Martofte: Cycling, Hiking and History

Cycling, hiking and cultural history offer different perspectives on a trip to Martofte. Routes include a coastal stretch towards Midskov, a cycle tour of around 60 kilometres and a long church walk. Archaeological sites, a museum open seasonally and the history of an estate add to the range of themes. When planning your holiday, you can decide whether you would rather explore by bike, discover places on foot or take time to learn about the past.

Cycling and Hiking

Cycle Route 42 turns onto Langøvej in Martofte and then continues partly along the coast towards Midskov. The Hindsholm Circular Route offers a different kind of ride: it is about 60 kilometres long and gently hilly. Its route and length give you different points of reference when planning your cycling days. The approximate distance and the terrain described make it clear that this is a longer circular ride, without implying an exact travel time.

On foot, the Kircherundtur på Hindsholm is a long walking route that takes you to five churches on Hindsholm. It is considered safe from traffic because a large part of the route follows the disused railway line that once ran from Odense via Kerteminde to Martofte. This offers a different way to spend the day than a cycling tour, with a longer walk and several churches as destinations at its centre. When planning your stay, you can consider this route as a dedicated hiking option alongside the cycling opportunities.

Archaeological Traces and Estate History

Mårhøj/Snavehøjen is a Neolithic burial mound with a seven-metre-long passage leading to a chamber made of 18 supporting stones and seven massive capstones. Its structure gives the monument its distinctive shape: the passage, supporting stones and capstones are all part of a single chamber. Mårhøj/Snavehøjen is considered Denmark’s largest single-chamber burial mound and has been protected since 1888.

Another protected monument is Hesthøj, a large passage grave near Martofte. The area around Martofte also contains settlement and burial finds from the Early Iron Age. Together with the Neolithic burial mound, these offer different perspectives on archaeological sites and finds across time. The history of Schelenborg Estate dates back to the 13th century, when the estate was known as Eskebjerg. Prehistoric remains and the recorded history of an estate thus appeal to different interests in the past.

The Hindsholm Local History Museum

The Hindsholm Local History Museum focuses mainly on tools that bear witness to the hard manual labour of rural life. These objects provide a tangible focus for a museum visit centred on the history of rural work. The museum is open in weeks 26 to 32 during the school summer holidays, on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 1 pm to 5 pm. Check these seasonal opening hours before your trip if you would like to include a visit in your plans.

Hiking and Swimming in the Wider Region

In the wider area around Martofte, Fynshoved offers several hiking routes, including a well-used path around the headland. There are also different coastal spots for swimming: on the eastern side of Fynshoved, you can swim in the Great Belt, while on the western side you can swim at Korshavnen. There is a child-friendly sandy beach there with calm water. For families planning a day at the beach, the sandy shore and calm water are specific features of this western stretch of coast.

Choose the Focus of Your Holiday in a Holiday Home

When looking for a holiday home in Martofte, you can start by considering what you would like to focus on during your holiday. The Hindsholm Circular Route offers an approximate tour length and described terrain, while the church walk is a long route to five churches. The museum and burial mound offer different experiences, from rural working history to archaeological discoveries. Fynshoved is another regional option for hiking and days at the beach.

Discover more destinations: Kerteminde, Marslev, Mesinge, Midskov, Kertinge, Munkebo, Dalby, Tårup

Go to the main travel overview: Kerteminde.