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5. Nørre Snede - Kollemorten

Here you can get a map that is more suitable for print:

	The Hærvej bicycle route, asphalt/gravel		Youth hostel
	The Hærvej hiking route		Tourist information
	Second bicycle route		Hostel
	Sight		Shop
	Primitive tent place		Area with a hiking folder
	Camping site

After Nørre Snede the Hærvej routes go through Nedergaard Skov before they reach the area by Gudenåen`s and Skjernåen`s sources. From here the trip goes east of the big oak coppice to Kollemorten.

1. Nørre Snede

On the trip from Viborg, Nørre Snede is the first bigger town you will meets along Hærvejen. It was a rallying point for the travellers along Hærvejen long time ago. A sacred source dedicated to Saint Knud was sought after by pilgrims. A bullock fold in the forest south of the town shows that the bullock drivers also stayed in the town. On the cemetery lies a burial mound which makes a connection to the past. In the Roman church there is a characteristic baptismal font from the 12 th century with carved lion heads.

Just opposite the church the town’s tourist information and the area’s museum are located. The museum is open Mon-Fri 10-15, and in July and August also Saturday 10-15.

2. Rørbæk Sø and Ballesbækgård

A few kilometres west of the Hærvej route lies a magnificent nature area by Rørbæk Sø. Here is a hilly ground with slopes, heath areas, junipers and plantations. The beautiful view of the lake can be experienced on fine hiking paths, and there is a bonfire and a grill place and also a landscape exhibition and a cafeteria. South of the lake lies the public property Ballesbækgård.

A stone indicates Gudenåen`s source.

Gnarled oaks in the Kollemorten coppice.

3. Gudenåen`s and Skjernåen`s sources

On the stretch between Koutrup and Tinnet Krat about 4 km of Hærvejen is preserved. It winds like a picturesque sunken road through a deserted landscape of forests, heaths and fields. In Koutrupgård, which was one of the old inns of the army road - there is now a nature centre with a nature school and a tent place. The area has many hiking paths.

A kilometer east of the Hærvej route lie Gudenåen`s and Skjernåen`s sources. There are only a few hundred metres between the beginnings of two of Denmark’s biggest streams. Skjernåen starts in a small lake from where it runs to the west, and before it reaches the outflow in Ringkøbing Fiord, it becomes Denmark’s stream most abounding in water. Gudenåen starts in an impressive source area from where it first runs to the east and then to the north before it runs into Randers Fjord. The water from the source has then covered 160 km through Denmark’s longest stream.

Rørbæk Lake, the source area and the upper Gudenådal are described in the folder Rørbæk Sø, Tinnet Krat Gudenåens and Skjernåens Kilder (PDF 2,8 Mb).

The source area is described in the folder Gudenåens and Skjernåens Kilder (The Forest and Nature agency).

4. An oak coppice

The forests west of Hærvejen on this stretch make our biggest connected oak coppice. The oak was a part of the Danish nature long before the beech immigrated. The oak coppice’s special look however has its origin in the writ operation. The oaks often have multiple trunks, which was the result of the trunks being cut down to the bottom after which they created new shoots from the root. Today the coppices exist mainly of 40-60 year-old trunks, while their roots may be several hundreds years old. A part of the oak coppice is today designated as a nature forest.

5. Margrethediget

Just south of the Tinnet coppice lies Margrethediget which is a 150 m long rampart established at a right angle to Hærvejen. One does not know when the rampart was built, or which Margrethe it was that gave the name to the rampart. Remains of weapons and stone-sat fireplaces have been found and in the dike itself an iron cannon ball. King Frederik the Seventh put up the preservation stone in 1861. A phenomenon that was not unnoticeable as the farmer Per Limkaster admonished the king with the words:”You make me rasp like hell by walking and tramping down my oats”.

Øster Nykirke was a church for pilgrims in the Middle Ages.

6. Øster Nykirke

As one of Denmark’s highest situated churches - 127 m above the sea - Øster Nykirke is a clear road sign. The church was built as a church for pilgrims 1150-1200 by the sacred source Sankt Peders Kilde. At the source people sought cure. In the source, which today is encircled by a replica of a medieval well curb, broken potteries were found – probably from sacrifices. The water today is stagnant and is not particularly inviting.

South of Øster Nykirke one comes past a granite road sign stone from 1856.

7. Kollemorten

Like Martinmas eve Kollemorten has got its name from "The cold bishop Martin" (cold morten). In the town, which lies on a rather deserted stretch of Hærvejen, a centre with a tent place, a kiosk, and an indoor staying is established.

Links to trip folders:

Rørbæk Sø, Tinnet Krat Gudenåens and Skjernåens Kilder (Vejle County) (PDF 2,8 Mb). 12 hikes in the source area and along Rørbæk Lake.

Gudenåens Skjernåens Kilder (The Forest and Nature agency). Hikes in the landscape by the sources.