Hjardemål – Plantation, Cycle Route and Remarkable Village Church

Hjardemål combines an extensive plantation landscape with distinctive dunes, a national cycle route and remarkable church features.

Plantation, Dunes and Views

Hjardemål Plantation is a large, flat and fairly uniform plantation on raised seabed. The large dunes, which reach up to 27 metres there, provide a clear contrast in the landscape. As a result, the surroundings remain varied despite their generally flat character and offer different perspectives of the woodland and dune landscape.

A good landmark is the car park on Klitvej. There are two table-and-bench sets there. About 100 metres from the car park is a viewing tower with views over Hjardemål Plantation and the wind energy test centre. At the pond near Hjardemål on Klitvej, there is also a small rest area with a table and bench. Such specific places to take a break can help with planning the day when different interests and needs for breaks come together.

Cycling and Nature Observation

The Vestkyststien, national cycle route no. 1, runs through Hjardemål Dune Plantation. This makes a long-distance cycle route one of the defining experiences in the area. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore consider whether you primarily want to experience Hjardemål as a starting point for days of cycling, as a destination for exploring the landscape or as a combination of nature and culture.

During the rutting season, red deer can be heard and seen from a respectful distance in Hjardemål Plantation. This experience is tied to the rutting season and complements the rather tranquil impressions of viewpoints, paths and rest areas with a special moment in nature.

Churches with Unusual Details

Hjardemål Church is a Romanesque village church with a nave and chancel dating from around 1200. Its unusually tall brick tower dates from the 16th century and formerly served as a sea mark. Inside, it is worth looking at the altarpiece from 1837. The paintings on it were created by Lucie Ingemann, the wife of the poet B. S. Ingemann.

Hjardemål Klit Church also has several distinctive features of its own. It is located on the edge of Hjardemål Plantation. Its organ was built by the local organ builder N. Chr. Christensen from Snedsted and is considered the only one of its kind still in use in a church. The grave of RAF Pilot Officer Murray Anderson Butler is located in the churchyard. The altarpiece of Hjardemål Klit Church is a copy of Carl Bloch's painting “Christ in Gethsemane”.

Hjardemål Church is open from the morning bells until the evening bells. Anyone wishing to combine culture and nature can include a visit to the church, the landscape around the plantation and the area's other observation points in their travel plans.

Choosing Hjardemål as a Holiday Destination

When looking for suitable accommodation, the desired mix of experiences is particularly important. Cyclists consider the location in relation to their planned route, nature enthusiasts look for proximity to the plantation, dunes and viewpoints, while travellers interested in culture can focus on the two churches and their special details. A holiday apartment in Hjardemål thus provides a useful base for a holiday whose focus you can choose yourself, balancing activity, landscape, wildlife observation and culture.

More Ideas for Places to Visit

If you would like to consider additional destinations for your travel plans alongside Hjardemål: Hurup, Bedsted Thy, Nørre Vorupør, Vigsø, Morup Mølle, Vesløs, Sjørring and Agger.

For the main travel overview: Thisted Municipality.