Doverodde and Ydby Hede

Hiking trails, adventures and dining spots

Doverodde

Doverodde is a charming small town located in the southern part of Thy by the Limfjord. The town enjoys a fantastically beautiful location in one of the Limfjord's most scenic and culturally historically interesting areas.

One of the notable places in Doverodde is Doverodde Købmandsgård, which today houses SMK, a department of the Statens Museum for Art, with changing exhibitions and activities. It is a cultural hub that attracts visitors from near and far.

The cozy marina is only a 5-minute walk from the beautiful, well-preserved merchant's farm from 1848. The harbor has a rich history dating back to the time when Doverodde was the center of the grain and cattle trade with England. The jetty bears witness to a time when there was regular shipping between Doverodde and England across the North Sea.

Ydby Hede

Ydby Hede in Thy is home to the country's largest group of Bronze Age mounds, with a total of 49 of these impressive burial mounds.

Located at the top of a ridge facing Skibsted Fjord, which is part of the Limfjord, the burial mounds on Ydby Hede are clearly visible. East of the depression Brokær, the mounds stretch up onto the Boddum peninsula, which was an island in the Stone Age.

The hills are characterized by ravines with old road tracks that lead down to the fjord from both sides. These hollow roads follow the mounds all the way down to the foot of the hill. Although the age of the roads is not known, it is likely that some of them are thousands of years old, as are the mounds.

The large number of mounds and road tracks at Ydby Hede testify that this place has been important for millennia and has been of interest to people in different time periods.

Also imagine the impressive sight of Cnut the Great's fleet, said to have consisted of more than 1,000 ships, anchored here before the Vikings set sail for England. This historical image gives a sense of the area's strategic importance and its connection to important events in the past.

The hiking trails

Below you see the selected hiking trails from the hiking area with mileage.

We have prioritized the trails with our favorite trail in the area as the first.

You get information about each hiking trail by clicking on the pictures.

Ideal sequence of the paths in relation to transport

We recommend that you walk the hiking trails in the following order to minimize the distance required for transportation between them:

  • Ydby Hede (Oldtidshøje route) 2,6 km ⚫ (1)
  • Hjertestien in Dover Plantation 4,5 km ❤️ (3)
  • Boddum Bisgård route 6,2 km 🔵 (2)
  • Doverodde route 2,2 km 🟢 (4)
  • Næssund route 8,1 Km 🔴 (5)

You can choose to skip paths so that the distance fits what you want to walk. For example, if you want to walk 15.5 km, you simply end after the Doverodde route.

Be aware:

Ydby Hede (Oldtidshøje route) and Hjertestien in Doverodde Plantage are not marked on the map in the leaflet, but both coincide with the Oldtidshøje route. You can see both routes on the map above.

Ydby Hede (Oldtidshøje route) and Hjerterstien in Doverodde can be advantageously followed by each other.

If you want to walk both paths, you can continue to follow the Oldtidshøje route to the right when you reach the asphalt road on the Ydby Hede route and after approx. 100 m follow the Hjertestien (by the arrow on the map) and then go back in the opposite direction.

The return journey on the Næssund route is mainly on tarmac and offers a fantastic view over the farmland and Dover Møllekær. If you don't want to walk so much on tarmac, you can take the route you came back to Doverodde.

Experiences and sights

  • Ydby Heath and the Old Mounds

    The ancient mounds on Ydby Hede are the country's largest group of Bronze Age mounds with a total of 49. and stretches all the way down to the part of the Limfjord called Skibsted Fjord.

    The burial mounds are so close together that the area is called the 'Old Cemetery'.

    The hills are furrowed by canyons with old road tracks that lead down to the fjord from both sides. The hollow roads follow the mounds all the way down to the foot of the hill and some of them are probably thousands of years old, just like the mounds.
    Address

  • Heltborg Museum & the iron age farm

    Heltborg Museum's art department contains several artists associated with Thy. Among other things, a large number of works by the painter Jens Søndergaard (1895-1957).

    The cultural history department contains a large collection of agricultural implements from the first half of the 20th century. In the local history section, the local poet Hans Bakgaard has his own memorial room.

    A reconstruction of an Iron Age house has been erected outside the museum.
    Address

  • Heltborg Mill

    Heltborg Mølle is a ground-hugger Dutch windmill built in 1875. It consists of an octagonal superstructure with thatched roofing on a brick foundation with an earthen embankment and a basement made of rubble stones. The mill has three floors above the basement.

    The cap is onion-shaped and covered with roofing felt. The sails have lattice framework for sails and are equipped with an external hoisting mechanism. It is a small mill that is manually turned with a tail.

    The mill underwent extensive restoration from 1977 to 1981, and in 2002, it received new sails. Now, the mill stands as a splendid landmark for Heltborg.
    Address

  • Jættestuen Lundehøj

    The passage grave Lundehøj is Thy's only preserved passage grave.

    In addition to the main chamber, which is just over seven meters long, Lundehøj's passage grave has a small side chamber, measuring about two meters on each side. Passage graves with side chambers are a type that is particularly common in the area around Limfjorden.

    Lundehøj stands out from other passage graves by having a stone with petroglyphs. These include, among other things, a human figure, a four-legged animal, and a sun wheel.
    Address

  • The troll Ask from Ashøj

    Up at the hill Ashøj, there is a troll hiding in the forest. In a secret place, in the middle of a clearing, sits the troll Ask from Ashøj with a stone in one hand and a stick in the other.

    The troll Ask from Ashøj was created by the internationally recognized artist Thomas Dambo, who has built trolls from recycled wood all over the world.

    Ask is the eighth troll in a series of 10 that he performed in Denmark in 2020 and is the biggest troll in Denmark so far.
    Address

  • Ashøje Udsigtstårn

    From Ashøje Udsigtstårn you can enjoy the magnificent view over the North Sea and the Limfjord, and even all the way to Mors.

    From here, if the weather is good, as many as 17 of Sydthy's churches can be counted.

    At 93 meters, Ashøje is Thy's highest point.

    In the plantation below the lookout tower, you can also see "Den Frie Talerstol", made in granite by the artist Knud Højrup.
    Address

Restaurants and cafés

  • Hotel Thinggaard

    Hotel Thinggaard is located in Hurup Thy, close to Thy National Park, in the middle of the sparkling North See and the beautiful Limfjord.

    The restaurant is a good combination of the classic and the new Nordic cuisine, where the menu is divided into a 5-course gourmet menu and an a la carte menu.
    More info Address

  • Café Røgter

    Café Røgter ligger centralt i Hurup Thy med en hyggelig, uformel stemning perfekt til morgenkaffe, frokost eller en pause i hverdagen. Atmosfæren vækker minder om det klassiske bagværk og samvær.

    Menukortet tilbyder et bredt udvalg af friske smørrebrød, salater, sandwiches og varme hovedretter, samt fristende børneretter, alt tilberedt med kvalitet og serveret til fair priser
    Mere info Adresse

  • Centralen

    Centralen is the dining venue at SMK Thy – a new gathering place where food, people, and local ingredients come together.

    With a focus on seasonal Danish produce, organic principles, and reducing food waste, dishes are prepared with care for both guests, nature, and the community.
    More info Address

Equipment for your hike

Thy Outdoor - Thisted

Thy Outdoor is a shop that sells equipment for nature lovers, hunters, anglers and families with dogs and cats.

The almost 1000 m2 store, which is located in Thisted, contains everything you need for your hiking adventure!

In the webshop you can find products that are also represented in the store.

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