The hill tour – The South Funen Alps

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Distance 33 km Every year, more than 300,000 guests visit the ”South Funen Alps” Svanninge Hills and Svanninge Mountains north of Faaborg for hiking, horseback riding, running and sporting events.

Difficulty: This tour has many climbs and descents. The trip therefore requires you to be reasonably fit. The roads are narrow and asphalted with little traffic. The route is suitable for narrow tyres.

Suitability for children: There are few dangerous stretches of road, but the tour is very hilly with big climbs and is therefore not suitable for younger children.

Head east along the harbour to the roundabout, turn onto Diernæsvej past Faaborg Miniature Town. Follow Prices Havevej towards Diernæs. In Kaleko you pass Denmark’s oldest watermill. The trip goes along Smedebakken on the wide cycle path towards Diernæs. At the church, turn left onto Mosetoften towards Korinth. Follow the road signs up the first real climb until you reach the forest edge. Stop and enjoy the view of the South Funen archipelago. If you’ve caught your breath, walk into the forest. On your right, you’ll pass Holstenshuus’ old park complex, filled with secret places and ruins. Further on, on your left, you’ll pass the mysterious Sortesø, which is Funen’s largest bog lake, which, with its acidic brown moss water, has a very different animal and plant life.

Korinth, Sollerup and Trente Mill

You hit the A8 Reventlowsvej shortly before the Korinth village sign. Shortly after, turn left towards Sollerup and Gærup. Follow Gærupvej and later Sollerupvej where the Danish Nature Agency is located. There are nice walks down to Arreskov Lake (Funen’s largest lake) or up through the Devil’s Gorge to the left. If you are mountain biking, you can turn left and follow the marked paths into the forest. Cross the A43 Odensevej and follow it to the overview sign, where you turn right on Ny Stenderupvej (dirt road, otherwise you ride to the T-junction). Follow the road to the right.

On the top of the hill there is a rest area with tables and benches as well as a nice view of Arreskov Lake. Continue through Ny Stenderup and shortly after the village sign, turn left towards Håstrup. Shortly after, you pass Trente Mill, which also offers a nice stopover with the ”Kiss the Frog” nature experience hosting exhibitions and loan equipment for children. Take a walk between the mill’s lakes and find Saint Oluf’s well.

The Queen’s View, Trebjerg and Håstrup

Turn right onto Trentevej in the direction of Håstrup. The road changes its name to Stenlund and winds up and down to the west. Suddenly the landscape opens up with a magnificent view of the South Funen archipelago. To the right is a rest area called The Queen’s View and to the right a small path leads up to Trebjerg, which is one of Funen’s highest points at 128 metres above sea level. It pays to make this trip, at the top the local council has set up binoculars so you can study the magnificent view.

From here the trip quickly descends towards Håstrup, which is a charming village with many beautiful half-timbered farms. Continue through the village around the church, follow the Pallesgyden road towards Millinge. Ride along Præstevænget, turn right onto Stenbækvej and immediately left onto Skovgyden and Østerbyvej towards Faaborg. Follow the road to Millinge, turn left along the church alley towards Svanninge. At Svanninge Church, turn right onto Brahesvej. At the T-junction, turn right onto Kukkenbjerg (approx. 100 m) and turn left on Vængegyden until you hit Nyborgvej (A8) where you turn right. At the roundabout,

take the 3rd exit into Faaborg along Assensvej until you reach the centre of Faaborg again.