Ydby: Heath, Burial Mounds and Routes

Ydby brings landscape and cultural heritage together in a special way: Ydby Hede is home to Denmark’s largest group of Bronze Age burial mounds, while various routes highlight scenic views, woodland and historic sites. From the heath, you can look out over Skibsted Fjord. Other routes lead into Ydby Skov or along Trankær Hole. This lets you shape your stay around the subjects that interest you most, rather than reducing Ydby to a single excursion spot.

Ydby Hede: Nature and History

The heath offers two distinct starting points for your exploration: views of Skibsted Fjord and the distinctive natural setting of its eastern outliers. According to the Danish Nature Agency’s area plan of 12 October 2023, the two eastern outliers of Ydby Hede are part of Natura 2000 site no. 23, “Agger Tange, Nissum Bredning, Skibsted Fjord and Agerø.” The view and the protected-area designation are two separate aspects of the heath: one draws your gaze to the fjord, while the other highlights the special status of its eastern outliers.

A defining part of the heath’s cultural heritage is the Oldtidskirkegården. It is Denmark’s largest group of Bronze Age burial mounds and comprises 49 graves in total. The number makes clear that this is a group of graves, not a single burial site. Visitors can walk among the burial mounds towards the Limfjord. This brings archaeological traces together with a walk through the landscape. If you are interested in history, you will find a tangible connection to the Bronze Age here; at the same time, the opportunity to walk among the graves invites you to experience the site as more than just a name or an individual attraction.

Church Architecture and Historic Sites

Ydby Kirke adds another architectural dimension to Ydby. Its chancel and nave were built from granite blocks during the Romanesque period. The building elements and construction material bring the architecture to life, while its Romanesque origins offer a different historical perspective from the Bronze Age burial mounds. Ydby is therefore home to several types of cultural heritage: the graves on the heath and the church’s Romanesque architecture.

Cirkus Miehes Mausoleum also offers a distinct point of interest. It is located in an ancient burial mound and is a stop on the Dover-Skov route. The connection between the mausoleum and the burial mound adds another place to the area’s historic themes, without suggesting that the two sites are the same: the heath is known for its group of Bronze Age burial mounds, while the mausoleum itself lies in an ancient burial mound.

Choose Routes by Their Features

The Dover-Skov route starts at the car park by the entrance to Ydby Skov, where Ydbyvej meets Oddesundvej, and passes the mausoleum. The Flarup route takes a detour along Siagervej into Ydby Skov. It offers views across fields and towards Nissum Bredning in the distance. The Sønder-Ydby route follows Trankær Hole. There, you can also take a marked route of about 800 m around the Nordisk Center for Vedvarende Energi.

These features offer different ways to choose an excursion: on the Dover-Skov route, the starting point at the forest entrance and the mausoleum along the way are the main highlights. Flarup combines a detour into Ydby Skov with views across fields and towards Nissum Bredning. In Sønder-Ydby, Trankær Hole and the option of a marked route around the centre are the key points. This allows you to choose between a historic mausoleum, woodland and distant views, or a marked route, depending on your interests.

Find a Holiday Home That Suits Your Trip

If you are looking for a holiday home in Ydby, it is worth deciding first what you want to focus on during your trip. Would you like to spend your holiday exploring the heath, its burial mounds and the views of Skibsted Fjord? Are you particularly interested in the routes into Ydby Skov and the views across fields? Or would you also like to include the church’s Romanesque architecture in your plans? These priorities can help you choose accommodation that suits the kind of holiday you have in mind. If you want to combine several themes, you can weigh up cultural heritage, landscape and the different features of the routes before narrowing down your choice of holiday home.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Kastrup, Boddum, Sønder Vorupør, Nørre Vorupør, Skyum, Krik, Hundborg, Vangså.

For the main travel guide, see: Thisted Municipality.