Dennis Knuist Cycling Destination is on the road on the beautiful island of Funen (Fyn). It is one of the more beautiful parts of Denmark to cycle. The 2022 Tour de France finished just over the Grote Beltbrug in the town of Nyborg. The sprint there was won by Fabio Jakobsen; afterwards the circus travelled to other Danish islands. Funen has much more to offer and now is the time to bring that to the attention of the public. Friend Sjoerd van Bemmelen accompanied me on this adventure. It is a beautiful story that makes you want to jump on your bike right away.
Preparation
Good preparation is half the work. Denmark is similar in climate to the Netherlands. At the time of the visit it was still nice and sunny, with occasional clouds in the sky. Most of the items from the Basic packing list They are very useful, but the shoe dryer can probably stay at home. It is never a bad idea to have plenty of spare tires or, in the case of tubeless tires, an extra outer tire and fluid with you. For us, a good Zomerset by Etxeondo sufficient. For the routes and inspiration, we have good contact with the local tourism agency. We drive parts of the The Herregårds route and also other beautiful parts. Check the route of our first day at the bottom of this article.
Fietseiland Funen Day 1: Odense – Nyborg
When I was asked if I wanted to go to Denmark, I didn’t hesitate for long. It was a double pleasure to be able to take someone with me on this trip. We had quite a bit of fun preparing for it, and the routes were quickly planned. On Monday morning, I set off with Sjoerd towards the island of Funen (Fyn). Our first overnight stay is in Ødense, the cycling capital. We had the option of taking the train, but combined with own bike It was more comfortable to go by car. Before we leave, we check the route one more time and we expect a 9-hour drive. The journey goes very smoothly and when we arrive in Ødense at the end of the day, our hotel is waiting for us. Knudsens Gaard A warm welcome. This hotel, just outside the city center, is the perfect place to start.
A night of rest, preparing for tomorrow!
Not only is the reception great. There is no special bike storage, but the bikes are allowed to be taken into the room, which is very convenient for us cycling fans. The food in the evening is also top-notch. Three courses with local specialties: salmon, meat, many healthy vegetables, and fresh fruit and ice cream. That’s a nice addition to the meal. After the meal, we finished the final preparations for the first ride tomorrow. The start of our ride is a little further from the hotel. However, Funen is a cycling paradise. There are bike paths everywhere, and we move easily and quickly to the start location.
The Herregårds route
So we're going to cycle a stage of the The Herregårds route.This route has recently been introduced and is highly recommended, even if you have an e-bike or gravel bike. Our first route runs from Ødense to Nyborg. It is a variation of country roads, beautiful coastal stretches, and beautiful houses and castles along the route. That is also what the Herregards routes are known for: it literally means manor house route. Along the way, we make a stop at Østergaard, one of those magnificent manor houses. Further along the route, we come to Munkebo Bakke. You have to stop here and enjoy the view of the sea. This was also the lookout point for the Vikings from which they could see the enemy approaching over the sea.
Kerterminde is the logical stop on our route for a good lunch. This coastal town has a nice number of fish restaurants where you can eat the ‘local catch’. We sat down at Tornoes Hotel. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, as they say in Groningen. Additionally, there’s the option to make a slightly longer stop at the Viking Museum, and if you really have some time to spare, the sea aquarium might be a nice alternative.
On to Nyborg
After our lunch, we set off for our second part of the Herregårdsruten towards Nyborg. We drive this entire stretch quite close along the coast and along the way you have several beautiful viewpoints on the Størebælt bridge. Along the way, you pass, among other things, the vineyard of Stokkebye near the town of Bovense. Absolutely fantastic to see. They not only make wine here, but also caviar. We could have had a small glass of it, because much of this area is blowing in the wind. It goes really fast. At the end of the afternoon we reach our finish in Nyborg. Hotel Hesselet It is located right on the coast and from our suite we have a view of the Storebælt bridge. We can't wait to see the sunset with the view! What a lovely first day on bike island Funen.
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.