Sottrupskov: Forest, Beach and Routes to the Nydam Story

Sottrupskov combines nature experiences with an unusually rich history of the Iron Age and the War of 1864. You can explore the forest and beach, plan a manageable walk or follow historic routes through the landscape around Nydam Mose. This makes the area particularly suitable for travellers who do not want to limit their holiday to a single activity.

Forest, beach and a walk with traces of history

Sottrup Storskov offers a manageable walk through a Danish beech forest close to the coast. Historic remains can be seen among the trees: the forest contains gun emplacements and launching ramps for rowing boats from the War of 1864. Anyone who enjoys combining nature and history will gain a direct impression here of how closely landscape and the past can be connected.

The beach is also part of the area's character. At the southern end of Sottrupskov lies the boathouse of Nydambåden. You can park in Sottrupskov for a walk of a few kilometres. This is a useful point of reference if you are planning a shorter time outdoors rather than devoting the entire day to a longer hike.

Nydam Mose and the boats of the Iron Age

Nydam Mose preserves three wooden boats as well as numerous weapons, tools and pieces of equipment from the Iron Age, dating from 250 to 550 AD. The finds make the site a special destination for anyone interested in early seafaring, craftsmanship and the history of Southern Jutland. Nydam Tveir is an exact replica of the Nydam Boat, a sacrificial boat from this period found in Nydam Mose.

Larger and smaller groups can book visits with explanations of the finds from Nydam Mose. A group visit may also include time aboard the boat. From May to September, Nydam Tveir can also be experienced on a rowing excursion by members of the boat club on the Als Sound. This option adds a clear seasonal dimension: when planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between a visit on land and the special experience on the water.

Hiking routes for different day plans

The 7 km Nydamstien trail begins at Sottrup Storskov. Along the route, you pass the places where the Prussian army crossed to Als in rowing boats. The trail then leads past Sandbjerg Gods, which served as a Prussian headquarters during the War of 1864, and subsequently past Nydam Mose. In this way, the Nydamstien connects several historic sites with a specific hiking route.

An easily accessible hiking trail leads from Sottrupskov to Sandbjerg. It is also part of the Alssundstien and the Nydamstien. The Alssundstien runs along the western side of the Als Sound through the hilly moraine landscape near Sundeved and shares part of its route with the historic Nydamstien. You can therefore choose between a shorter walk, the 7 km Nydamstien and a route with a stronger focus on landscape and distance, without separating nature from culture.

Which accommodation location suits your trip?

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday house in Sottrupskov, it helps first to decide what you want your days on holiday to be like. If the forest, beach and short walks are the main focus, planning to spend plenty of time in Sottrupskov is a good fit.

For families with different interests, the area offers several clearly distinct ideas for a trip: a short walk in the beech forest, a more extensive hike on the Nydamstien, a visit with explanations of the finds or – between May and September – a rowing excursion with Nydam Tveir. The choice of holiday apartment should therefore primarily match your preferred pace of travel and the balance you want between nature experiences, hiking and cultural history.

Other places for orientation

For your further search, you can also look at the listings for Sønderborg, Kruså, Nordborg, Rønshoved, Mjels, Rinkenæs, Oksbøl and Kettingskov.

For the overarching travel overview: Sønderborg Municipality.