Cookies on this website We use cookies on our website to make sure we can give you the best experience while browsing. If you are happy with this, please continue to use this site as normal or learn more

0   
back
back
back
back
back
back
Slow Lane Magazine, May 2019
Insights and stories from across Europe and beyond
  • favourite (but oft-forgotten) festivals
  • Nepal's secret valley
  • boutique beauty in Drôme Provençale
  • carving out a future in southern Italy
  • Inntravellers' Tales – our new writing competition
back
back
back
 

Danish Castles & Coast

The spectacular Danish Riviera
 
The extremely cycle-friendly culture is ideal for self-guided hotel-to-hotel cycling, with luggage transported. Visit thatched villages, explore grand castles, and relax on white-sand beaches. You stay in two wonderful seaside hotels and savour delicious fish and seafood.
Danish Castles & Coast. 4 nights
Danish Castles & Coast. 4 nights
 

Holiday information

 

A cycling break in north Zealand

This beautiful corner of Zealand, Denmark's largest island, is a paradise for cyclists, with enticing tracks following the shoreline and winding inland through farmland and forest. Visit pretty villages of thatched-roof cottages, explore grand royal castles surrounded by manicured gardens, and take time out to relax on vast beaches of white sand, where brightly coloured beach huts line up against a backdrop of rolling dunes and vast blue skies.
On top of all this, you stay in cosy, hospitable accommodation situated on, or very near the coast, and can savour superb regional cuisine featuring, of course, the freshest of fish and seafood.
You cycle largely on the flat, on well-signed trails, and because the distances are reasonably short, you can take your time to explore – call in at artisan producers of chocolate and schnapps, linger over picnics of open crab sandwiches, enjoy dips in the sea, and admire the far-reaching vistas along the coast and across the sea.
 
Gallery
 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.
Pay locally for all visits and train journeys mentioned in the itinerary.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 2 3 5 10 16 20 21 21 17 13 8 4
    mm 51 31 41 41 43 54 70 62 62 57 63 59
  • Arrival in Snekkersten
    Night 1: at Villa Brinkly (the first of two nights here).
    As your first night's accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of cycling.
  • Choice of routes from Snekkersten: 20km or 42km

    Circular route from Snekkersten: 42km
    Our recommended route winds through forest and villages of thatched cottages to picturesque Gurre and its ruined castle. Here, it is well worth a short detour to the home and small factory of passionate chocolatier Peter Beier, before continuing past a lake to the magnificent Royal Palace of Fredensborg on the edge of the Royal North Sealand National Park. Known as the ‘Danish Versailles’, it still serves as the royal summer residence. The palace is only open in July, though you can still admire its elaborate façade as you stroll through the grounds at other times. From here, you return through woodland and along largely traffic-free farmland tracks to the coast at Niva, before passing impressive villas and small villages on your way back to sea-facing Snekkersten.

    Linear route from Snekkersten: 20km
    For a very different day, another option is to catch the train to Vedbæk. Cycle through Rungsted – home to a museum devoted to Karen Blixen, author of Out of Africa  – and then head up the coast, perhaps stopping at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art to break your journey.
    Fredensborg Castle on the circular route from Snekkersten
  • Snekkersten to Gilleleje: 32km
    Pedal north to the walled coastal town of Helsingør, where imposing Kronborg Castle was the setting for Shakespeare’s Hamlet (performances of the play are held here during a three-week festival every August). You then continue parallel to the north coast, often close to the dunes, to Hornbæk, which boasts the finest of many white-sand beaches in the area and is ideal for a swim on a hot day. Whitewashed cottages with thatched roofs and colourful rose beds make for an attractive approach to your destination, the Gilleleje Badehotel in Gilleleje, a traditional fishing village where you can witness the day’s catch being landed on the harbour or watch the world go by from the pretty green.
  • Choice of routes from Gilleleje: both 30km

    Linear route from Gilleleje: 30km
    Our recommended route follows a woodland cycle path through the Royal North Sealand National Park to reach Frederiksborg Castle and its impressive grounds. The largest Renaissance castle in Scandinavia is located in the pretty town of Hillerød, which has a good selection of shops and cafés to explore before you return to Gilleleje by train.

    Circular route from Gilleleje: 30km
    Alternatively, head south via the idyllic village of Esbønderup, to the 10th-century abbey of Esrum. Here, you can visit the cloister and sample some of the abbey’s produce – the monks not only brew beer, but also produce schnapps, honey, salami and mustard, among other things. You return across farmland, with the option of detouring via the Tegners sculpture park, where the wild heathland of Rusland serves as an impressive backdrop for a collection of intriguing works of art.

    Royal North Sealand National Park

    This, Denmark’s fifth national park, encompassing forests of ancient oaks and the country’s second-largest lake, Esrum, opened in May 2018.

    Frederiksborg Castle
 

Accommodation

You stay in intimate, beautifully decorated seaside accommodation, conveniently located right by the cycle trail.
 

