Flocking to the Danish coast – not just for birds

The beauty of the Danish coast draws many visitors to its tall dunes, sandy beaches, salt meadows and flat marshlands. Some come to enjoy the beaches, 200 of which have been recognised by the EU Blue Environmental Flag scheme, whilst others come to enjoy the many walking, cycling and driving routes that meander along the coast.

And the Danish Forest and Nature Agency has just announced that within the next year it expects to appoint the first of five ‘national parks’ in Denmark, providing even more opportunities for wildlife and tourists to enjoy the rich natural resources of the coastline.

The first of these National Parks will be at Thy, which will incorporate the lighthouse at Hanstholm and extend as far south along the West Jutland coast as Agger Tange. This stretch of coastline is also famed for the natural phenomenon of the 10-12 million migratory birds that gather to rest and feed there en route to and from their breeding grounds twice a year, for the spring migration in April and May and the autumn migration in September and October.

The other National Parks are expected to include Skjern A, which is west of the Ringkøbing Fjord in West Jutland and Vadehavet (the Wadden Sea) also in South West Jutland; Mols Bjerge which is on the Djursland peninsula of East Jutland and Kongernes Nordsjælland, which is on North Sealand.

For birdwatchers wishing to see the migration, visiting birds include thousands of geese that gather in the meadows in October, plus Bitterns whose fascinating cry can be heard amongst the banks of reeds and giant flocks of starlings that create the natural phenomenon known as ‘Black Sun’. All these can be seen using the network of knowledgeable guides, bird watching towers, trails and boardwalks which are available all along the coast. For more information on bird watching in West Jutland visits Beaksandbreaks.com

In addition to the birdlife, The Wadden Sea in South West Jutland, which is likely to become a National Park, provides a unique wetland habitat for a range of marine life. Twice a day the low tide reveals the seabed and makes it possible to walk to Mandø island. It is also home to the largest community of spotted seals in Denmark. Seal Safaris leave Esbjerg Harbour daily to go seal watching off the coast of Fanø. Or see seals and mink up close at in Esbjerg at the Fisheries and Maritime Museum, where there are also displays of the history of sailing on the Wadden Sea from the Viking Age to the present day. For details see Fimus.dk.

For visitors who wish to explore more of the ancient history of the coast, the new GeoCenter at Møns Klint opened in May 2007. Having taken nine years to develop and build, this new attraction showcases the spectacular chalk cliffs on Møn’s east coast through an interactive visitors centre to tell the story of Denmark's geological development from 70 million years ago to the present today. For details Moensklint.dk.

Other ways to enjoy the coast by car or bicycle include the scenic Marguerite Routes. This is a network of minor coastal roads covering over 3,000 km, which have been chosen for their natural beauty and are marked on the road by a brown sign with a white daisy. These routes are popular with cyclists and are shown on a map with a green line. The route through Skælskør on Sealand takes in manors and castles, as well as views of the Great Belt Bridge, and is said to be one of the most beautiful bike routes in Denmark. See Skaelskoer-turisme.dk for more details.

Getting there …

DFDS Seaways offering a regular service of departures between Harwich and Esbjerg, in West Jutland with prices start from only £29 per person one way. By air, SAS has direct daily flights from London Heathrow, London City Airport, Birmingham, Manchester or Aberdeen to Copenhagen. Visit Flysas.co.uk.

Alternatively Sterling has daily flights from Gatwick to Aalborg or Billund in Jutland and to Copenhagen. Visit Sterling.dk for more details. On arrival Europcar offers car hire rates from £145 per week. To book visit Europcar.co.uk.

For more information on Denmark go to Visitdenmark.com.