Hiking On The Archipelago Trail, South Funen – Tours and Tips februar 23, 2022 – Posted in: Denmark, Travel – Tags: Archipelago Trail, Denmark, Funen, Hiking Trails, Holiday, South Funen, South Funen Archipelago, Svendborg, Vacation

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The Archipelago Trail – Øhavsstien

The Archipelago Trail, Øhavsstien, is a 220 km long, marked hiking route that stretches across South Funen and the islands. From Faaborg in the west to Lundeborg in the east and across Langeland, Tåsinge and Ærø, you can walk through the beautiful landscape on what is one of the longest hiking routes in Denmark.

Many go hiking in the summer, but with a pair of rainproof hiking boots, you can also walk the trails in the winter. It’s a well-kept secret among the locals that South Funen is just as beautiful on a February day as in the summer!.

We can only recommend you to take an off season vacation in South Funen and spend a day or two on one of the lovely hiking trails on the Øhavsstien, which you can read about here.

4 suggestions for hiking The Archipelago Trail

Although we are really happy to hike, we haven’t yet walked the entire path yet. Here you’ll only get suggestions for trips on the trail, which we have already walked and can give recommendations for. But you can find all the routes and maps of the individual trails right here: Books, maps and movies about the Archipelago Trail. The hikes are divided into 7 maps, which are the ones we refer to in the text.

The hiking suggestions here are only suggestions, and feel free to shorten the route, as you like.

Svendborg: Christiansminde to Rantzausminde

We’ll head off from Svendborg (map 4). There are few paths in Svendborg that we haven’t yet walked, so we can honestly tell you, that the most beautiful walk takes place along the water. Take Helge to Christiansminde and move towards the city along the romantic path along the sea. If you’ve had enough walking for now, take a break and resume walk another day.

When ready, continue around the harbor, around the old yellow Warehouse and along Kullinggade. At Forskerparken in no. 29, you can turn left again and walk along the waterfront. The small staircase to the right behind the car park leads to an old fishing port and on to the round Marina. Feel free to stop for a little refreshment in the kiosk before the trip continues to the bridge.

Follow Strandvej until you are under the pillars of the bridge and then turn left down towards the water again. You can now choose to visit the beautiful Sct. Jørgens Kirke or continue along the seafront to Lille Eng and all the way to Brechts Hus. Even though it looks like there is no path along the water, it is there, and you just have to follow the signs for Øhavsstien. From Brechts Hus you can take a bus back to Svendborg.

Valdemar’s Castle: From Svendborg to Troense

Another beautiful route is the trip from Svendborg and across the Svendborgsund bridge to Tåsinge, where Valdemar’s Castle is located (map 4). If you want to shorten the route, Helge also stops at the castle. But the walk through the idyllic Troense with the old fishermen’s houses shows a unique village life that you rarely find elsewhere.

Continue to Valdemar’s Castle. The castle itself is closed for the public, but you can always go for a walk in the beautiful area. Afterwards you continue on to Nørreskoven. It was in this forest that Elvira Madigan and Sixten Sparre met their fate. You can read more about the story here: Elvira and Sixten. Returning to Svendborg, you can either go by Helge or take the bus from Troense.

Tranekær Castle and surroundings

The trip here takes place in the beautiful forests that belong to Tranekær Castle on Langeland (map 5). From Svendborg you can take the bus to Tranekær. In Rudkøbing you have to get off the buss and swtich to the bus marked “Lohals”. If you go by car, you will in Tullebølle pass Stæhrs Bageri. Do stop here buy a cake for the hike!

Get off at the castle and go north to Galgebakken and on to the beautiful red castle mill. Then turn left towards Korsebølle until you reach Korsebølle Kohave. Here you can turn onto the Øhavsstien and follow it down through the magical Åsø Forest.

From Tranekær Church you can get on the bus back to Svendborg. However, it is recommended to have lunch at Restaurant Generalen in the ancient horse stables, before continuing the trip with a visit to the art and castle park TICKON and the Medicine Gardens.

Vejstrup Ådal northeast of Svendborg

From Svendborg drive out towards Nyborg (map 3). After you have left Øster Åby, a small road appears on your right hand side, leading to Vejstrup Ådal and the scout house. If you come by bus, get off at the forst stop in Vejstrup and walk back.

Once you have found Vejstrup Å, just head out there on the left bank. It’s about 3 km to the large farm, Ågård, where you have to make a turn, up and to the right. Follow Ågårdsvej until you reach Vængemosevej. Here you can either choose to go back towards Skårup and Øster Øby – or you can continue on Øhavsstien.

The route goes all the way into Svendborg, but you can at any time turn right onto one of the major roads, all of which lead to the country road where you cab catch the bus. Also remember to bring a packed lunch! It is only inside Skårup and at the campsites by the sea in Skårupøre and Åbyskov, where you can get something to eat and drink.

Find a great hotel in Svendborg

Are you looking for a good hotel in Svendborg, we have collected a list of lovely hotels for you, all of which can be booked through Booking.com. See more hotels by doing your own search here:

Booking.com

A kids-friendly hotel in Svendborg

Hotel Christiansminde forms a lovely setting for a holiday with children. Here you live right by the beach with the long jetty, playground, ice parlour and mini golf course. In the hotel there is a games room in the basement with table tennis and a swimming pool, and on the sumptuous breakfast buffet there is something that all children like! From Christiansminde it is a 15 minute walk to Svendborg.

Read more about the hotel here: Hotel Christiansminde

A great hotel in Svendborg

Stay at the lovely Hotel Svendborg right in the city center. Whether you come by train or car, the hotel is easy to get to. The rooms are large and tastefully decorated. It is possible to choose a room with view of the city. Dine well in the hotel’s own Restaurant Krinsen, which has a menu inspired by seasonal local ingredients.

Read more about the hotel here: Best Western Plus Hotel Svendborg

An affordable hotel in the city center

If you’re planning to be out and about all day and just need a bed to sleep in, you will also find good and cheap accommodation in Svendborg. At Hotel Garni you live right by the harbor, opposite the train station and a 2-minute walk from the pedestrian zone. The hotel has 18 well-appointed rooms with everything you need for your holiday – including free wifi. Once you have checked in at Best Western Plus Hotel Svendborg, where you can also have breakfast, you can come and go as you please.