne

Facts:

Duration:

4-5 hours
Length:
17 km
Difficulty level:
Medium
Suitable for prams and wheelchairs:
No
Parking:
If you only want to walk this leg, park at the harbour in Gudhjem (payment required) or at the harbour in Svaneke
Toilets:
At the harbour in Gudhjem, in Melsted at Kobbeå Strand, at Ypnastad, in Bølshavn, in Listed and in Svaneke
Access to water:
In all public toilets except Ypnastad, which is a composting toilet.
Surface:
Some paved country road, otherwise forest path, trail and (cut-back) nature path. A bit hilly, but not too much
Special remarks:
Randkløve Skår is a two-metre wide and 14-metre deep cliff fissure and is definitely worth a closer look.

Written by Gitte Holtze

Hiker and outdoor freak as well as journalist, lecturer and author of "jeg lever" about Gitte's hike along the Pacific Crest Trail and "Gå langt", a guidebook to long hikes.