Skøjteflommen near Sorø

A meadow that lives with the seasons

Between the historic gardens of Sorø Academy and the quiet course of the Suså river, Skøjteflommen spreads out as a low-lying meadow area with a very special character. The name carries memories of winters when ice covered the waterlogged meadows and locals from Sorø strapped on their skates to glide across the frozen surface. It still happens during particularly cold winters — and the experience is just as magical as it ever was.

Located in the green heart of Sorø

Skøjteflommen sits right next to the town of Sorø, just a few hundred metres from Sorø Academy and the historic monastery churchyard. From the Rolighed neighbourhood or Stenlængegård, paths lead directly down to the meadow along the Suså. The Academy Garden and Parnas hill are the nearest neighbours, and the entire area forms part of the continuous green belt stretching from Sorø Lake through the Academy Garden and onwards to the Tystrup-Bavelse lake system. It is rare for a provincial town to have such undisturbed nature so close to its centre.

Wild nature in the town's backyard

The meadow is regularly flooded by the Suså, and it is precisely this dynamic that makes Skøjteflommen biologically interesting. The wet meadows attract wading birds, lapwings and redshanks during the breeding season, and in spring you can spot frogs and toads in the shallow pools. The vegetation shifts from reeds and sedges along the water's edge to drier grassland on the slightly higher sections. The entire area has an unkempt, wild character — this is deliberate, as the meadow is managed extensively to preserve the open landscape and its biodiversity.

Paths and access

Several footpaths and surfaced trails lead through and around Skøjteflommen. The popular path along the Suså connects the area with the Academy Garden to the north and Tystrup-Bavelse Nature Park to the south. For walkers and joggers, the route along the river is one of Sorø's most beloved, and it can be combined with the Jyderupstien trail for a longer day's hike. The terrain is flat and accessible for most of the year, but can be wet during winter and early spring — wellies are recommended in that period.

The history behind the name

Skøjteflommen has been part of Sorø's cultural landscape for centuries. The meadows originally belonged to Sorø Monastery and later to Sorø Academy, and they have always served as a transitional landscape between cultivated land and the wild river. The name "flommen" refers to the flooding, and the connection to ice skating tells of a time when winters were harsher and the ice more reliable. Today the area is protected as part of the larger watercourse protection zone along the Suså.

Experiences nearby

From Skøjteflommen it is a short walk to many of Sorø's cultural and natural attractions. Sorø Art Museum is just a few minutes away on foot, and the historic buildings and churchyard of Sorø Academy are well worth a visit. To the south the landscape opens towards Tystrup Lake and Bavelse Lake with opportunities for canoeing, fishing and shelter overnight stays. Kongskilde Outdoor Centre is a natural starting point for longer excursions in the area. Find more experiences and inspiration for your visit to Sorø and surroundings at destinationsjaelland.dk.