Around Bølling Sø, walking routes meet landscape and cultural history. One marked route is about 12 km long; Hærvejsperlen Bølling Sø and the Kløverstierne offer additional routes with published distances. In Engesvang, the Klosterlund Museum, the church and the train connection to Silkeborg are also useful points of reference for your trip.

Choosing a route around Bølling Sø

A marked route runs around Bølling Sø, is about 12 km long and is suitable for walkers and cyclists. Another named route is Hærvejsperlen Bølling Sø: this 11.6 km circular route starts and ends at Klosterlund Museum. It is a certified hiking route and part of the Hærvejen Pearls and Denmark’s Nature Trails networks. Its landscape changes between lakeshores, meadows, heathland and wetlands. Along the route, you can discover stories about the region’s natural and cultural heritage.

The Kløverstierne in and around Engesvang comprise four routes: 2.5, 5.5, 9.9 and 12.7 km. This gives you a choice of different route lengths. One route passes through the old part of Engesvang and goes by the old dairy, the old school and Engesvang Church. The central section of the Hærvejen also runs through Engesvang.

Lake, moorland and forest

Bølling Sø formed after the last Ice Age. The area later developed into a raised bog, which was drained for peat extraction. In 2005, it was restored as a lake. This sequence explains the changing story of the lake and moorland, which is also explored at Klosterlund Museum. The area around the lake is home to a rich variety of birdlife and several easily accessible viewpoints.

Near Engesvang, the protected Stenholt Skov lies north of Bølling Sø. The forest covers about 100 hectares and is known for its gnarled oaks. South of the lake, near Engesvang, there is a shelter with a fire pit, designated site 12b. Both locations provide concrete points of reference for exploring the area’s routes and landscapes.

Traces of the past

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” presents archaeological traces of the lake’s early inhabitants. During walks of 2 to 12 km, you can also learn about the lake’s history and hear stories about the Tollund Man. The site where he was found, southeast of Bølling Sø, is marked with an information board.

Engesvang Church also connects local history with cultural life today. The church was inaugurated on 14 March 1897 and designed by Rudolph Frimodt Clausen. A nativity scene is displayed there every year before Christmas, and concerts are also held regularly. Concert dates may vary, so it is worth checking the schedule for your visit.

Practical information

On the west side of Bølling Sø, an asphalt, particularly accessible path runs along Kragelundvej between the Dværgbakken rest area and Klosterlund. From Engesvang railway station, you can reach the centre of Silkeborg by train in 12 minutes. As timetables and services may change, check the connection for your travel date.

At the end of Ellevej in Engesvang, rowing boats and canoes may be left permanently by prior arrangement with Naturstyrelsen. As the terms of the arrangement may change, check the current rules in advance.

Discover more destinations: Hampen, Ejstrupholm, Smedebæk, Brande, Nørre Snede.

Back to the main travel overview: Ikast-Brande Municipality.