Extend your stay

 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter.
Currency converter
We can only accept payment in GBP, but you can use this converter to find out how much the holiday equates to in your own currency.
Please enter an amount Please enter a valid amount British Pound Sterling (GBP)
Currency is required
NB: this should be used as a guide only. Fluctuations in exchange rates could result in significant variation by the time you come to pay.

  • 4 nights: 18 May - 30 September 2019

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    18 - 31 May £790 £255
    1 - 28 June £815 £270
    29 June - 22 August £835 £295
    23 August - 8 September £815 £270
    9 - 26 September £790 £255
    3rd & 4th person discount -£75
    Single traveller supplement £75

    Includes accommodation, meals, bike hire, luggage transfers and any other services integral to the holiday as described, plus cycling notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Gilleleje Badehotel
    Sea view & balcony: 18 May - 30 Sep 2019 £12

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Prices include an extra day’s hire of a standard bike.
    Villa Brinkly (B&B) Double room Single room
    18 May - 30 Sep 2019 £115 £180
    Gilleleje Badehotel (with dinner) Double room Single room
    18 May - 30 Jun 2019 £195 £260
    01 Jul - 24 Aug 2019 £200 £284
    25 Aug - 30 Sep 2019 £195 £260
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Copenhagen

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Copenhagen. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Aberdeen - Copenhagen SAS 
    Aberdeen - Copenhagen (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Copenhagen SAS 
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Copenhagen easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Copenhagen easyJet,  Norwegian,  Ryanair,  SAS 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow - Copenhagen SAS 
    Outward route Airline
    Leeds Bradford - Copenhagen (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Copenhagen easyJet,  Norwegian 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Copenhagen British Airways,  SAS 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Copenhagen Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Copenhagen Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Copenhagen easyJet,  SAS 
    Outward route Airline
    Newcastle - Copenhagen SAS 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Copenhagen. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you. We charge £30 per person for our flight booking service (£50 for India and Nepal). Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    Connecting travel options - flying via Copenhagen

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    rail Copenhagen airport to Snekkersten (0h58), hotel transfer Snekkersten to hotel (0h02) included 1700
    rail Copenhagen central to Snekkersten (0h40), hotel transfer Snekkersten to hotel (0h02) included 1700
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    hotel transfer to Gilleleje (0h05), rail Gilleleje to Copenhagen airport (1h55) included 1200
    hotel transfer to Gilleleje (0h05), rail Gilleleje to Copenhagen central (1h40) included flexible
What is included
  • 4 nights
  • 2 dinners
    4 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • route notes and maps
  • high-quality bicycle
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

All 11 reviews
  • Steve
    17 June 2019

    Amazing wildlife, great beaches, lovely people, superb cycling.  We'll be back.

  • Anon
    04 June 2019

    This was a delightful short break with easy cycling along a lovely coastline, and lots of interesting places to visit en route.  The Danish people were very welcoming, almost everyone spoke excellent English, and the area is well worth a visit.  We thoroughly enjoyed it.

  • Anon
    11 September 2018

    As stated above, plus...

    The castle ruines were worth visiting, there were a few bakeries on route with delicious breads. The coastal routes were excellent and cycling in general was very safe, drivers were courteous and cycle lanes were clearly marked. The only road safety concern was the return route from Esrum Monastery to Droningmolle via Villingerod, its a fast but narrow road with no cycle lanes and we wished we had returned the same way as we had come.   

  • Ms D Mitchell
    USA
    09 September 2018

    We loved meeting the hosts, other guests and the locals, plus seeing all the interesting local and old houses, farms and villages that are off the beaten path for other visitors who do not cycle. The routed bike paths, both alongside roads and off road in Denmark are truly amazing, and we are envious (from UK and USA). We loved Frederiksborg castle, and spent a long time there - glad to be able to come back by train. The Hotel Strand was a great location for walking around Copenhagen, their breakfast was sumptuous and the guide provided in the Inntravel manual was excellent. We stayed out of the main season, which is fairly short in Denmark, so do read materials before you book in case you specifically want to visit an attraction that will be closed early or late season. For this specific trip, the first day has the most challenging 'off road' paths - the 40km route anyway, so be prepared or take the shorter option.

    INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers booked our short cycling break Danish Castles and Coast with our Copenhagen City add-on

  • Mrs V Briggs
    Droitwich
    07 July 2018

    Thoroughly enjoyed the cycling which covered a good variety of terrain and took us to really interesting places. None of the cycling was difficult and the route delightful. It was very hot when we were there but the sea breeze made it very pleasant.

  • Mrs JK Proctor
    Nottingham
    22 June 2018

    The whole trip was great fun and as before Inntravel have done their homework so everything is organised for their clients.   We enjoyed finding our way on the train system which is excellent and on time! The highlights were staying at Hotel Villa Brinkley and swimming in the Baltic each morning!!   They recommended some amazing restaurants only a stone throw from their hotel. Definitely add on a day in Copenhagen as its a lovely city to explore.

