Rabjerg Mile

Rabjerg Mile is the largest migrating dune in Northern Europe, a great hill of pale sand slowly marching north-east across the Jutland heath at about fifteen metres a year, burying whatever lies in its path. Climbing it feels like stepping into a small desert, with wide views over the flat landscape and the sea beyond.

Background

The dune lies between Skagen and Frederikshavn, covers around 2 km2, rises to 40 m above sea level and contains 4 million m3 of sand. Denmark has no other major stretch of migrating dunes. The wind pushes it north-east by up to 18 metres a year, leaving a low, damp sheet of sand that trails west to the Skagerrak, where the Mile first formed more than 300 years ago. In the 16th and 17th centuries such dunes reached up to 7 kilometres inland in northern Jutland, and planting of dune grasses and conifers became common after 1880. The State bought the central part of the Mile in 1900. Over 250,000 people visit each year.

Source: Wikipedia, "Råbjerg Mile"

Highlights

• The great dune - the vast pale sand hill you can climb.
• The migrating sand - the slow march that buries forest and heath.
• The view - the wide vista over Jutland and the sea from the top.
• The desert feel - the surreal sand landscape in green Denmark.

When to go

The warm months for the walk and climb; a clear day gives the best views. It is exposed, so wind whips the sand.

Things to know

It is a single natural curiosity, a climb up sand and a view, seen in an hour or two. The wind can drive sand hard on an exposed day. It is a fair way north, best combined with Skagen and the tip.

Nearby

Skagen and Grenen are just north; the buried church of the dunes is nearby.

Key facts