At Hampen Sø, swimming is permitted at two beaches on the west and north sides. The lake is one of two registered bathing lakes in Ikast-Brande Municipality. If you prefer exploring on foot, there is a five-kilometre hiking route around the lake. This lets you enjoy the waterside landscape along a clearly defined route.
Heathland and trails
Harrild Hede offers a different landscape: vast open areas, a rich variety of birds and wildlife, and cultural and historical attractions characterise the area. Along the route near Harrild Hede, there is a forest playground, accessible toilets, viewpoints and a camping area. Near the Harrild Hede Nature Centre, there are also tent and shelter sites, fire pits and another forest playground. Marked trails run through Nørlund Plantage, Harrild Hede and Castenschiolds Hede. The Nature Centre also caters to tourists and provides information about the local nature and culture.
A longer tour takes you through another waterside landscape: the 11.6-kilometre route “Perlen Bølling Sø – en del af Danmarks Naturstier” passes through meadows, heathland and moorland. Along the way, a rich variety of birds and striking views across the lake shape the experience. The route is intended to be certified by the German Hiking Institute, which would make it one of the Hærvejen Pearls.
History at Bølling Sø
The Klosterlund Museum is housed in a former peat factory and tells the story of the peat industry and heathland cultivation around Bølling Sø. The exhibition “Stenalderjægerne ved Søen” introduces some of the lake’s earliest inhabitants. An audio walk also explores the area around the museum: its listening stations are located within a radius of up to 1.5 kilometres and can be visited in any order. Visitors taking the audio walk can use the car park, toilets, tables and benches, as well as a covered picnic shelter. In summer, the museum’s volunteers demonstrate how peat was harvested in their grandparents’ time. Check before your visit whether this seasonal demonstration is taking place during your trip.
Routes and outdoor activities
Near Hampen, a former railway line has been converted into cycling and hiking trails towards Funder near Silkeborg and Brande. The Hærvejen also provides a route to follow: within the municipality, it passes through Engesvang, Stenholt Skov and Nørre Snede. A historic 6.5-kilometre hike along the Hærvejen leads from the Vester Palsgård Skovmuseum to Nørre Snede Church. With the Hærvejspasset, you can explore the Hærvejen and collect stamps at a total of 45 different locations.
Smedebæk is an important access point for the nature school at Harrild Hede: from there, it is 6.4 kilometres on foot to the nature school. Bus route 190 between Ikast and Brande stops in Smedebæk; from there, the route continues to the nature school. Check the timetable before travelling. Many of the municipality’s lakes and waterways offer opportunities for canoeing and kayaking. You can also fish in rivers and lakes for sea trout, brown trout, pike and grayling, as well as the lakes’ typical freshwater fish. Free rod fishing is permitted in some public areas along waterways and lakes owned by Ikast-Brande Municipality. Please observe the local rules.
Art and culture in Ikast and Brande
In the summer of 1968, Brande saw the creation of a collection of 23 colourful large-scale gable artworks. Several of the original paintings still remain; since this project, public art has been a distinctive feature of the town. In Ikast, Kunstpakhuset hosts changing exhibitions of contemporary Danish and international art. The building is a renovated former railway warehouse. In Frisenborgparken stands Ikast Stenen, a two-part sculpture by Jørgen Haugen Sørensen. It was the first sculpture in the park and is considered one of the artist’s major works.
The “Hedens kunst” project also brings together different forms of art: works by Danish and international artists are presented at Harrild Hede and in five towns. These include sculptures in stone and wood as well as living installations featuring microorganisms. Individual works may change over time.
Special places in Uhre
Uhre Mølle is listed, fully restored and operational, with all its equipment intact. An exhibition in an adjoining building, with informational panels, offers an insight into the mill’s history. Den Gamle Købmandsgård i Uhre is now a merchant’s museum and gallery, with changing exhibitions on various themes. The shop is authentic and furnished to reflect its original layout. Visitors can book a guided tour, which is available on request.
Uhre Nature Park includes a fishing lake, a nature playground, a barbecue, and tables and benches. The park also provides the setting for the Sankt Hans celebration, which has become a tradition in Uhre. Here, outdoor activities sit alongside a local festival, while the mill and merchant’s house offer further ways to discover the municipality’s history and culture.
Discover more destinations: Ejstrupholm, Hampen, Brande, Smedebæk, Engesvang, Nørre Snede, Randers Municipality, Norddjurs Municipality.
For the main travel overview: Central Jutland.
