Day 1. (Copenhagen to Bedsted by train) Nørre Vorrupør to Hantsholm

A tour of Denmark’s surf coast, “cold Hawaii”.

55.6km, 198m climb, easy

Description

An early start from Copenhagen will get you to the starting town of Bedsted in North Jutland by early afternoon. From there the route follows quiet back roads towards the coastal plain, taking a few paths and gravel tracks. There’s then a small road into the surfing village of Nørre Vorrupør.

There’s a modern visitor centre/museum telling you about the national park and of course there’s a good beach for wind/kite/surfing with plenty of places to rent or get instruction.

Heading North out of town you turn off road through the coastal heathland, a contrast to the forests that will also be part of this route. After this short section you’ll then join a big cycle track on the main coast road for a period before heading off on quiet back roads and short sections of single track into the next surfing village of Klitmøller.

Klitmøller to Hantsholm is all on cycle path: there’s only one road across this exposed area of national park heath land. Then coming into Hantsholm you climb one of the few “hills” on this route, but only about 80m high.

Don’t be put off by the name of Hantsholm Madhus: mad means food in Danish and this food is amazing. It is up there with quite a few of the better-known Michelin restaurants.

Also in Hantsholm is one of the largest preserved remains of the Atlantic Wall, the bunkers built by the Nazis in World War II. Visiting the Bunkermuseum will give a detailed introduction to the bunkers and their purpose; you’ll see them in various places over the next few days.

Overnight

There’s some rooms at Hantsholm Madhus, a functional hotel (Hotel Hantsholm) or do as we did and stay at the relatively wild shelters in the forest amongst some of the Atlantic Wall bunkers.

A bunker and wind turbine close to the overnight shelters

Some of the dishes at Hantsholm Madhus