Holiday apartment in Ikast-Brande Municipality – Nature, Water and Culture

Ikast-Brande Municipality combines open heathland landscapes, paths along the water and cultural sites. A hiking route of around 5 kilometres runs around Hampen Sø. Swimming is permitted at two beaches on the western and northern sides of the lake; at the same time, Hampen Sø is one of two registered bathing lakes in Ikast-Brande Municipality.

Nature and paths

Harrild Hede offers a vast heathland landscape with large open areas, a species-rich bird and animal life, as well as cultural and historical sights. Near the Harrild Hede Nature Centre, there are tent and shelter sites, a forest playground, fire pits and marked paths in Nørlund Plantage, Harrild Hede and Castenschiolds Hede. The nature centre is also aimed at tourists and provides information about the local nature and culture.

The route near Harrild Hede includes a forest playground, accessible toilets, viewpoints and a camping area. From Smedebæk, it is 6.4 kilometres on foot to the nature school at Harrild Hede. Bus route 190 between Ikast and Brande stops in Smedebæk; from there, the access route continues to the nature school.

The former railway line is also now part of the path network: The former railway track near Hampen was converted into cycle and hiking paths towards Funder near Silkeborg and Brande. Another distinctive route is the long route “Perlen Bølling Sø – en del af Danmarks Naturstier”, with a length of 11.6 kilometres. It passes through meadows, heathland and marshland areas close to the water and offers a species-rich birdlife as well as striking views across the lake.

Water landscapes

In Ikast-Brande Municipality, there are good opportunities for canoeing and kayaking on many lakes and waterways. The flowing waters and lakes offer opportunities to fish for sea trout, brown trout, pike and grayling, as well as typical freshwater fish found in the lakes. In some public areas along waterways and lakes owned by Ikast-Brande Municipality, fishing with a rod is permitted free of charge.

Culture and history

Klosterlund Museum is located in a former peat factory and conveys the history of the peat industry and heathland cultivation around Bølling Sø. In summer, the museum’s volunteer staff demonstrate how peat work was carried out in the grandparents’ day. Visitors taking the audio walk will find parking spaces, toilets, tables and benches, as well as a covered picnic shelter there.

In Ikast, Kunstpakhuset presents changing exhibitions of contemporary Danish and international art in a renovated former railway warehouse. Brande preserves several of the original gable paintings from 1968. In the summer of that year, a total of 23 colourful large-scale artworks were created there.

In the middle of Frisenborgparken stands Ikast Stenen, a two-part sculpture by Jørgen Haugen Sørensen and the first sculpture in the park. It is considered one of the artist’s major works. In Uhre, Uhre Mølle is a listed monument, fully restored and operational; the complete inventory has also been preserved. An exhibition of display panels on the history of the mill is located in an adjacent building.

Den Gamle Købmandsgård i Uhre now serves as a merchant museum and gallery for changing exhibitions on various themes. The shop is authentic and furnished according to the original store. Visitors can also book a guided tour of Den Gamle Købmandsgård i Uhre.

Paths in the surrounding area

The Hærvejen runs through Ikast-Brande near Engesvang, Stenholt Skov and Nørre Snede. A 6.5-kilometre historical hike on the Hærvejen leads from Vester Palsgård Skovmuseum to Nørre Snede Church.

Other places

Further local pages in this destination area can be found under Ejstrupholm, Hampen, Brande, Smedebæk, Engesvang and Nørre Snede.

To the higher-level travel overview: Central Jutland.

More destinations

More places under the same destination:

Viborg Municipality, Skive Municipality.