Almindingen Forest

Almindingen covers about thirty-eight square kilometres in the middle of Bornholm and is one of the largest forests in Denmark, planted from the early nineteenth century on what had been open common. It sits on granite, which makes it unlike any mainland Danish forest: there are rock outcrops, a genuine rift valley at Ekkodalen where cliffs face each other across a narrow floor and produce the echo the name refers to, and boggy hollows between the ridges. Hammershus aside, the island's main ruin is here: Lilleborg, a royal castle of the twelfth century on a rock above a lake. Since 2012 a small herd of European bison has been kept in a large enclosure within the forest, part of a reintroduction project, and can sometimes be seen.

The landscape

• Ekkodalen rift valley - facing cliffs across a narrow floor, and the echo.
• Lilleborg castle ruin - a twelfth-century royal castle on a rock.
• European bison - a herd kept in a large forest enclosure since 2012.
• Granite outcrops - rock in a forest, unlike anything on the mainland.

When to go

April to October. Half a day walking or cycling; the forest has a good marked path network. Bison are more often seen in the cooler parts of the day. Autumn colour along the rift valley is good.

Things to know

Bison sightings are not guaranteed and the enclosure is large. Paths in the rift valley are rocky and uneven. Ticks are present. The forest is quiet but has limited facilities, so bring what you need.

Nearby

Ronne is west; Gudhjem and the north coast lie north-east.

Key facts