Protected nature destinations in the Kystlandet region
The Kystlandet region is home to a wealth of protected natural areas, wildlife reserves, nature parks and Natura 2000 sites. Discover areas of outstanding natural value that are well worth exploring on a day out.
Experience the unique nature of the Kystlandet region
Kystlandet is not one vast natural area. Instead, it offers a wealth of different nature experiences within easy reach of one another. Here, fjords, forests, islands, coastlines and rolling hills come together in a varied Ice Age landscape, where nature is always close at hand and easy to explore actively. The scenery may rarely be the biggest, longest or highest, but what it does offer is remarkable variety. Within just half an hour’s drive, you can experience deep fjords, open Kattegat coastlines, beech forests, rolling hills, river valleys, lakes, bogs, salt marshes, islands and farmland. That is good news for wildlife – and for anyone who enjoys a little variety in their outdoor adventures.
The landscape was shaped primarily by the immense forces of the Ice Age and later refined by the many local estates and manor houses, whose vast landholdings were used for farming and forestry. And although many features of today’s landscape bear the mark of human hands, the area is also home to numerous wildlife reserves, protected natural areas and nature parks – places where nature comes first and people are simply visitors.
The ever-present meeting of land and water creates particularly rich biodiversity, with abundant wildlife to discover both on land and at sea.
Welcome to the green and blue landscapes of Kystlandet.
How did the Ice Age shape the landscape of Kystlandet?
The landscape you see in Kystlandet today was largely formed during the last Ice Age, which came to an end around 11,700 years ago. As the ice slowly retreated, it left behind a rolling landscape of hills, valleys and glacial moraines. Meltwater carved deep tunnel valleys, which later became fjords and river valleys, while vast deposits of sand and gravel were left scattered across the landscape.
The legacy of the Ice Age is visible throughout Kystlandet. Horsens Fjord and Vejle Fjord follow ancient tunnel valleys carved beneath the ice, while the rolling hills around places such as the Sondrup Hills and Bjerrelide were formed from moraines pushed forward by the advancing glaciers. The Gudenå River Valley, the Jutland Ridge, as well as the area's lakes, bogs and coastal meadows, all tell the story of the immense forces of ice and meltwater that shaped this landscape.
What is a Natura 2000 site – and where can I find them in the Kystlandet region?
Natura 2000 is a network of Europe’s most important nature conservation areas, designated to protect rare habitats as well as threatened animals and plants. The sites are designated under EU legislation and aim to ensure that nature is protected and allowed to thrive for the benefit of biodiversity and future generations.
The Kystlandet region is home to several Natura 2000 sites on land and at sea that visitors can explore:
- The outer part of Horsens Fjord, including Hjarnø and Alrø
- Endelave and the surrounding waters
- Norsminde Fjord
- Uldum Kær
- The coastline on the northern side of Vejle Fjord
- The Source of the Gudenå and Tinnet Krat
- Mossø, Klostermølle, Sukkertoppen and the surrounding Gudenå Valley
Together, these areas protect a wide variety of natural habitats, from shallow fjords, salt marshes and reefs to forests, bogs, meadows and river valleys.
For visitors, Natura 2000 offers the chance to experience some of the Kystlandet region’s most valuable natural areas. There are excellent opportunities to spot abundant birdlife, rare plants and a diverse range of wildlife, and many of the areas are ideal for hiking, birdwatching and enjoying nature throughout the year.
You are welcome to visit the Natura 2000 sites, but please help take care of the natural environment. Follow local signs, keep to the paths where provided, and take particular care not to disturb wildlife during the bird breeding season and other sensitive periods.
What is a wildlife reserve – and where can I find them in the Kystlandet region?
Despite its modest size, the Kystlandet region is home to a number of wildlife reserves where nature and wildlife enjoy special protection. Most are located along the coast or in shallow marine areas and have been designated to give birds and other animals a safe place to breed, rest and feed. As a result, special restrictions on access or sailing apply in some areas during certain times of the year.
The wildlife reserves in the Kystlandet region include Vorsø, Lerdrup Bay, Møllegrund, Svanegrund, Flasken on Endelave, Hou Røn, Søby Reef, Norsminde Fjord and Nørrestrand. Together, they protect some of the region’s most important habitats for wading birds, ducks, geese, white-tailed eagles and a wide variety of other species.
The coastal wildlife reserves are also an important part of Naturpark Svanegrund, Denmark’s largest marine nature park. Here, efforts focus both on protecting existing natural habitats and restoring the marine environment through initiatives such as planting eelgrass and establishing stone reefs. Nørrestrand is an exception, however. This freshwater area of lake, reed beds and meadows lies outside the boundaries of the nature park but is one of East Jutland’s most important areas for birdlife.
