Hiking Stage Løgstør - Aars (27 km)

Aggersund
After Løgstør, the Hærvej continues along the Limfjord to the Aggersund Bridge connecting Vesthimmerland with Jammerbugten. The Aggersund Bridge is a beautiful arch bridge consisting of to large arch spans with a double bascule that the bridge watch can open for ships to and from Aalborg. Situated high on a hill near the coast of the Limfjord, Aggersborg Church has for centuries been used by mariners to navigate Løgstør Broad.  Originally, the church consisted of a choir with a granite apse and a wooden nave built around 1100. The wooden nave, however, was in the late 12th century replaced by a larger granite ashlar nave with two entrances, one for men and one for women, as it was tradition in the Romanesque style.

Near the church close to the Broad, you find the famous Viking fortress called Aggersborg. Built in 980 by Harald Bluetooth, Aggersborg Viking fortress is the largest ring fortress ever built in Denmark and has circular shape with a diameter of 240 metres surrounded by an 840 metres long rampart. The rampart is excellent for taking in the Viking fortress while enjoying a nice walk.

Løgstør
Muslingebyen Løgstør roughly translates as “Løgstør the town of Mussels”. Muslingebyen is an old coastal town with an authentic town environment, cultural harbour and beautiful old fisherman's cottages.

By Løgstør Harbour, you find yourself in a relaxed and cosy atmosphere, and around Kunsttorvet you can experience plenty of art and live music throughout the summer. Løgstør Grunde Lighthouse is a characteristic twin light in one lighthouse that guides ships safely through the narrow channel Løgstør Grunde. The Limfjord Museum invites you to experience the cultural history of the Limfjord, and you also have the opportunity to join the guided tours on Frederik the 7th Canal, the so called Tales of the Limfjord. Frederik the 7th Canal is also ideal for a walk where you get the chance to enjoy the unique flora and special natural conditions along the canal. 

Løgstør is home to many interesting events during the course of a year, for example, the famous Tour of the Limfjord and the Mussel Harvest and Mussel Festival. You can also try out your skills as a chef at Løgstør’s mussels cookery school or just enjoy a day on Løgstør Beach.

You find Løgstør Church beautifully located in the middle of town. The church was built in 1893 using red bricks and is 32.6 metres long with a 46.5 metres tall tower that for a long time was the hallmark for travellers from the south. I 1933, the church underwent a refurbishment and has today a completely new and very interesting church interior created by Arne L. Hansen.

The Moors of Himmerland
You pass the Moors of Himmerland as you continue your trip along the Hærvej toward Løgstør.

The Moors cover an area of around 1,300 hectare and are what is left of a vast moor covering most of the region up until the 19th century.

In Vesthimmerland, it is the Vindblæs, Oudrup, Ajstrup and Lundby moors that are once again growing together becoming a unity without disturbing elements such as houses, pylons and wires. All you will find here is heath, sheep, cattle and a few trees. Hike across the moor, and you will find a wealth of flowers, plants and shrubs. During the summer, you can experience a fantastic colour palette of flowers that in late summer is replaced by heather covering the moors in a purple blanket stretching as far as the eye can see.

Vindblæs
From the moors, you continue along the Hærvej to Vindblæs, one of many market towns that appeared with the arrival of railway in Vesthimmerland. Rumour has it that Vindblæs got its name after a storm brought down all the clay houses. The town was afterwards rebuilt around Vindblæs Church, which is a medieval church located high up on a hill. The nave and choir is constructed in the Romanesque style, and the porch and the tower are late Gothic style and were added around 1550. The tower of Vindblæs Church has served as a navigation mark since it is located so high and can be seen from miles away.

In Vindblæs, you can also visit Vindblæs Mill, a so called Dutch mill with wooden chips built in 1875 to 1879. The grinding mill, millstone and screen box are still inside the mill exactly as when the mill was still in use. 

Hornum
Visit Himmerland's Railway Museum in the old station building in Hornum and experience 100 years of history from the railway in Himmerland. The museum is the smallest railway museum in Denmark but also one of the best preserved.

Ulstrup Church close to Hornum was originally built in the Romanesque style with rare rounded corners. However, the church was rebuild in 1936 adding the main nave crosswise of the old church, and today, the church is classified as a cruciform church.

Gatten
Gatten is home to Himmerland’s Golf & Spa Resort where you can unwind and enjoy the picturesque view of Sjørup Lake with the ruins of a Norman church on one of the banks. The church ruins were discovered when the golf course was expanded in 1989. 

Aars
In the centre of Himmerland, you find Aars, a commercial town with lots to offer when it comes to nature and town life. The history of Aars is as old as it is exiting. The brave Cimbri resided in the area about 2000 years ago which is why people from Himmerland are also known as Cimbri. Experience the history of Aars at Vesthimmerland’s Museum that houses more than 12,000 years of archaeology and cultural history. At the museum, you can, for example, see a copy of the Vessel of Gundestrup found in a bog near the Fort of Borremose.

The Danish Present-day Museum in Aars is run by volunteers and houses one of the largest collections in Denmark of everyday objects from the 20th century. The squares in Aars are a lovely sight beautifully decorated with artworks created by international artists such as Per Kirkeby, Kirsten Ortwed and Poul Gernes. Built between 1200 and 1250, Aars Church is a typical Romanesque granite church, and inside the church, you can find a beautiful blue slate memorial from 1651. Enjoy a walk along the Planet Track and try to grasp the magnitude of our solar system. If you have some time to spare in Aars, you can rent bicycles at Aars Tourist Information and explore one of the many bike trails in the area.

TIL NEXT STAGE: AARS - MØLDRUP