Rørbæk Lake, Tinnet Krat and the Gudenåen spring

The magnificent natural area around Rørbæk Lake, Tinnet Krat, and the spring from Gudenåen offers forests, meadows, plantations, heathlands, and oak groves.

Rørbæk Lake is situated close to the ridge of Jutland, where the springs from the two largest rivers, Skern Å and Gudenåen – take their rise in the same valley only a few hundred meters apart from each other. The valley is also home to the Ancient Road (Hærvejen) that for centuries was the main Jutland thoroughfare.

Rørbæk Lake   

Rørbæk Lake is a characteristic long lake arisen in the ice ages. The lake is surrounded by forest all around and steep hills with heather and juniper berry embellish the area.  A range of hills, Fårebanke and Kælderbanke rises in the west end of the lake. The lake has, among other fish, pike, bream and the rare lake trout and during the fall and winter months, the lake becomes the home of a lot of surface-feeding ducks and diving ducks. The area has a lot of deer and red deer and the water attracts many different species of birds such as water ouzel, kingfisher and fish hawk.  

Gudenåen

The Gudenå River is Denmark’s longest watercourse and the closest thing we have to a “real” river. It stretches for 160 km – from its source in Tinnet Krat to where it merges with Randers Fjord. Since ancient times, the Gudenå has served as one of Jutland’s main transport routes, with villages lining its banks. It was especially used for transporting peat, and later bricks and marl.

The Gudenåen legend

According to legend, Gudenåen was named after an unruly lad called Gudar. He abducted a girl named Else from her father’s home in Tinnet Krat where the Gudenåen River has its rise. 

Gudar then tied the girl to a cart and tried to shake off his pursuers by riding in wild directions. The girl’s father sought help from a wise man in Tørring, who summoned the streams and springs to ask for guidance. High waters engulfed Gudar at Randers Inlet and he and his horse drowned, but the beautiful Else survived.

Experiences in the area

• The old bathing facility
  Jutting out of the grassy meadows by the river source of Gudenåen are old concrete foundations. These are the remains of a spring water bathing facility from the 1930s. The bathing facility, complete with swimming pools, a spring water fountain and a café pavilion, was a major attraction at the time, but had to close after a swimming accident shortly after World War II.
  
  
• The Margrethe Dike
  In a forest further south of the Ancient Road, after the church of Øster Nykirke, you find the remains of an ancient rampart, the Margrethe Dike, from the time when Denmark was still a patchwork of smaller kingdoms. 
  
  
• Øster Nykirke
  Øster Nykirke is the highest-located church in Denmark, situated 130 meters above sea level. The church was built between 1150 and 1200 as a pilgrimage church dedicated to Saint Peter’s Holy Spring – a spring whose water was believed to have healing properties.
  
  
• Tinnet Krat
  The very scenic area, which surrounds the Rørbæk Lake, offers forests, meadows, plantations and heaths as well as Tinnet Krat and Kollemorten Krat, which are some of the country’s largest areas of oak scrub. A harsh climate of strong winds has over centuries given the trees their mysteriously gnarled appearance.
  
  
• Ballesbækgård Visitor's Centre
  At the Ballesbækgård Visitor's Centre south of the lake you will find toilets, handicap toilet, bonfire and barbeque facilities as well as tables and benches are available. Angling is permitted and free of charge from the shores of Ballebæksgård Bay.

Hiking Trails at Rørbæk Lake

A net of marked trails take you around the area. 

• Kælderbanke, Fårebanke and Rørbæk Forest, 3.8 km
  Enjoy a scenic circular walk along the western hills of Rørbæk Lake, where Fårebanke rises above the lake’s calm surface and offers impressive views. Part of the route follows the slopes on the southern side of the lake and takes you through the atmospheric Rørbæk Forest. See an overview of the route here.
  
  
• Ballesbækgård, 2 km
  This trail takes you through open heathland and grasslands, continuing along steep slopes covered with oak trees by the winding stream of Ballesbæk. The route continues along the shore of Rørbæk Lake, where you can enjoy views across the water and towards both Vandø and Kælderbanke. See an overview of the route here.
  
  
• Rørbæk Lake, 8.5 km
  The route leads you through varied landscapes including oak high forest, dense oak thickets, older coniferous forest, open heathland and grasslands. In the Skjern River Valley, you pass alder swamps and dense willow thickets. In the Nørre Risager Plantation, you’ll find poison hemlock spruce, Douglas fir, and yew, and along the lake’s slopes you can spot old juniper bushes. See an overview of the route here.
  
  
• Hærvejen
  The historic route, Hærvejen, runs down through Jutland and also passes through this beautiful landscape. Read more about Hærvejen here.

More Trails in Vejle and Surroundings

Find an overview of all hiking and cycling routes in Vejle at Udeliv Vejle here.