Himmelbjerget

Himmelbjerget rises 147 metres above the lakes south of Silkeborg, which in Denmark counts as a mountain, and it was long believed to be the highest point in the country until surveyors found taller hills elsewhere. The summit is a beech-shaded plateau with a brick tower of about 25 metres, built in 1875, and the view from the platform runs over Julso and the wooded ridges of the lake district, a landscape of water and forest unlike the rest of Denmark. The classic approach is by water: the paddle steamer Hjejlen, in service since 1861, still works up the lakes from Silkeborg in summer and lands at the jetty below the hill.

What you actually see

• The tower - a brick tower of 1875 with a stair up to the viewing platform.
• The view over Julso - lakes, wooded ridges and the Gudena valley below.
• The Hjejlen - a coal-fired paddle steamer of 1861 still running the lake route in summer.
• The beech woods - paths dropping from the summit to the water in about twenty minutes.

When to go

May to September, when the lake boats run and the tower is open; the hill itself can be walked year round. Beech leaf in May and colour in October are the best moments for the view. Sunday afternoons in summer bring coach parties and full car parks, so go early or late in the day.

Honest expectations

It is a hill, not a mountain, and the road takes you to a car park a few minutes below the top, which drains much of the drama. Parking and tower entry are both charged. The view is pleasant rather than spectacular, and the trees have grown enough to block parts of it. Boat tickets from Silkeborg are not cheap.

Nearby

Silkeborg and Ry sit at either end of the lakes; the Gudena river is walkable from the summit.