Hærvejen
Hærvejen is one of Denmark's longest walking and cycling routes - and it is also one of the most popular.
Why?
With a length of approx. 500 km, the route continues from the German border to Frederikshavn and / or Hirtshals - or vice versa.
Here you will be able to experience a large part of Denmark's nature - from the sea, forest to open land - and a large part of Denmark's history.
You need to know about the trip
The route consists of several stages. It is estimated that the trip - going from one end to the other - will take approx. 3-4 weeks depending on pace and experience.
This means that if you want to hike the route in 3 weeks, you have to hike around the 20-30 km daily. a day.
Where to start from:
You can start from either Frederikshavn or Hirtshals - or from Padborg and hike north.
If you take the Frederikshavn-Padborg route, the route is approx. 490 km. If you start or end in Hirtshals, the distance will be approx. 475 km. long.
Or:
You can choose to "only" walk the oldest part of Hærvejen, which is from Padborg-Viborg, which is approx. 280km. long.
For you who want to cycle the route:
Hærvejen's cycle route is not the same as the hiking route.
The cycle route goes from Padborg to Frederikshavn - or vice versa - and is approx. of 450 km.
The difference in the route comes from the fact that where the hiking route continues through Viborg further towards Aars, the cycle route goes through Viborg and to Hobro instead.
Development Hærvejen recommends that you follow the route from 1 May to 1 October, as the weather during this period is most optimal, and there are most accommodation options.
Accommodation, shopping and experiences
There are many kilometers to hike daily. However, Hærvejen's route goes through several cities, so during the day you will come across supermarkets, as well as farm and grocery stores.
In addition, you will also encounter several restaurants, cafes and other fast food options along the route.
Here there will be a lot more opportunities in North and Central Jutland than in South Jutland.
Accommodation is also required for:
You will be able to find several different options within accommodation on Hærvejen - everything from shelters to hotels and inns.
Some hostels are even specially equipped to accommodate overnight cyclists and hikers.
Experiences are also part of:
What makes Hærvejen so popular - in addition to the fantastic nature - are the exciting experiences along the route.
Go through Denmark's history on Hærvejen - from the Stone Age to recent times - and experience ancient monuments, monuments and the history of what was once Denmark.
For those with a craving for more buzz in the stomach, Hærvejen also goes around several animal and amusement parks!
The history of the Army Road
Dear child has many names - and so has Hærvejen.
Over time, the route has i.a. have been called: Studevejen, Oksevejen, Kongevejen, Romervejen or just Landevejen.
Because:
In the past, the "army roads" were a very important road for traffic. Not only was it used by many, it was also used for various purposes - including as the king's army strait, viz. as the king's own private road - which is also the reason for the route's name.
However, the army road was also used as a pilgrimage route, as well as army, trade and freight roads, and was therefore one of the busier roads.
However, Hærvejen has not always been popular:
The army road actually went into oblivion around the 19th century when the railway came into being, and it was not until the 20th century that the route was again hiked on.
What should you bring on the trip?
Although there is no final package list for the route, we did find some recommendations from previous hikers.
These include:
- Think about what you want out of the hike. If you expect to live in shelters or out in nature, you must of course bring equipment such as tents, sleeping mats, mosquito spray, etc.
If you expect to stay indoors throughout the trip, use the space for something else - as little weight as possible is optimal!The same with the weather conditions. Should there be sunshine, windy weather or rain? - Consider what you can easily move in, which can keep you warm at the same time.
- Bring shoes that are good for asphalt!
Part of the route takes place on asphalt, and it is really hard for the body to walk on if you are not prepared for it. - Bring entertainment for the evening. It can, for example, be in the form of a powerbank for mobile / iPad, games or something else.
- Do not bring much food. Remember that it is possible to buy food every day - so save weight!
