Cycling in East Jutland

Your cycling holiday starts in Silkeborg where you will be staying in a lovely hotel close to lakes and forest. If possible, arrive early so you have time to explore this charming lake district capital that has a lot to offer. We recommend a trip on the beautiful lakes with Hjejlen, which is the world’s oldest original coal-fired paddle steamer. You can also visit some of the attractions in the town itself, such as Museum Silkeborg (which exhibits the famous bog body Tollundmanden), Northern Europe’s biggest freshwater aquarium AQUA or the Museum Jorn, dedicated to the famous Danish painter Asger Jorn.

Overnight: Silkeborg

Distance: 36 km

On your first cycling day, you ride through the Funder Hills and then turn onto the ‘Ancient Road’ Hærvejen, which leads through Sepstrup Sande and then Vrads Sande. Both areas are inland dunes; a result of natural as well as human-influenced sand drifts over thousands of years. Covered in heather, crowberry and juniper, the two areas of inland dunes lie between large heath plantations and long rows of pine trees dating from the end of the 19^th century. As you reach the tiny village of Vrads, you will find a charming old grocery store which offers the perfect opportunity to refuel.

South of Vrads, you continue between the Torup and Tingdal lakes before entering Palsgård forest, which is one of the oldest plantations in Jutland. If you want to learn more about the forest, you can visit the old forester farm, which has been converted into the forest museum Palsgård Skovmuseum.

Shortly after, you ride through Nørre Snede and reach your accommodation for the night.

Overnight: Nørre Snede

Distance: 37 km

Today you follow a protected stretch of Hærvejen, along gravel roads and old wheel tracks which exude history. Via a small detour, you can visit the trickling springs from which Denmark’s two biggest rivers – Gudenåen and Skjern Å – rise and flow in opposite directions: east and west. A little further on you pass Saint Peder’s spring, which has attracted pilgrims for centuries due to its healing powers.

You continue through an open agricultural landscape with scattered forest and an old inn from 1609, until eventually you reach the kings’ town of Jelling; one of the most important towns of the Viking Age. The Jelling Monuments (a collective term for the church of Jelling, the Jelling stones and the two giant burial mounds), are without doubt Denmark’s most important historical monuments. In fact, the Jelling Monuments are considered Europe’s finest Viking Age monuments, and since 1994 they have enjoyed UNESCO World Heritage status. In other words: If you are interested in Viking heritage, Jelling is the place for you! Also well worth checking out is the ‘Kongernes Jelling’ visitor centre, where you can learn more about Christianity’s introduction in Denmark and the beginning of the Danish monarchy.

From Jelling you continue past Fårup lake, eventually reaching the beautifully located fjord town of Vejle.

Overnight: Vejle

Distance: 41 km

You leave Vejle via a very scenic path along the fjord. To your left are steep slopes with tall beech trees and deep ravines. These slope forests are protected by the EU project Natura 2000, which aims to protect especially valuable natural areas. After Bredballe you reach Tirsbæk Beach, where you can take a small detour to a 16^th century Manor and go for a walk in the lovely, terraced renaissance garden.

From Tirsbæk you continue through forest and sometimes along the fjord towards Daugaard Beach. You then turn away from the fjord towards the towns of Daugaard and Bjerre on quiet country roads with an extensive view over the hilly landscape. After Bjerre you can see Bjerrelide, which is the large hill crest formed during the last ice age that can be seen from most of the Horsens region. The highest hill is Purhøj, which is actually an old burial mound from the Neolithic period and was once one of the great meeting points for witches in Northern Europe.

You continue your cycle through the Klokkedal valley towards Horsens Fjord. En route you pass Boller Castle. The castle, which is surrounded by a moat, is from the 16^th century and it was here King Christian IV put his wife Kirsten Munk in house arrest after she had cheated on him. Take a walk in the surrounding park, where you will find the 1.000-year-old ‘Boller Oak’, Jutland’s oldest oak tree.

Shortly after you reach Horsens Fjord and follow The Planet Path into the old medieval town of Horsens.

Overnight: Horsens

Distance: 29 km

Your route from Horsens follows Bryrupbanestien, a disused railway line which once ran between Horsens and Silkeborg through lush valleys, open fields, heather covered heaths, and old beech forests. In its time it was known as ‘Denmark’s most beautiful railway’.

Shortly after the village of Østbirk the path leads you across Den Genfundede Bro (the uncovered bridge). The bridge rises 15 m over the Gudenåen river, and when it was built in 1899 it was the tallest bridge in Northern Europe. In 1929 however, the bridge was already outdated because the track gauge had changed, so it was covered with sand and equipped with two pipes for the river to run through. Instead of a bridge you now had a dam with a hidden bridge inside. In 2014 the old bridge was rediscovered and dug out and today it is one of the area’s great attractions and picnic spots.

You continue through the valleys of Gudenåen and cycle through the old villages Tønning and Træden. Situated on opposite sides of the path, they each have their own medieval church. Eventually you reach Brædstrup where you will find your next hotel.

Overnight: Brædstrup

Distance: 33 km

From Brædstrup you cycle on towards Bryrup, passing the village of Vinding with its small 12^th century church. In Bryrup you can stock up on supplies before you continue through Velling Forest. This part of the route runs parallel with a 5 km preserved part of the old railway. When the railway was shut down in 1968 it was decided to preserve the rail tracks from Bryrup to Vrads and during the summer you can see an old vintage train going back and forth on this stretch. Your route crosses the preserved tracks several times and you will pass some of the old stations where you can still see the old signals you had to hoist to stop the train. It is an incredibly beautiful stretch with stunning views over the lakes Kvindsø, Kulsø and Snabe Igelsø. At the end of the preserved rail, you can visit the old Vrads Station, where you will find a small restaurant and shop.

From Vrads Station you cycle through the lake district’s Salten Ådal valley and Tømmerby marsh, with its rich birdlife. You pass the town of Them, skirting the edge of the Sønderskov forest that borders the lovely Lake Borre before finally arriving back in the charming lake district capital of Silkeborg.

Overnight: Silkeborg

Your cycling holiday comes to an end unless you have booked any extra nights. If you have the time you should spend some of the day in Silkeborg and maybe take a boat trip on the beautiful lakes to Himmelbjerget (‘The Sky Mountain’) where you can enjoy a spectacular panoramic view over the lake district.