Out in nature: Explore Geopark Odsherred's distinctive Ice Age landscape

UNESCO Global Geopark Odsherred stretches from Rørvig's heavy sand to Lammefjord's gentle hills and has been selected for its unique Ice Age landscape and characteristic terminal moraines. Odsherred's nature is steeped in the passage of bygone eras – from Bronze Age burial mounds to Stone Age dolmens, royal castles, and reclaimed fjords. Here you can observe rare birds, animals, and plants, breathe a little deeper, and get closer to nature and each other. So, lace up your hiking boots and take a trip to Denmark's first geopark.

Follow Odsherred's backbone

Recommended by Louise and Christian.

In the backyard of Louise and Christian's cottage lies the Højderygstien hiking trail, which takes you seven kilometers through the hilly landscape from Dutterhøje to Veddinge. Højderygstien follows the mighty terminal moraine Vejrhøjbuen, which was formed over 15,000 years ago, giving you thousands of Ice Age years under your feet. Along the way, you can explore burial mounds, Bronze Age mounds, and Esterhøj's reunification stone with its finely engraved text.

Louise and Christian particularly love the trip for the most beautiful views over Odsherred's prehistoric landscape, and they also tip off about a good flea barn you can stop at along the way. Don't miss the artwork Geokids at Shelterpladsen, a park of 3500 astonished, incredulous, and angry clay masks staring at you from Veddinge Bakker. The work was created by schoolchildren from all over Odsherred.

Climb the “Mountains” at Ordrup Næs

Recommended by Helle and Søren.

There's something almost Faroese about the “Mountains” at Ordrup Næs. Here, large flocks of sheep graze year-round on the green tip, and Nekselø and Sejerø rise out of the sea on the horizon. Helle and Søren are particularly fond of the walk around the headland and also enjoy climbing the burial mound Vejrhøj, where you can lose yourself in the 360-degree view over Sejerøbugten and Lammefjorden.

Vejrhøj is Odsherred's highest point at 121 meters and one of Odsherred's four arched ridges, which were formed during the last Ice Age. Standing on Vejrhøj, you can see all the way to Djursland across the water and the reclaimed Lammefjord over land – and imagine how the ice pressed the landscape flat in the east and made it rise in the west. If you need a refreshment after your walk on the headland, Ishuset Isøre in Ordrup is a local favorite with its organic ice cream and good coffee.

See rare birds and go foraging at Hov Vig

Recommended by Gitte and Peter.

When Gitte and Peter enjoy time together at their cottage near Rørvig, they often walk to Hov Vig's bird and wildlife sanctuary (https://naturstyrelsen.dk/naturoplevelser/naturguider/hov-vig/). Cows and horses graze in the meadows, and from the bird hide, you can spot some of the 267 bird species registered in the area – and it's not uncommon for Gitte and Peter to spot a white-tailed eagle through their binoculars. Hov Vig also abounds with fruits and edible plants, so there are plenty of opportunities to forage for tasty meals at the cottage. Pick berries and wild roses for jam, bog myrtle and sloes for homemade schnapps, or fill your bags with fresh apples and morello cherries.

Build stone art and explore limestone quarries in Klint

Recommended by Tine and Morten.

Tine and Morten often take excursions to the old limestone quarry in Klint, where they can spend many hours chatting, drinking coffee from a thermos, and feeling the wind in their hair. The limestone quarry is an old raw material pit where limestone was extracted a generation ago. Today it is no longer in use, but instead, wild and special flowers and plants have grown.

Explore the floral splendor and the peninsula's rugged nature, where massive 35-meter-high cliffs rise like a mountain above the sea. Further along the coastline, you'll find the unique stone pillar park – a tradition initiated by German artist Udo Leis in 2010 and continued by locals and cottage guests. Storm Bodil in 2013 severely damaged the pillars, but you have the opportunity to participate in the reconstruction of the stone artwork.

See mute swans and wading birds at Korevlerne

Recommended by Laura and Jacob.

Korevlerne is a local favorite among our Landfolk hosts. At Ellinge Lyng, the scenic lagoon lies between two sandbanks – home to rare birds, plants, and the characteristic Galloway cattle. Laura and Jacob and their family often walk and cycle down the forest paths to Korevlerne and Ellinge Lyng's beautiful, child-friendly beaches and observe the rich plant and animal life. If you cross the 400 meters over a bridge or dam to the beach, chalk-white sand, low dunes, and clear blue water await you.

Walk a tightrope along Højsandet

Recommended by Stine and Nicolai.

Across the Rørvig peninsula runs Denmark's highest inland mile. A sandbank that has accumulated over centuries on top of the many fences that locals built to protect themselves from drifting sand. Today, the mile is up to 15 meters high and 1500 meters long, and you can follow it on foot from Lokkemosevej between old gnarled trees. Stine and Nicolai often walk along Højsandet to Dybesø, which is not actually that deep. Continue around the lake and take a small detour into Sandflugtsplantagen, which is a stone's throw from Kattegat and exudes a true summer atmosphere with its sand dunes and the scent of pine trees.

Head to the tip of Rørvig, where fjord and sea meet

Recommended by Rikke and Thomas.

If you're into unique nature experiences and hikes, you should explore the area around Korshage, also known as Zealand's answer to Skagen. Here, the Kattegat and Isefjord meet at the tip, and there's both distinctive nature and beautiful old summer villas to admire in one of Denmark's oldest cottage areas.

If you continue along the coast towards Rørvig, you'll first reach Skansehage, which lies as a spit into the Isefjord and is a popular anchoring spot for pleasure boaters. Walk through the common's rose hips, heather, pasque flowers, and purple moor grass to Kongestenen, which was erected in memory of the Vikings' royal election in the area. If you need a rest after your walk, Rørvig harbor is always worth a visit.

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