Holiday apartment in Nordfyns: Coastal paths and nature

Nordfyns combines historic townscapes, protected coastal landscapes and paths for walking and cycling tours. Between Bogense, Otterup and the landscapes along the Kattegat and Odense Fjord lie special natural areas, islands, museums and regional producers. Nordfyns thus reveals itself in many different facets – from old merchants’ houses to dunes, birdwatching towers and long cycling routes.

Culture

Bogense was founded during the 13th century. The old streets and houses, the Bybækken stream and Torvet form one of Denmark’s best-preserved and most beautiful historic merchant-town environments. Torvemarked in Bogense takes place every Thursday throughout the year, offering fruit, vegetables, cheese, flowers, vintage goods and handicrafts. Bogense is also home to a local copy of Manneken Pis dating from 1934. It is associated with stories about an abandoned child and a collection of many costumes.

In Otterup, Frelserens Hospital was inaugurated on 11 October 1722. It was built between 1720 and 1722 to house eight people in need from the nearby parishes. Using authentic rooms in the town’s second-oldest building, the Otterup Museum presents everyday life in the past as well as stories about people and crafts. Kappendrup Church, on the other hand, is not a Christian place of worship but a large Stone Age burial monument.

Nature

Near Grindløse lies the relatively well-preserved Grindløse Ås, a distinctive landform in the otherwise flat North Funen plain. It has been protected as a natural area since 1943. The park at Hofmansgave is open year-round from sunrise to sunset and contains many rare trees and plants.

Enebærodde is home to a lighthouse built in 1861 and the remains of fortifications constructed during the Gunboat Wars from 1807 to 1814. A 12-kilometre route runs through a protected landscape between the Kattegat and Odense Fjord. The hiking and cycling route passes through heathland, forest and beach landscapes, offering views of the sea, the lighthouse and a diverse birdlife.

Gyldensteen Strand is the site of Funen’s largest nature restoration project. There are broad, level paths and two birdwatching towers that are also accessible by wheelchair. From the birdwatching towers, white-tailed eagles and seals can be observed.

Around Langesø near Morud, an approximately 3-kilometre path leads through landscapes shaped by the Ice Age, past enormous fir trees and with views of the castle. Around Langesø, it is also possible to go for walks, take mountain bike tours and go horse riding. Flyvesandet Beach has Funen’s only true sand dunes, a child-friendly Blue Flag beach and views of Samsø. At Flyvesandet Beach, visitors can swim, walk in the forest and enjoy experiences in nature.

Æbelø is a protected island in the Kattegat near Bogense, with sensitive, untouched nature and wild animals. Vigelsø is the largest island in Odense Fjord and lies directly opposite Klintebjerg. Today, Vigelsø is a nature reserve with good paths and a diverse birdlife.

Paths and routes

The Clover Trails in Bogense comprise four routes ranging from 2.3 to 14.7 kilometres in length. They can be used on foot or by bicycle. The Gyldensteen Route is a 35-kilometre cycling route that passes the old irrigation canal at Gyldensteen Strand and Gyldensteen Castle. The Dallund Route is a 33-kilometre cycling tour through mostly flat terrain with little traffic; it passes a castle, an old church and rune stones.

The Nordfyns Coastal Path is a coastal hiking trail along beaches, dykes and paths near the coast. Its described sections run between Skåstrup and Bogense and between Flyvesandet and Enebærodde. On Nordfyn, the Marguerite Route runs for 72 kilometres through deep forests, open landscapes and historic sights and can be experienced by car or bicycle.

The VisitNordfyn Welcome Centre in Bogense provides maps of hiking trails on Nordfyn and throughout Funen. Flyvesandet has a special access condition: the place cannot be reached directly by bus or other public transport, but it can be reached by bicycle via smaller roads and Flyvesandsvej.

Culinary experiences

Near Morud, Ditlevsdal Bison Farm offers guided bison safaris among around 300 animals and is Europe’s largest bison farm. The restaurant at Ditlevsdal Bison Farm serves bison steak and bison burgers. Farm shops and local producers on Nordfyn offer, among other things, honey, cherries, beef and chicken products; visitors can see where the food is produced.

More local pages: Askeby, Bederslev, Bogense, Bårdesø, Gyngstrup, Hasmark, Jørgensø, Otterup, Skåstrup, Søndersø, Tåstrup, Skamby, Veflinge, Morud.

To the overarching travel overview: Funen.