Visitors considering a stay in Dunkær on Ærø will find several different points of interest: the mill is in the village, while Vejnæs Nakke and Sjoen are nearby; the Øhavsstien offers a chance to experience the island as a hiking destination. These places are not all in the same location, and making this distinction is useful when planning.
The mill and historical traces
Dunkær Mølle stands in Dunkær at Møllegyden 36. A 1989 museum publication lists the mill among the surviving windmills with an intact cap and body, but no sails.
Nearby at Sjoen are the remains of Sct. Albert, a Viking Age fortification. Textiles and jewellery were traded at the nearby trading site of Havsmarken. The history of the Ærø Redningskorps also began in Dunkær: it was founded as a combined haulage, fire and rescue station.
Coastal landscape and shelters
Vejnæs Nakke is near Dunkær. The coastal cliff is 2 km long and up to 20 m high. Parking is available near both ends. The cliff’s length and the location of the parking areas are therefore useful points of reference for this part of the surrounding area.
There are two shelters near Sjoen, with a total of nine sleeping places. They are reserved for visitors who arrive under their own power, for example by rowing boat, bicycle or on foot. This condition is part of the overnight accommodation choice: the shelters are an option only for travellers whose means of arrival meet this requirement.
Hiking and connections on Ærø
For the Dunkær/Rise hike, the route description recommends Dunkær Kro as the starting point. The route also passes the site of a Viking trading post. The Øhavsstien offers another perspective: 36 km of the 220 km-long hiking route run across Ærø, covering a large part of the South Funen Archipelago. As a longer-distance hiking route, the Øhavsstien runs for 36 km on Ærø, is 220 km long in total, and covers a large part of the South Funen Archipelago.
Free bus services run from Dunkær to Marstal, Ærøskøbing and Søby. Check the timetable for your travel day before choosing accommodation based on these connections. This will help you distinguish between the named bus destinations, the routes on Ærø and the experiences in the area around Dunkær when planning. Dunkær also has a butcher’s shop and a pub. If you plan to run an errand or stop for a meal, check their opening hours before your trip and plan your day accordingly.
Discover more destinations: Søby Ærø, Bro, Skovby, Marstal, Kragnæs and Ærøskøbing.
Return to the main travel overview: Ærø Municipality.
