We are loving our drive through Denmark and it seems even more splendid than it might at other times of the year. The lush green rolling countryside of the Jutland peninsula, is interspersed with fields of brilliant yellow crops of rapeseed (or oil seed rape). The pace of travel on the smaller country roads is dictated by the speed of the tractors and other farm machinery and Danish farmyards are a picture. Often set around an immaculately gravelled courtyard, the farmhouse and other farm buildings form the perimeter. Whitewashed or redbrick walls, some half timbered, they are usually red roofed but sometimes beautifully thatched. And as farmland makes up 62% of land use, farm houses are everywhere.

Heading north along the E45 motorway (the most moisturised motorway in all of Europe, if you know you know), we passed Ejer Bavnehøj Møllehøj the tallest mountain in Denmark. Standing at a ‘staggering’ 170.95m (about 560ft) it has not been without controversy, as the honours of highest peak have gone back and forth between it and the nearby peak of Yding Skovhøj which at 170.89m (560.6ft), though taller, was removed from the top spot by virtue of a performance enhancing ancient burial mound which graces its summit. Read more about the battle of the heights here:  The Highest Point in Denmark. These prominent places were once beacon hills, upon which signal fires were lit to warn local military and civilians that the enemy was approaching.

We spent two nights in a beachside campsite south of the city of Aarhus, where natures very own wave machine lulled us to sleep and woke us again in the morning. The coastline here is bang up against the forest and walking paths and bike trails are everywhere. We love that whether in the towns or countryside there are dedicated bike paths and Danes bike everywhere. Denmark has over 12,000km of bike paths and more than 50% of workers in the capital Copenhagen bike to work daily, even in winter. 

We biked into the port city of Aarhus and explored this once Viking settlement dates back to around 770A.D. Although filled with charm and history, there is a very modern edge to this growing University city, as well as a thriving art and culture scene. The cathedral is a unique redbrick building and the are around Møllestien where hollyhocks and rambling roses vie for attention in front of rickety old half-timber cottages. Then on the other side of the coin are new modern housing complexes like the Iceberg and the ARoS Art Museum, with its striking Rainbow rooftop walkway. Aarhus has so much to recommend it but for now we have to put a pin in the map to come back again when we have some more time. 

Next stop Aalborg and then onward to the ferry port at Hirtshals from where we catch our ferry to Kristiansand, Norway

Note: Did you know you are never more than 52km from the ocean in Denmark or that the Danish flag is the oldest state flag in the world. You know I love some fun facts so I thought I’d add this link for fellow enthusiasts: Fun Facts about Denmark