From land, Nørrestrand and Flasken on Endelave offer the best opportunities to experience the wildlife reserves. Both have birdwatching towers offering excellent views of the local birdlife. Vorsø can only be visited on a guided tour with a nature guide. The other reserves are best experienced from the water – by kayak, sailing boat or on a guided sea safari. The abundance of coastal wildlife reserves makes the Kystlandet region one of the best places in Denmark to experience nature from the water. Here, you can get close to seals, harbour porpoises and abundant birdlife while still giving the animals the peace and space they need.
Svanegrund and Møllegrund are also known for their large seal colonies.
Endelave
Endelave is known for its thousands of wild rabbits, but there is much more to the nature of this Kattegat island than its furry residents.
Just off the coast lies the Flasken wildlife reserve, a shallow-water area that serves as an important resting place for thousands of waterbirds and wading birds.
The northern part of the island, known as Øvre, is a protected natural area. Øvre is uninhabited and characterised by salt marshes and heathland.
The whole of Endelave forms part of a larger Natura 2000 site that also includes Horsens Fjord and the generally shallow coastal waters around the fjord and Endelave. Off the coast of Endelave, the Møllegrund and Svanegrund sandbanks are home to large colonies of harbour seals. Endelave is also part of Denmark’s largest marine nature park, Naturpark Svanegrund.
How to experience the nature of Endelave
We recommend bringing a pair of binoculars to Endelave. The many birds at the Flasken wildlife reserve can be observed from a birdwatching tower on Endelave Strandvej, just outside the village. The seal colony at Møllegrund can be seen to the north-west or from the harbour with binoculars. The seals can also often be spotted from the deck of the Endelave Ferry.
Øvre can be explored on foot, by bike or by car. The Kanino hiking trail takes you through the area, with plenty of opportunities to spot the island’s famous wild rabbits along the way. The route is a great way to explore Endelave’s varied coastal landscape, including the cliffs in the south-western part of the island.
Photos from Endelave
The cliffs, the north coast at Flasken, the enchanted forest, Øvre, rabbits.
The Great Watershed
On the Jutland Ridge lies a very special natural area that is included in Denmark’s Nature Canon and is a potential future national nature park. Just a few hundred metres apart, the rivers Gudenåen and Skjernåen rise on opposite sides of the Great Watershed. From here, the Gudenåen flows east and the Skjernåen west, before their waters eventually reach the sea on opposite sides of Jutland.
Around the springs lies a varied, protected landscape of natural springs, fens, meadows, heathland, grassland and oak scrub. The area is protected, among other reasons, to preserve its significant scenic and natural heritage values. The ancient oak scrub of Tinnet Krat is also a rare remnant of the native forests that once covered large parts of Jutland.
How to experience the Great Watershed
You can park quite close to the sources of the Gudenåen and Skjernåen rivers. Start at the source of the Gudenåen, where water bubbles up from the ground and begins its long journey towards Randers Fjord. From here, it is only a short walk to the source of the Skjernåen, allowing you to move between the beginnings of Denmark’s two largest rivers in just a few minutes.
In the countryside close to the source of the Gudenåen, you can also see the remains of Denmark’s first water park, which used natural spring water.
We then recommend heading out for a walk in the surrounding countryside. There are several signposted circular walks of manageable distances, as well as a total of 50 kilometres of shorter hiking trails around the springs.
The area is a popular destination for hiking in general. The Hærvejen trail passes through the area, while the springs also mark the starting point of the Gudenå Trail.
Photos from The Great Watershed
Tinnet Krat, the bathing facility ruins, the source of the Gudenåen.
Horsens Fjord
Horsens Fjord is a shallow fjord with islands, islets, salt marshes and extensive areas of very shallow water. Along the fjord, the flat coastal landscape gives way in several places to steep slopes and a hilly moraine landscape shaped during the last Ice Age.
The shallow waters are also one of the fjord’s most important natural features. Fish, mussels, snails and crustaceans thrive here, providing a rich source of food for the abundant birdlife. At low tide, areas of sand and mudflats are exposed in some places, where wading birds forage for food. Together with the salt marshes, islands and sheltered shores, this makes Horsens Fjord an important habitat for both breeding and resting birds.
The outer part of Horsens Fjord forms part of a larger Natura 2000 site, while the entire fjord is part of Denmark’s largest marine nature park, Naturpark Svanegrund.
On land, around half of the northern shore is protected, including the hilly, forested landscape around Sondrup.
