Don’t miss the fantastically beautiful natural areas in Vejle’s river valleys. In and around Vejle, you will find several river valleys – Vejle Ådal, Egtved Ådal, Grejs Ådal, and Højen and Mølholm Ådale. The landscape in the valleys is also a mix of different types of nature, together forming a mosaic of hills, slopes, and wide valley stretches. Vejle’s river valleys are a fantastic example of how ice and water have shaped the landscape on the east coast of Jutland over time.
Vejle River Valley
Vejle Ådal (Vejle River Valley) the largest of the area’s tunnel valleys, offers fantastic nature experiences and cultural highlights as well as excellent hiking and cycling trails. This includes the natural areas at Kongens Kær, Knabberup, and Haraldskær. From Vejle Fjord and through Vejle town, the valley takes you out into unusually varied nature.
Go for a kayak or canoe trip on Vejle Å, enjoy a hike on the old Hærvej, or hop on your bike on the popular cycling and hiking trail Bindeballestien, where a wealth of experiences awaits. At the visitor centre in Haraldskær, you can learn more about the history of the valleys, biodiversity, and wildlife in the area.
Egtved River Valley
At Runkenbjerg, there is a breathtaking view over the river valleys of Vejle and Egtved. Here, Egtved Å from the south merges with the Vejle Å from the north, and together they continue eastwards, eventually ending in Vejle Fjord.
In the center of Egtved Ådal (Egtved River Valley) lies the town of Egtved. The town grew up around the construction of the narrow-gauge Kolding-Egtved Railway, which operated from 1898 to 1930. From being a small village, Egtved quickly developed into a somewhat larger railway town. You can learn more about Egtved’s history at the Egtved Museum.
In Egtved’s valleys, you will find attractions such as Bindeballe Købmandsgård, the Grave of the Egtved Girl, the Viking Age Ravning Bridge, as well as the impressive sculptures by Robert Jacobsen and Jean Clareboudt in Tørskind Gravel Pit.
Grejs River Valley
Together with Grejsdalen, Grejs Ådal (Grejs River Valley) is one of Denmark’s most beautiful valleys and is sometimes called “Denmark’s Switzerland.” The valley impresses with deep gorges and steep slopes and is located just a few kilometers northwest of Vejle’s center.
One of the main attractions in the valley is the 16 km long Grejsdalstien. With Grejs Å and its stunning nature, you will enjoy a hilly hike from Vejle to Jelling. In this part of Vejle’s river valleys, you will also find Fårup Lake, which offers fishing, hiking trails, accommodation options, and other activities.
Højen and Mølholm River Valleys
In Højen and Mølholm river valleys, you will find narrow and deep erosion valleys where nature merges with the city. These valleys bear the marks of the Ice Age, with valleys shaped by meltwater, sloping forests, babbling streams, and open meadows.
Højen Ådal (Højen River Valley) is a beautiful little nature paradise with good conditions for birds, fish, and insects. The forest that follows Højen Å is a biodiversity forest, where the natural forest is promoted. In Mølholm Ådal (Mølholm River Valley), you will find nature with varied terrain. Here you walk over hilly slopes, on open grasslands, and between thickets and forests. At the bottom of the valley, the stream runs. Connected to the valleys are also Sønderskoven and Kongens Kær, which merge with Vejle Rivey Valley.
You can find more information about routes in the valleys at udeliv.vejle.dk. At the tourist office at Vejle Train Station, you can also get physical brochures about the route for your next trip.
