Sarah Green is a freelance photographer and travel blogger living in Copenhagen. This article is a collaboration
Sarah Green – Experiences at Roskilde Fjord
Kayak trip on Roskilde Fjord
There are lots of wonderful experiences to look forward to in the Roskilde area. The first starts in Roskilde Harbour, where we meet the kayak instructor Birger from Fjordlandet Outdoor. After some training in kayak technique in the shallow waters of the inner harbour, we row out onto the fjord. I have been in a canoe many times before, but never in a kayak and it has been on my wish list for a long time.
Unlike a canoe, you control the direction of the kayak with your feet so both your arms are free to paddle. This makes the kayak much faster and easier to steer. And it wasn’t as difficult to stay balanced as I had feared.
Being out on the water was absolutely fantastic and Roskilde Fjord is an amazing place for kayaking. The water is shallow and you’re always close to the coast. And it was really good to have an instructor with me on my very first trip. It’s certainly not the last time I kayak on Roskilde Fjord!
Practical information
Fjordlandet Outdoor rents canoes in Roskilde Harbour, and holds courses and guided tours. I can really recommend a guided trip as a beginner’s trip if you have never tried kayaking before.
We spend the night in a glamping tent at Roskilde Camping
Roskilde Camping is probably the most beautifully situated campsite I have ever stayed at. With shady trees and a panoramic view over the fjord. And it offers much more than just its stunning location.
We will be staying in the campsite’s luxury glamping tent – a round Lotus Belle tent, which is so beautifully furnished, it could just as well be a hotel room. It has a double bed, fridge and a kerosene stove so you can keep warm on cold nights. The only thing that’s not in the tent is running water and, of course, a toilet and shower. But you can use the campsite’s facilities that are located nearby.
In the evening we take a walk along the water to Veddelev Harbor and the sunset is the most beautiful sight.
Practical information
The glamping tent can be rented from Roskilde Camping.
Stand up padle on Roskilde Fjord
The next morning we need to get up early and although it is difficult to leave our big soft bed in the glamping tent, it’s only a few metres to the water’s edge where Outdoor Adventures is based. Here we jump into our wetsuits and are instructed in how to get onto this kind of paddleboard without losing our balance. It actually goes really well and we quickly paddle off.
Perhaps our beginner’s luck is simply due to the absolutely fantastic weather on this summer morning. The fjord is eerily quiet with not a hint of wind. Again, I have to say that Roskilde Fjord really is an absolutely perfect place for water activities. The water is really shallow even when you get a little way out. That makes it perfect for beginners like us.
Practical information
Outdoor Adventures rents out paddleboards and runs SUP courses. Read more about the courses.
Biking on the Fjord path
Back at the campsite, we find our rental bikes that Bike Tours has left for us.
We’re going to cycle another part of the Fjordstien path – this time north along Roskilde Fjord towards Frederikssund. On this stretch, we cycle along a major busy road. Fortunately the cycle path is separated from the road. But what makes this trip worth cycling are all the small detours and nice stops along the way.
Only a few kilometers outside Roskilde, we find the small Bolund peninsula surrounded by a beautiful countryside. We get off our bikes and walk out onto the narrow gravel road with water on both sides.
Out in the water, Bolund rises like a small mound and from the top there is a great view across Roskilde Fjord. A few kilometres further out on the Fjordstien path, we also pass another wonderful natural area called Salvadparken, where we eat our lunch. You can also spend the night here in shelters close to the fjord.
Snoremark Mead Brewery
On the main road, we see a small sign pointing to a mead brewery two kilometres inland. We whizz down the small roads and very soon are in a small town at Snoremark farm saying hello to Karin. She started the mead brewery with her husband.
Mead is not something you normally hear much about in Denmark, but Karin has been so successful with her brewery that she has won several awards. We start with a glass of cider in the apple orchard and then we are given the chance to taste the many different meads that Karin makes.
The basic ingredients in mead are typically apples, honey and mead wort. But beyond that you can get creative and Karin has developed many different varied flavors. They all taste surprisingly good and would be ideal for enjoying at the end of a good meal instead of port or dessert wine.
Practical information
- Read more about Snoremark Mjødbryggeri on their website.
- You are always welcome to come by to buy or taste the products but need to ring or mail in advance.
- The mead brewery is located in the small town of Tågerup (Find it on Google Maps).
- Tastings and honey events are held regularly – check them out here.
- If you don’t have time to come by, you can also buy the products in their webshop.
Gundsømagle Lake
The day ends at the most beautiful place, more specifically at Gundsømagle Lake, which is another small detour from the Fjordstien path. We drive to the parking lot at the eastern end of the lake, but you can also start at the parking lot at the western end. The western car park is further away from the lake itself, but closer to where the wooden boardwalk goes through the reed forest. This 800-metre long boardwalk is quite unique and takes you through the reed forest in a figure of eight.
Here we saw the beautiful bearded reedlings flying back and forth from their nests in the reeds. The trip along the rest of the lake is also really beautiful. The forest is dense and there are several tall bird watching towers where you can get a view over the lake.
The lake is not the kind of lake you can walk all the way around, so after the trip in the reed forest we go back the same way we came. But it certainly doesn’t matter when the trip is so beautiful and the sun is going down at the same time. In total the walk is around four kilometres.
Take good care of nature:
The southern part of Roskilde Fjord is part of the Skjoldungernes Land National Park and an important breeding area for rare birds.
The islands in Roskilde Fjord are under a protection order from 1 April and 15 July during the birds’ breeding season. This means that you must not go ashore or sail closer than 50 metres. However, this ban does not cover the islands of Lilleø and Hyldeholm by Skuldelev.
About us
Fjordlandet, or Fjord Country, covers the scenic areas around Roskilde Fjord and Isefjord. The towns and landscape of Fjordlandet are filled with vibrant stories, while its harbours are abuzz with activity. On a summer day you’ll encounter beach guests, sailors, fishermen, nature lovers, birdwatchers, history buffs and Viking enthusiasts.
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