How to experience the nature of Horsens Fjord
There are many ways to experience the nature of Horsens Fjord, both from land and from the water. For a great overview of the fjord landscape, follow the Fjordmino, a 60-kilometre hiking trail that takes you all the way around the fjord. One particular highlight is the hilly landscape around Sondrup Hills and Sondrup Plantation, which the route also passes through. It is well worth taking some extra time here to explore beyond the trail itself.
From the coast at Brigsted, you can look across to the protected island of Vorsø, where nature is largely left to its own devices. There is normally no public access to the island, but you can visit on special guided tours with the island’s only resident, who is a nature guide. Vorsø is home to a rich variety of birdlife, including breeding white-tailed eagles.
The fjord’s two inhabited islands, Alrø and Hjarnø, are located within an internationally designated bird protection area, making them excellent places for spotting a wide range of species. On Alrø, the shallow coastal lagoons on the eastern side of the island (south of the causeway leading to the island) are particularly worth visiting. Breeding birds here include oystercatchers, great ringed plovers, lapwings and redshanks. A more easily accessible spot is Egehoved, at the southern tip of the island around the ferry jetty, where more than 170 bird species have been recorded. There are also good opportunities to spot white-tailed eagles.
On Hjarnø, the lagoon on the southern side of the island is a great place to spot wading birds. Hjarnø itself offers a wonderful nature experience, with salt marshes, a lagoon and farmland all within a small area.
Another important spot is Borre Knob on the southern side of the fjord. This long, narrow spit takes you right out into the heart of the fjord landscape. There are good opportunities to spot harbour porpoises, and no fewer than 249 bird species have been recorded here. If you only choose one place from which to experience Horsens Fjord, Borre Knob offers particularly impressive views.
The southern side of the fjord is very shallow, and you may see anglers standing seemingly far out in the middle of the fjord. The shallow waters also attract seals, which can often be seen resting on small rocks protruding from the water. One good place to look for seals is around Sejet Beach.
You can also experience Horsens Fjord from the water by kayak. Sea kayaks can be hired from Horsens City Camping.
Photos from Horsens Fjord
Borre Knob, the lagoon on Hjarnø, the coast at Sondrup, Sondrup Hills, Boller Forest.
Uldum Kær
Uldum Kær is an exceptionally large, continuous fenland area and Denmark’s largest wetland. Here, the Gudenåen flows through an extensive, flat wetland landscape of meadows, bogs, reed beds and water-filled peat pits. When water levels are high, large parts of the fen can become flooded, allowing the area to act as a natural reservoir for the Gudenåen.
A lake once covered this area, but over thousands of years it gradually became overgrown, developing into bog and fen with thick layers of peat. The extraction of peat by humans has since left clear traces in the landscape in the form of the many old peat pits. Today, Uldum Kær is a Natura 2000 site and an important habitat for a wide variety of plants, insects, birds and other wildlife.
The varied wetland provides excellent habitats for a wealth of wildlife. Otters live along the Gudenåen, while marsh harriers can be spotted soaring above the fen. Uldum Kær is also a breeding ground for the beautiful bluethroat. In recent years, storks have also bred in the fen.
How to experience Uldum Kær
A good starting point for exploring Uldum Kær is the car park on Kærvejen. From here, it is only 50 metres to a large birdwatching tower offering views across the fen and some of the old water-filled peat pits. Information boards in the tower provide an insight into the area’s nature and birdlife. Remember to bring your binoculars and keep an eye out for marsh harriers, bluethroats and storks.
From the birdwatching tower, you can continue into the fen along signposted trails through the open wetland. Wooden boardwalks keep your feet dry across some of the wettest areas, but the nature trails can be muddy, so choose your footwear according to the conditions. Along the way, you will come across several more birdwatching towers dotted around the area.
The Gudenå Trail also passes through Uldum Kær, following the Gudenåen through the fenland. You can therefore choose a short circular walk from the birdwatching tower or continue along the hiking trail through the extensive wetland landscape.
Photos from Uldum Kær
Birdwatching tower, shelter site and trails in the area.
Tunø
More than 90% of this small holiday island west of Samsø is protected. The designation was introduced to preserve Tunø’s distinctive natural environment and landscape, which was described as an “exceptionally beautiful and distinctive natural area”. Tunø is a moraine island offering remarkable natural variety within a very small area. The coastline is known for its striking, steep erosion cliffs, but you will also find sandy beaches, pebble beaches and shingle ridges. Inland, the landscape is hilly, with areas of grassland as well as woodland and bog. Only the village and the island’s two holiday home areas are not protected, so as a visitor, you are never far from protected nature.
