10 kmBirkesø in Lille Vildmose
The lake offers a good combination of birdlife, views, and a peaceful nature walk.
Øster Hurup is first and foremost a seaside town, where the beach is close to both the harbor and the town center. The sand is fine and light, and the water is described as shallow and clear, so the place is especially good for families with children who want to swim, play at the water’s edge, or have a peaceful day by the Kattegat.
Here, you have to go far out before the water gets deep. That detail is exactly what makes the beach so well known as child-friendly. If you want to get into the water in another way than from the shoreline, there is a bathing jetty extending from the harbor.
What is special about Øster Hurup is not only the beach, but how close everything is. You can move from swimwear and beach play to the harbor setting, cafés, restaurants, and shops without having to leave town. In summer, tourism plays a major role, while for the rest of the year Øster Hurup is also described as a town with local activities and a sense of community.
The harbor is still a gathering place where leisure sailors, local fishermen, and visitors meet. Behind the present-day summer atmosphere lies an older fishing history: the harbor was built beyond the shallow water because the fishing vessels needed better access than from the flat coast. The shallow water is therefore both an advantage for children and part of the explanation for the harbor’s layout.
The eastern part of Lille Vildmose reaches Kattegat at Øster Hurup Strand. The area of approx. 7,800 ha is among the candidates to become a national park in Denmark. There is a visitor center and a trail system with birdwatching towers.
There is free access to the northern part of the bog in your own car, with the possibility of seeing moose, red deer, cranes, and eagles, as well as many other heathland plants and insects such as the silver-studded blue butterfly shown in the photo.
