Thorning-Hesselhus Camping

Selected experiences on the stage

King Knaps Dyke
King Knaps Dyke dates back to the Iron Age and is an ancient defensive embankment. Today, you will see that the dyke has a length of about 200 meters, a width of up to 6.5 meters, and a height of 1 meter. Originally, the dyke was both higher and longer, and it is believed to have served as a fortification by the nearby Haller River, which marked the boundary between different tribes.

According to tradition, it was here, at King Knaps Dyke, that the Battle of Grathe Heath took place in 1157, where the rivals Sweyn Grathe and Valdemar the Great fought for the throne, and Sweyn Grathe met his fate. The name King Knaps Dyke is said to originate from Sweyn Grathe, who was also known as Sweyn Button.

Today, King Knaps Dyke is a protected area and an exciting piece of history that you can still experience.

Grathe Heath, 8620 Kjellerup

Stenholt Forest
Right by Engesvang, you can experience a protected gem of a forest, Stenholt Forest. The forest is an ancient oak coppice with an interesting history. During coppicing, the trees were cut at the base, and the coveted shoots were used for fencing material and fuel. This form of management kept the forest open and suitable for livestock grazing. In 1988, the forest was protected. The purpose of the protection was to preserve and restore the oak thickets and the open forest floor.

In the southern part of the forest, you will find Klosterlund Museum, where you can explore finds from Jutland's oldest settlements dating back to 8,000 BC. The settlement near the museum has given its name to the Klosterlund culture, one of the cultures of the older Stone Age. In the nearby building, the small hill house, you can learn more about the landscape at that time and enjoy your packed lunch.

Stenholt Forest is not only a historical treasure trove but also a beautiful natural area with a wealth of ancient monuments you can explore: ancient burial mounds, stone settings, traces of a marl railway, and ruins of a peat plant. Throughout the forest, you can follow marked hiking trails and information signs that share the forest's history.

Engesvangvej 109, 8600 Silkeborg

Bølling Lake
Bølling Lake, a recreated gem between the parishes of Engesvang, Funder, and Kragelund in Central Jutland, is an impressive example of nature restoration. The 360-hectare lake was reestablished from 2004 to 2005 on the watershed west of Silkeborg.

Until the 1870s, there was a lake, but in an attempt to create more farmland, the lake was drained. However, it was never possible to fully dry out the area, but the first large peatland was exploited for peat extraction, especially during both World War I and World War II. It was also here, at Bjældskovdal on the east side of Bølling Lake, that the Tollund Man was found and later exhibited at the Museum Silkeborg.

Since peat extraction stopped around 1970, the recreation of Bølling Lake has been discussed for recreational reasons. After decades of political debate and environmental studies, the decision to recreate Bølling Lake was made. In August 2004, the drainage canal was covered, and in just six months, the water level rose to the planned height of 67.25 meters above sea level.

You will notice that Bølling Lake is very shallow. In fact, the lake has a maximum depth of only three meters and has no tributaries or intensive agriculture nearby, which means that no nutrients are added. The lake drains to the northwest and is the start of the Karup River, while the water seeps into the Funder River at the other end, which flows into the Gudenå River at Silkeborg.

Since the lake's restoration, it has attracted a rich birdlife. You will certainly feel a sense of peace descend upon you when you visit the beautiful recreational area that the lake has become today.

Bøllingsøgårdvej 19, 8600 Silkeborg