Frederikshåb Plantation

Frederikshåb Plantage contains a strange natural phenomenon called the Seven Year Lakes, which some years are water-filled and other years completely dried out.

Frederikshåb Plantation's Nature and History

Frederikshåb Plantation is closely connected with Randbøl Heath, both geographically, historically, and naturally. In 1802, the state decided to establish a plantation on approximately 450 hectares of Randbøl Heath. This marked the beginning of Frederikshåb Plantation. In 1804, the sowing of birch and pine began. The work progressed slowly because the sand drift first had to be combated with dikes and by planting marram grass. It took almost 100 years before the plantation was a closed forest mainly of Norway spruce.

However, the storm on December 3, 1999, dramatically changed the plantation. About 1/3 of the forest fell - a total of 75,000 cubic meters of wood. Today, the areas are again planted with a mix of deciduous and coniferous trees.

What can you experience in the area?

Here are just some of the highlights of a visit to Frederikshåb Plantation. The highlights can all be found on the hiking map for the area.

The Seven-Year Lakes

Frederikshåb Plantation contains a peculiar natural phenomenon called the Seven-Year Lakes. Sometimes you can find a large lake, at other times the water is gone, and you can walk on the bottom of the lake. In that case, the area has the atmosphere of a savannah. The phenomenon is related to the height of the groundwater. It is worth visiting Frederikshåb Plantation both when the lakes are there and when they are not.

Denmark's Largest Cairn Area

In Frederikshåb Plantation, you will find the largest area with clearance cairns in Denmark. A clearance cairn is a pile of stones collected to clear the land for cultivation. The cairns date back to ancient times and are found in piles between 2 and 12 meters in diameter. The cairns indicate that the area has been inhabited since the Iron Age.

The Picnic House Kighøj

In the middle of Frederikshåb Plantation, you will find an old forest ranger's house, which has now been converted into a picnic house. There are tables and benches, and you can find firewood in the woodshed and make a fire outside or light the wood stove. 

In the Footsteps of the Germans

During World War II, the Germans left clear marks on the landscape around Randbøl Heath and Frederikshåb Plantation. Bunkers, machine gun nests, and aircraft hides can still be found here.

In 1943, the Germans decided to build an airfield – Fliegerhorst Vejle (now Vandel Airfield) – to defend the Reich against a possible attack via Jutland. The planes were hidden in the plantation and on the heath, where roads and concrete runways such as Rygbjergvej and Vestre Rullebane, which still exist today, were also constructed.

Routes in the Area

Red Route 2.7 km

The tour goes through the dunes with a height of 10-15 meters and gives an impression of how the sand drift has shaped the landscape and the inland dunes.
See the red route by following this link.

Green Route 2.8 km

The route starts at the parking lot on Rygbjergvej. The tour passes the horse valley and a presumed burial site from the Iron Age.
See the green route online by following this link.

Springbjerg Plantation, 1.8 km

A small round trip in Springbjerg Plantation just east of Frederikshåb Plantation.
See the route at Springbjerg Plantation here.

Bindeballestien

The Bindeballe Trail runs between Vejle and Billund and passes through Frederikshåb Plantation.
Read more about the Bindeballe Trail here.

Randbøl Heath

Randbøl Heath is connected to Frederikshåb Plantation. In Randbøl Heath, there is also beautiful nature, good hiking trails, shelter sites, and nature interpretation.
Read more about Randbøl Heath by following this link.

More Hiking Trails

See all the hiking trails in the Vejle area at udeliv.vejle.dk.