Out of the cage and into the wild

Nature and water sports in Denmarkset yourself free and explore the Danish landscape in its full summer glory

By Mathias Freudenthal

Although more than 50 percent of Denmark is comprised of arable land,16 percent consists of forest and heath and 7 percent of wilderness areas such as lakes, bogs and meadows.

Added to that is the marvellous Danish coastline. Extending for 8,750 kilometres, it outstrips Chile and even India!

So there are plenty of opportunities for newcomers to get the most out of their new country even in these socially distanced times; it is just a matter of your personal preference – and choosing the right clothes.

ROWING

Rowing clubs are always looking for new members and you don’t have to be an experienced oarsman. If you are a newbie, why not try it out at a special free trial session organised by Denmark’s oldest rowing club, Roforeningen KVIK.

You’ll find more information on their website: roforeningen.dk/english. To help you with settling in, other expats in the club provide a special mentoring service to newcomers.

SURFING

Denmark isn’t the next Hawaii or Australia, but given its weather conditions, big waves can be found along the west coast of Jutland, especially between Klitmøller and Agger, where you’ll find plenty of would-be surfers cutting their teeth ahead of heading off to sunnier climes.

Conversely perhaps, the tendency for strong wind but small waves in Danish waters favours windsurfing.

Kitesurfing is another popular pastime. Combining aspects of snowboarding, windsurfing, surfing, paragliding, skateboarding and gymnastics, it’s one of the ultimate sports for adrenaline junkies.

Beginners can start by enrolling in a course or taking part in a camp at places like copenhagensurfschool. dk/en , coldhawaiisurfcamp.com and klitmoller.en.westwind.dk

SAILING

Whether it’s a rowing, sailing or speedboat, a kayak, canoe or pedalo, or even a floating spa, given the proximity of water, you’re never far away from a rental company in this country. But if you want to learn to sail properly, the Royal Danish Yacht Club offers beginner, intermediate and advanced sailing courses in English (learn more at kdy. dk) with the opportunity of earning a Danish sailing licence.

FISHING

With its long coastline, and over 5,000 lakes, Denmark has a great selection of places to fish to suit all tastes. Along the seashore, Jutland’s west coast offers the best conditions thanks to its large population of cod, flatfish, and mackerel. From there, sail a cutter to the Yellow Reef – remember your sea-sickness pills because it’s going to get rough! –where most of the country’s biggest fish records have been set. Heading freshwater, but staying in Jutland, the Brede Å, Kongeå, Skjernå and Varde Å streams are all recommended for monster trout and salmon. Fyn’s seashore is also highly recommended, particularly for trout, while the Øresund is good for trout and cod –especially during the winter.

Staying in Zealand, the freshwater lakes at Furesø and Esrum are famed for their record-breaking pike and perch, and Isefjorden is another excellent location for trout.

Join Copenhagen’s network of anglers at fishingcopenhagen.com or check out fishingzealand.dk if you’re ready to wander away from the capital. Head to fiskeristyrelsen.dk/english for more information on acquiring a fishing license.

SPEAR FISHING

Speargun hunters don’t use any scuba gear as they rarely leave the surface, surveying the marine wildlife through their masks with a gun that is rubber or air-powered, or a hand-held spear. This tends to make the pastime tricky during the summer as most fish seek out deeper waters due to the heat – remember that it’s illegal to spear fish in freshwater areas – so your best bet is trying it out in the spring or the autumn.

On Zealand, Asnæs is recommended for flatfish, while the north coast is good for mullet, flounder and turbot, as is Sejerø Bay, which also provides good conditions for flatfish and dab.

The best place, however, is Jutland, and particularly around Djursland and Hirsholm, which both offer large populations of coal-fish, sea-bass and cod, with the latter also offering superb conditions for mullet. On Funen, Kerteminde and the north shore around Sprogø are excellent for mullet and cod.

HUNTING

Despite being protected by hunting laws, the vast majority of animals in Denmark are fair game – provided it’s the right season. The difficulty is finding somewhere to do it; you can’t just go out into the wilderness and start shooting.

You will need to get a Danish hunting licence, so your first step should either be joining a club or befriending a club member. On Zealand, roe deer and birds (especially mallards, greylag geese, pheasants, pigeons) are the most popular prey.

Among the best estates are Bielefeld, Giesegård, Bregentved, Gisselfeldt and Svenstrup Gods. But for fallow deer and red deer, head to Jutland. Skagen and the northern part of Djursland are home to some of the biggest populations of the highly-coveted red deer.

For additional information, visit eng.mst.dk.

Hiking

Though Denmark’s countryside isn’t too hilly, it’s still beautiful, boasting a huge variety of flora and numerous footpaths to follow. Copenhageners’ first choice should be Jægersborg Dyrehave where 2,000-plus deer inhabit an 11 sq km area full of ancient oak trees.

You know that part of Denmark, the one stuck between Jutland and Zealand, called Funen? The 165th largest island in the world? No? Of course not… Well, now’s your chance to explore at least some if it through one of the country’s longest hiking trails (220 km): The Archipelago Trail (visitfyn.com/fyn/ experiences/archipelago-trail). Afterwards, pay a visit to H.C. Andersen’s house in Odense (Denmark’s third-largest city).

Lille Vildmose in the eastern part of Jutland between Randers and Aalborg is also exceptional and the only part of the country where you might encounter wild boar, eagles, cranes, beavers, red deer and elk. Also recommended are the following national parks: Wadden Sea (eng.nationalparkvadehavet.dk), Thy (eng.nationalparkthy.dk) and Mols Bjerge (eng.nationalparkmolsbjerge. dk). Finally, make sure to embark on some island journeys as well (there are plenty of opportunities), for which Bornholm or Møn would be a great start.

MOUNTAIN BIKING

There are plenty of off-road tracks in Denmark offering good exercise, fresh air and an adrenalin-inducing challenge. Be warned, though, that some locations forbid mountain biking because the rough wheels can tear the ground up.

While flat Zealand and Funen have limited possibilities restricted to the odd wood and bog, they still have a number of locations where challenging tracks have been laid out. Try the Red Track in Hareskoven, Store Dyrehave in Hillerød and Teglstrup Hegn if you’re near the capital. Other tracks on Zealand include the Blue Track in Himmelev and the White Track in Bidstrup Skovene by Roskilde. You can also opt for a trip to Funen and bike through Trunderupskoven, Kongebroskoven and Langesøskoven. And, if you do end up visiting the island of Møn, give Klinteskoven a try.

Jutland, with its hillier terrain, is the best option if you want to test yourself. Try Mols Bjerge, Hasle Bakker, Rold Skov, Fussing Lake or the Hammer Hills.

For more options check out: singletracker.dk 