A self-made hiking-trail in central Jutland near Horsens, Denmark
Getting there: Denmark is easy to come in by the highways of the Netherlands and Germany, from the south. The nearest airport is Aarhus.
Accommodation: plenty, such as excellent youth hostels, B&B’s, hotels, “Zimmer frei”.
If you want to visit a cafe or something along the way to have a drink look carefully inside a Kro - a kind of inn, small hotel. Sometimes they seem closed. But are open.
Maps: we used detailed road maps. We couldn't find walking maps covering the whole area. Impression that trails are maintained by local communities and tourist offices. Or, perhaps, this one: walking guide Denmark-Jutland, Rother Wanderfuhrer (9783763343522)?.
So, we made our own trail, using as much as possible foot-paths, tracks, little green roads, along canals and the borders of farmland. Sometimes through arable lands, meadows, forests and a lot of clay soil (with every step you rise a couple of centimeters).
Easter 1988: a trail in central Jutland near Horsens, made by ourselves, prepared after breakfast, no way-marked route, but a great thing to do!
Height: until 147 meters, the Himmelbjerget. (with a 25 meter high tower - 82 feet ¼ inch 😋- built to memorialize King Frederick VII in appreciation of the constitution of the Danish people in 1849.
Distance between the stage cities: about 20-25 km.
Day 1: Horsens - Skanderborg.............................23,5 km
Day 2: Skanderborg - Ry.......................................15,5 km
Day 3: Ry - Bryrup (via Himmelbjerget)..............27,0 km
Day 4: Bryrup - Silkeborg.....................................23,0 km
Day 5: Silkeborg - Engesvan.................................17,0 km
And by train to Horsens. About 1 hour.
Along the way: Two thirds of Denmark is in use as agricultural land. You see barley, wheat, rye and oats potatoes, sugar beets and rapeseed. So a lot of farmland, with fertile fields, meadows, clay hills, some forest, ditches and canals.
The lake area between Silkeborg and Skanderborg is very beautiful. From the Himmelbjerget (482.283465 feet, to make it easy) you have a nice view of it.
On the other hand: during this trip it lacks variety, that you walk through changing landscapes, beautiful villages, special buildings, castles, mills, mansions, staetes...whatever...So that is rather disappointing.
During the preparation we also saw mostly the same (multi-day) routes everywhere. We thought that Jutland was suitable for "spontaneous" self-made trips. But that was disappointing. We should have chosen a marked, multi-day route.
Like there are:
The North sea trail, the Gendarmen-trail, the Heerweg, the Mols Bjerge route, the Pilgrim Route North Seeland, the Camøno or Kanino on Endelave.
Good luck in making your choice.
One of the most traditional and well-known dishes from Denmark. Smørrebrød literally means sandwich. However, the best thing about smørrebrød is the delicious toppings you put on it. It "must" always be a combination of at least three components.
For a short film about the Himmelbjerget:
