Denmark tour

[jmaccyd]

I have been looking at arranging my first long tour in August/September and being a newbie to camping and long tours Denmark struck me as a good place to start. My first thought was a Ferry to Ebsberg, round Denmark, and then return via Ebsberg. But frankly been a bit shocked at the price of the ferry (170is each way) and peak time bike problems. So, wondered about getting over to the Hook of Holland doing some sort of circular tour taking in plenty of Denmark and ending up back at the Hook of Holland as the ferry is considerably cheaper (70ish each way) I have about three weeks so have plenty of time but would be nice to not return over the same ground as going out. Any suggestions gratefully received. I am a fit cyclist so although I appreciate its a tour and the majority of my days will be 50-60 miles, I will be capable of the some longer days if it is required to get round.

 

[StuartG]

Have you considered flying? Ryanair often have silly prices for Billund (nice cycle paths around the airport) and easyJet are quite reasonable for Copenhagen. You will have to pay 30/40 quid for the bike - painful when its more than a passenger. Only issue is the risk of damage en route. But then you don't have to go far for a bike repair shop.

BTW all prices in Denmark are eye-watering ...

 

[jmaccyd]

Have you considered flying? Ryanair often have silly prices for Billund (nice cycle paths around the airport) and easyJet are quite reasonable for Copenhagen. You will have to pay 30/40 quid for the bike - painful when its more than a passenger. Only issue is the risk of damage en route. But then you don't have to go far for a bike repair shop.

BTW all prices in Denmark are eye-watering ...

Yes I had considered that option but I like the idea of doing the whole thing by bike (not the sea bit clearly!), although I don't discount some railway bits if needed. Is Denmark super, super expensive? I was thinking of camping, taking a Tanga, some basic supplies and keeping the costs down a bit. Thanks for the reply

 

[Brains]

I must say that 'only' a £170 quid sounds like a good deal to me. we did that trip a few summers back and I'm sure we paid more, but the ferry is a floating 4 star hotel and you get B&B for that price so when you compare it to any other option I think it's a reasonable price.
I'm guessing the £70 to Hook is a day trip, which means a waste of a day, better to travel overnight - catch the Friday night out and be in the hook for a late breakfast.

We went north up the coast from Esbjerg and whist a great cycle run in that it's pretty flat, cycle lanes most of the way, lots of camp sites, we also found it not that interesting, every village looks the same.
It may be better if you head east towards Copenhagen

We have also gone north from Hook. Also flat, cycle paths, loads of camp sites. A lot more built up that Denmark. We liked Texel and the other islands and cycling along the IJisselmeer barrage is an experience, but it takes best part of a day to do (camp site in the middle)

I'd guess it would take a week to cycle from one port to the other.

Other option would be start in Ostende/Zebrugge, do Brugge, Ghent, and then head north via the coast and Amsterdam and then into Germany towards Denmark

I think your best option would be to look at the Bikeline Esterbauer website, work out the route there from all the northern European cycle long distance paths, then buy their superb books on the route(s) you choose (mostly in German, but it the maps you want and you can work out enough German for the details of the local camp sites etc)

 

[CycleTourer]

Denmark is a great place to start touring there are numerous well marked cycle routes and the countryside is lovely. The Danish are really friendly and helpful. The campsites are the best in Europe although not the cheapest, if you want to save a bit then Danes have an excellent network of basic bivouac sites which only cost 1 or 2€s a night and some are completely free.

There is more information on touring Denmark here including details of the bivouac sites.

You could easily do a tour using the North Sea Route up to or returning from Denmark.

Have fun and enjoy your tour.

 

[elduderino]

I've just cycled from England to Copenhagen via Holland and Germany. 925 miles which took 14 days, I put a few big shifts in too. It would also be fair to say that I spent more in Denmark than I did in Holland and Germany together. Saying that, the prices weren't too bad though.

I'm just doing the crazyguy journal thing if its of any interest http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/8315

 

[snorri]

I also would suggest the ferry for one direction and cycling through Germany for the other. I suppose it depends what interests you, but I found there was still much to see after three weeks of touring within Denmark.
My Danish tour was 11 years ago, so I suppose costs have changed a bit.

 

[psmiffy]

My first tour of Denmark I flew to Copenhagen - for about a third of the price of the sea crossing and circumnavigated the country in a clockwise direction - Easyjet to Copenhagen (airport) - Kobe -Nykobing -Nakskov - Rudkobing - Isle of Aero - Sonderbourg - Tonder -Hojer - Skaebaek - Esbjerg -Ringkobing - Lemvig - Fjerritsly - Hirtshals - Skagen- Fredrickhaven - Hals - Hadsund - Grenaa - Ebeltoft - Havnebyen - Helsingor - Copenhagen Easyjet to GTW-1520km

2nd tour was from Hoek to Stavanger - up the east coast for a while then across Odensee via the Great Belts Bridge and through Helsingbord and onwards

3rd tour was part of a longer trip up the east coast from Germany to Fredrickshaven

I have never used the Esjberg boat because the prices they have always quoted me have been so exhorbitant - easily use the difference between the boat and flying to buy a nice bike bag, pay for any excess luggage costs and storage of the bike bag and still have change left to spend on the tour itself - plus I understand that it is becoming more difficult to book a passage on the boat if you are a cyclist

Cycling in Denmark is extremly pleasant - not spectacular but there are lots of places that are very beautiful - There is a good system of regoinal cycle routes but most of the time I didnt use them unless they were going directly to where I wanted - outside of the towns even the main roads are quiet and the traffic very respectful.

There are plenty of campsites - not all expensive but spread out enough that you do not really have much choice - if you are going to be using them then a Camping Scandinavia Card is helpful. I only ever managed to find one of the free basic overnighting sites - perfectly adequate but they are quite discrete.

If you visit central Copenhagen sit for a few minutes and study how the local cyclists operate - at rush hour there are more than you can count and they can get a little fractious if you do not conform to their way of doing things

 

[Amanda P]

We cycled from Hook of Holland up through Germany into Denmark (and a little beyond) a couple of years ago. It was great - and you needn't take the same route back across to Hook if you choose not to.

We stuck mainly to the North Sea Coast route initially, but then cut across to the Ems-Jade canal because we got bored, because ferries weren't running very often late in the year, and because we were running out of time.

Cycling was very pleasant and almost completely flat; there were plenty of camp sites, and cycle-touring isn't seen as something outlandish that necessitates beards and sandals in any of those countries. If you can, it's worth looking into the local camping clubs and whatnot. There are small farm campsites in NL called something like natuur kampings (?), and Denmark has the overnatning scheme, where you can in farm paddocks and back gardens for nothing or next to nothing - but it's a little hard to find info on either in English.

It was nice to cycle all three countries and see language and culture gradually change as we moved on. In fact, things Friesian were remarkably constant regardless of national boundaries.

Looks like you're thinking of doing something quite similar to what we did. PM me if you think I can help more specifically.

 

[Amanda P]

Oh, and check out warmshowers. There aren't too many members in NL, DE and DK, but it's well worth a little detour to stay with one, especially if you're camping and on a tight budget.

 

[jmaccyd]

Thanks for the replies. Actually single ferry back to Harwich from Denmark is almost 400 quid! Whilst an overnight cabin (single) to the Hook of Holland is 70-80 quid, So it looks like some sort of circular tour would be the best option. Not planning on going to Copenhagen as I am flying out to watch the Cycling World Championships in September anyway so will leave that bit of denmark to then. I have a Garmin which I just itend to use as a general navigation aid rather than meticulously planning the route. What scale of maps would you suggest for general touring (Stamfords seem to do plenty) and what guide books (Lonely Planet any good?) Thanks again - John

 

[psmiffy]

Maps - You don't need anything very detailed for Denmark - I managed with this one at 500k for my first tour there although I prefer 200k - last tour I used a 200k by MairDumont which was very good - has camping and distance overprint - bought it in a bookshop in Flensburg (no help to you but Stanfords might have it)

 

[Brains]

Maps
Bikline Esterbauer

 

[tapan]

I'm a bit late coming into this one.

In 2009 I cycled from Rotterdam Europort following the North sea coastal route all the way to Hamburg and then went on to Berlin. Easy riding throughout apart from the fact that the prevailing SW wind did a 180 degree about turn the day I landed at Europort and I had some fierce headwinds. In fact the wieather was distinctly not very nice and I had some torrential/stormy downpours most of the way..

This year I am doing a Germny/Denmark trip. 18 May --- Cycle to Huill -- ferry to Rotterdam Europort --- cycle to Rotterdam -- train to Berlin. A couple of days with friends in Berlin then off with my tent and trailer heading north along the Havel eventually to Rostock -- then ferry to Denmark where I have planned a short route -- but will probably head towards Kopenhagen before returning down the Ochsenweg to Hamburg and then train to Rotterdam --ferry to hull and a 90km pedal home.

The end date is flexible this year and \i can stay out there a long as I am enjoying myself.

Years are beginning to tell and I have not had a good last 8 months healthwise -- having been prodded , scanned and had things pushed into both orifices -- all to no avaail -- well yes -- There is nothing particularly wrong with me other than I am getting old!

Sod it!


As usual I shall celebrate my next birthday somewhere in my tent on 8 June -- I traditionally have a bottle of fizz chilled off in my portable cooler ( pan, water wet cloth over all)

I always camp ( Vaude HoganXT 2 man tent cw porch -- for comfort, ) and cycle solo. it means I have to speak the language and I meet lots of people. I find that people are far more important than the places I go to!

It would be nice this year to have a bit of settled weather. my last 3 tours in europe have been distinctly damp!

I had looked at cycling in Polant this year but decided against it. And I know I shall enjoy cycling in Germany and denmark

 

[ComedyPilot]

Tapan - 74 and touring solo - go for it - muchos respect.