  • Mr J Sykes
    Hereford
    10 June 2018

    Enjoyed our two visits to Sweden. The ferry to Helsinbourg was particularly easy, passports were needed. Train services were regular and efficient. The Danish were very helpful friendly and spoke excellent English. Enjoyed the trip to visit Carlsberg; the train to the Carlsberg station is a good alternative to the free shuttle especially if you have a travel pass or Copenhagen card. Denmark is ferociously expensive; use of supermarkets can save some money on snacks and meals.

     

    INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers combined the cycling holiday Danish Castles and Coast with our Copenhagen City add-on

  • Mrs E Fergus
    London
    03 September 2017

    This holiday was just full of highlights for us. The restaurant Det Nye in Snekkersten was a revelation, cycling the forest paths and visiting Frederiksborg in time to watch the changing of the guard, seeing Helsingor (Elsinore) and eating Annette's delicious almond biscuits after a long ride in the rain... The spa at Badehotel in Gilleleje was so wecome it felt positively necessary, and we fell completely in love with Copenhagen, even though we never had a dry minute there! The museums are wonderful, particularly the National Museum which takes you through Danish history from its first settlers in a really engaging way. We never had a bad or even indifferent meal in Denmark, and everything in Copenhagen, from the excellent and inventive restaurant Radio in Julius Thomsens Gade to the local smorrebrod places on Nyhavn, was delicious. And do go to the covered market in Torvehallerne next to Israels Plads. It's a hymn to Danish food and flowers.

     

    INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers combined our Copenhagen City add-on with our Danish Castles and Coast cycling holiday

  • Soraya
    25 August 2017

    We knew very little about Denmark and didn't really know what to expect but it turned out to be the best ever cycling holiday we have ever been on. Such a mixed terrain from forest trails, country lanes, quiet roads and endless cycling paths. A cyclist's haven!

  • Anon
    01 August 2017

    We had a mixture of weather - sunburnt on our first day and completely drenched on the next. The area is beautiful with pretty villages and rolling countryside but not too hilly for novice cyclists. There are lots of interesting and historic sites. Highly recommended. 

  • Mr D Morgan
    Rickmansworth
    06 June 2017

    First time to Denmark - very welcoming people and excellent English speakers.

    The routes were interesting and varied and just the right length for us.

    The cycle hire shop could not have been more helpful and the Villa Brinkly is a lovely family run hotel.

    Weather was mixed but the advantage of Denmark being so flat is that you could see the rain coming and take cover.

    Most rain lasted no more than 10 minutes.

    Would recommend this holiday
 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help.
  • Our chosen bike rental shop will provide you with a hybrid bike with 21 gears; a waterproof map case on handlebars; panniers/saddlebags; pump; puncture repair kit; and a lock.
  • No. We recommend that you bring your own.
  • Yes, we will provide GPX tracks for this holiday prior to departure so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. (We also provide maps and our tried-and-tested route notes.)
  • We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from hotel to hotel, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. On mornings when you are moving between hotels, you leave your luggage in reception as you leave, and it will be transferred ahead to your next accommodation so that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.
  • You do need to make sure you’re covered, because it’s you who is responsible for any damage to or loss of the bike during the holiday. You should always lock it (preferably to an immovable object) and remove any easy-to-steal accessories when leaving it unattended. The travel insurance policy that we offer covers you for loss and damage (provided you’ve locked or stored it appropriately). If you are arranging your own insurance, but it doesn’t cover bikes, we can provide bike-only cover for £19 per person. More details >
  • We can book a wide range of airlines and routes from the UK. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. For Europe and Morocco, there’s a £30 booking fee per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). For India and Nepal, the booking fee is £50 per person. More information on flights >
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Absolutely! We are experts in tailored rail travel. Making use of sleeper trains or stopovers in cities along the route, we can get you from London to virtually anywhere in mainland Europe. We can even make arrangements to Mallorca, Sicily and Norway with a combination of ferries and rail. Please contact Abi to discuss your plans.
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

    You don’t have to buy our policy (if you live outside Europe you’ll definitely need to make your own arrangements, as the policy is only for UK and EU residents), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport with at least six months’ validity to travel to Denmark, but not a visa (if you are travelling after 31 October 2019, see the Brexit question below for more information). If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found through the following NHS link: www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/advice/ You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). UK citizens should also obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) by applying at a Post Office or at www.ehic.org.uk. The EHIC allows reciprocal health care but should not be seen as a substitute for travel insurance. EHICs may cease to be valid in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
  • The official language is Danish. The currency is the Danish Kroner. Danish time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • Even in the event of a no-deal Brexit, it’s been confirmed that flights will continue as normal and that you won’t need a visa to go on holiday (the limit on stays is 90 days). What you will need if there’s no deal is a passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of your arrival (extra months added because you renewed your passport early do not count) and adequate travel insurance to cover you for accidents and illness in case reciprocal health deals are suspended. If you are driving while on holiday, you will probably need an International Driving Permit (plus a Green Card if you are taking your own car to Europe). More information >
  • The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.
    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
Last fetch time is : 7/18/2019 7:44:54 PM