Heaths of Randbøl
Randbøl Hede is one of Denmark's largest inland heaths. The walk through the heath testifies to the impact of the Ice Age on the landscape and modern Danish history.
Have you heard of Randbøl Hede? If not, it's time to discover this wonderful area, offering unique hiking trails, impressive heathland landscapes, rich wildlife, and fantastic dunes!
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By Christian Thomsen from Friluftsfreak
The blue route, which is the one I hiked, starts and ends at Kirstinelyst, where you'll also find parking, shelters, benches for lunch, and fire pits – making it the perfect base to begin and end your adventure at Randbøl Hede.
I found it a bit tricky to locate the place at first, but once you know it, it's easy – as is the case with many things...
Drive to the parking lot at Kirstinelyst and follow the path from there. After a few minutes, you'll reach 'Kirstinelysts Venner,' where there are shelters and cozy fire pits. This is where the hiking trails on Randbøl Hede begin.
When you see the gate at the shelter area by Kirstinelysts Venner, you'll know you're on the right track. Open the gate and step onto Randbøl Hede, where the silence and green landscape will immediately greet you.
I chose the blue route, which is 10 km long, and can be both hiked and ridden. The route takes you through all the best that Randbøl Hede has to offer. Additionally, there are shorter routes on the heath that you can choose to walk if you prefer:
From the start, simply follow the path straight out onto the heath. After a while, you'll come to the first marker on a post showing a blue arrow. The arrow points left to a new gate, which you pass through, and then you just continue on the route.
Photo:Friluftsfreak
I hiked the blue route, and it was mostly marked with blue paint on stones, so you'll need to pay a bit of attention to keep track of them. Sometimes, they can blend in with the heather, and I ended up taking a wrong turn a couple of times. However, I quickly realized and got back on track.
Randbøl Hede truly allows you to feel the tranquility and the beautiful nature that surrounds you, no matter where you look. There is a green landscape as far as the eye can see – and isn’t that what most of us love about hiking trails? It certainly is for me. Being surrounded by nature, listening to the sounds of the wildlife, and enjoying the moment is a fantastic feeling.
I was fortunate enough to choose a day full of sunshine, which, as usual, didn't make anything worse. However, it did get extremely hot out on the heath!
On the final stretch of the blue route, the landscape suddenly changes to sand dunes. For a moment, I thought I was near a beach and water, but no, I had reached the dunes known as Staldbakkerne and Stoltenbjerg. These dunes are also the highest point on Denmark’s largest inland heath, standing at 88 meters.
Photo:Friluftsfreak
The blue nature trail on the heath was a fantastic experience – even though I took a wrong turn once or twice. You’ll enjoy a beautiful hike featuring Denmark’s most stunning nature, sand dunes, and peace for the mind. The route could be marked a bit better, but at the same time, it shouldn’t be covered with too many markers, given that it’s on a heath.
If you hike on a warm day, it's a good idea to bring plenty of water and wear appropriate clothing, as it can get very hot on the heath.