How to experience the nature of Tunø
The best way to experience Tunø is on foot. An 8-kilometre hiking trail takes you all the way around the island along the coast, including across the tops of Sønderklint and Nørreklint, which rise to almost 25 metres above sea level. From here, you can enjoy spectacular views across the sea, and there is a good chance of spotting harbour porpoises.
Nørreklint is one of the few breeding sites in Denmark for the black guillemot, so keep an eye out for this distinctive seabird as you walk along the top of the cliff.
After your walk around the island, take a stroll through the bog and woodland in the north-central part of Tunø. This wet landscape is home to the rare and protected European green toad. You will need a little luck to spot one, but keep your eyes peeled.
Photos from Tunø
Sønderklint, Nørreklint, the reef, the north beach.
The forests of Vejle Fjord
Denmark’s longest coastal forest stretches along the northern side of Vejle Fjord. This vast Natura 2000 site of more than 2,500 hectares is characterised by ancient coastal forests, steep slopes and deep ravines. The forests consist mainly of beech woodland, and in several places the land has remained forested for centuries. This has created ideal conditions for a rich variety of plant and animal life.
The coastline is also constantly changing. Beneath the forests, layers of plastic clay can be found in several places. When the clay absorbs water, it can become unstable, causing the slopes to slide towards the fjord and creating a dramatic landscape of fallen trees and exposed earth. This is particularly evident in Staksrode Forest, where the landslides also create habitats for rare plants, including orchids. Twelve protected species of orchid can be found in the area.
How to experience the forests of Vejle Fjord
Staksrode Forest is the most distinctive place to experience the special natural landscape on the northern side of Vejle Fjord. Park in the forest at the end of Staksrodevej, where three waymarked hiking trails lead through the hilly coastal woodland.
Follow the yellow route past Bjergfaldene, where the plastic clay causes the forested slopes to slide towards the sea. Here, trees lean at odd angles among old landslides, while others have fallen all the way down onto the beach. From the top, keep an eye out for harbour porpoises in the sea. Continue down the steps to the coast at Stenhøj Beach, where you can walk beneath the high, forested slopes and hunt for interesting stones and fossils along the beach.
There are also plenty of rewarding nature experiences along the northern side of the fjord around Rosenvold and onwards towards Daugård and Hotel Vejlefjord, where forests, coastal slopes and views across the fjord shape the landscape. Beaches appear like small pockets in an otherwise green and dramatic landscape, and both Rosenvold Beach and Daugård Beach are well worth a stop. Around Daugårdstrand, several prominent hills offer beautiful views across the fjord – not least Askebjerg, which provides a challenging climb for many local cyclists.
Photos from the northern coast of Vejle Fjord
Grund Forest, Stenhøj Beach, Træskohage Lighthouse, the winding roads by the old sanatorium, Staksrode Forest.
The southern part of the Danish Lakelands
In the southern part of the Danish Lakelands lies a large Natura 2000 site featuring some of the most varied nature in the Kystlandet region. Here, the Gudenåen and Lake Mossø meet in a dramatic Ice Age landscape of steep, forested hills, river valleys, meadows, bogs, heathland and small lakes.
The landscape was shaped by ice and vast quantities of meltwater during and after the last Ice Age. Today, the great variations in terrain, soil and water conditions provide habitats for a wide variety of animals and plants. The area is protected in part for its valuable lakes, watercourses, forests, bogs, natural springs, heathland and grassland.
Here you will find a wealth of different habitats – from heathland to alder and ash woodland, wooded bogs and natural springs.
How to experience the nature around Lake Mossø
Klostermølle by Lake Mossø is a great starting point for exploring the area’s varied natural landscape. This is where the Gudenåen meets Lake Mossø, and from the open meadows you can enjoy views across the lake towards the forested hills. Walk to the top of the 108-metre-high Sukkertoppen hill, where you will be rewarded with magnificent views of Lake Mossø and the rolling Ice Age landscape. From Klostermølle, you can also easily walk to Klosterkær, where the Gudenåen has left its mark on the wetland landscape.
To explore more of the area’s nature, follow a waymarked circular trail through Pinddal Mose, south of Klostermølle. The route takes you through a peaceful valley with bogland, small water-filled peat pits and Lake Fåresø, where you can find plants such as cranberries and the carnivorous sundew.
You can also follow the Gudenå Trail south along the river towards Vilholt and Voervadsbro. The trail through Pinddal Mose is signposted as a detour from this route.
Photos from the Lake Mossø area
Ryhule, the Sugar Loaf, Lake Mossø.
