Hiking the Northwest coast
Photo: VIsitNordvestkysten
Find inspiration for your hiking trip in Northwest Jutland. The area contains the rough North Sea and the milder fjord landscape. Here you will find open heathlands and deep forest areas.
The finest hiking trails on the west coast
Along the Danish west coast, there is a string of hiking trails that take you through rugged nature, protected dune landscapes, lush forests, and open expanses. Here are eight tips for the best hiking trails on the west coast that you should not miss if you dream of hiking experiences with sea views, tranquility, and great nature.
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Hærvejen
🛤️ The old pilgrim route – also to the west
Although the Hærvejen is typically associated with the ridges of Jutland, a western branch stretches all the way to the west coast. Here, you can start in Holstebro and hike towards the North Sea, through open landscapes and small villages. A historic route where you follow in the footsteps of travelers and traders who have used the road for centuries.
The Husby Klitplantage route
🌲 West of Ulfborg, close to the North Sea
⭐ Certified hiking trail
In Husby Klitplantage, you can hike through a varied landscape of forest, dunes, and heathland—with the North Sea roaring in the background. There are several marked routes, including a classic 15 km certified hiking trail that takes you past Skavemosen, Marens Maw, and out to the sea. Here you can enjoy both the scent of the forest and the sea view – on one and the same trip. If the weather is good, you can stop halfway at “Badesøen” and maybe even go for a swim.
Tranum Fosdalen-route
🌿 Between Tranum Klitplantage and the lush Fosdal area
⭐ Certified hiking trail
Fosdalen is a dramatic and lush gorge, created by meltwater from the Ice Age. The route between Tranum and Fosdalen offers great contrasts – from open heathland to dense forest and deep gorges.
There are several routes to choose from, but an 11-12 km hike starting in Tranum Klitplantage takes you past Jammerbugten's highest point, Bavnehøj. The route is certified as a premium route by the Deutsches Wanderinstitut, and thus meets the strictest requirements for hiking trails in Europe. The route takes you mainly along nature trails through the countryside.
Sti 100 (Trail 100)
🌊 Along Jammerbugten – from Blokhus to Løkken
Trail 100 is an iconic route for those who want to experience the authentic west coast atmosphere. Trail 100 is the main trail in a 47 km trail network connecting summer houses and beaches between Blokhus and Løkken. The route runs along the coast from Blokhus to Kettrup Bjerge at Sylviavej, where you can continue along the North Sea Trail to Grønhøj and on along the beach to Løkken. A scenic route with dunes, sea views, and authentic west coast atmosphere. Trails 1-40 connect to the beach.
Nationalpark Thy
🍃 Hiking trails in 244 km² of wild nature
Denmark's first national park is also a hiker's dream. Here you will find over 200 km of 49 marked hiking trails spread across the entire national park through dune plantations, dune heaths, lakes, and coastline—and a sea of detours for those who dare to get lost in the wilderness. The hiking trails vary greatly in length. From the West Coast Trail (Redningsvejen) at 67 km to the Hulvejsruten at 800 meters.
From the top of Hanstholm Lighthouse in the north and Lodbjerg Lighthouse in the south, you can really sense the magnificent scale of the landscape.
Hiking trails in UNESCO Global Geopark West Jutland
🌍 Around Lemvig, Struer, and Holstebro
The geopark tells the story of ice ages and geological layers—and you can feel it under your feet. The hiking trails are spread across the entire area, from the cliffs at Bovbjerg to the hilly landscapes at Flyndersø and Skovbjerg Bakkeø.
The many trails range from short routes of 3-10 km, perfect for day hikes, to longer ones. Regardless of the route, there are plenty of opportunities to experience the varied landscape and enjoy nature.
Kystsporet
🚶♂️ From Nørre Vorupør to Blokhus – 157 km along the Limfjord and the North Sea
The Coastal Trail is a marked cycling and hiking route that stretches through 157 km of magnificent coastal nature from Nørre Vorupør to Blokhus. The route passes through charming coastal towns, beautiful dunes, lush meadows, and sand-dune-reducing dune plantations. It is divided into 10 stages, so you can take it one bite at a time – or the whole trip over several days. Along the way, you will pass Bulbjerg and Thy National Park, among other things.
Nissum Fjord-route
🌾 Southwest of Lemvig
This hiking trail takes you all the way around Nissum Fjord – with the option of dividing the trip into smaller sections. Here you will encounter bird-rich wetlands, old churches, fishing villages, and peaceful paths along the water. A perfect choice for those seeking tranquility, low heart rate, and birdsong.
The hiking trails are divided into three: a 14.7 km hiking trail along Indfjorden (blue route), a slightly longer 70.9 km hiking trail (red route), and an 84.5 km cycle path (yellow route).
Find even more hiking routes here
The west coast offers a wealth of beautiful routes – from hidden paths in dune plantations to open expanses with sea views. Click on and find even more magnificent hiking experiences, whether you are into short walks or multi-day adventures in the great outdoors.
Are you more into pre-planned hiking vacations?
An easy way to get started with hiking is to book a pre-planned package. With maps, accommodation, and luggage transport arranged in advance, all you have to do is lace up your hiking boots and set off.
Where Denmark Feels Wild and Endless
Along the Danish North Sea coast, nature opens up in vast and breathtaking ways. Here, the dunes rise like gentle mountains, fjords shimmer with quiet reflections, and the horizon seems to go on forever.
This is where you’ll find places like Svinklovene and Fosdalen, named among Denmark’s most beautiful landscapes. From the top of the inland cliff Lien, the view stretches across rolling heath, dramatic dune formations, and the wild North Sea – a sight that makes you pause and simply breathe it all in.
Further south, Husby’s dune plantations and Nature Park Nissum Fjord invite you to wander among whispering pines, shifting sands, and small harbor villages where time seems to stand still. And in National Park Thy, Denmark’s largest wilderness, you step into a raw and untouched landscape of wide open moors, fragrant forests, and windswept beaches. It is a place where silence is only broken by the cry of seabirds and the rhythm of the waves.
Here, nature is not just something you look at – it’s something you feel. The salty wind on your skin, the crunch of sand beneath your shoes, the warmth of sunburnt cheeks after a day outside. It’s the kind of experience that stays with you long after you’ve left the coast behind.
And when night falls, you can sleep close to nature in simple shelters, under skies so dark and clear that the stars seem almost within reach.
