670 mBird Tower by Skjernåvej
Nearby birdwatching tower with wide views over Hestholmsøen and the meadows.
Skjern Meadows is a large, flat wetland where the water does not lie neatly in a single lake, but appears as streams, shimmering expanses, damp meadows and reed beds. This creates a landscape with long views and few distractions; ideal for a peaceful walk, but also for standing still and following the movements on the water.
Birdlife is a clear part of the area. Bird towers and hides make it possible to look out over the meadows without trampling through the wet terrain, while the viewpoints provide an overview of the river valley and the low horizons.
The paths can be used on foot, by bicycle and on horseback, where access has been provided. Some walks include a very tangible pause along the way: at the cable ferries, you pull yourself across the Skjern River by rope, making the crossing part of the nature experience rather than simply a means of transport.
Behind the open nature lies an unusual recent history. Here, the water was first forced away to create farmland, and later the river and meadows were given space again. At Pump Station North, the contrast is particularly clear: the restored wetland on one side and the straighter lines of the drainage system on the other.
Holter looks above all like a low, open agricultural landscape north of the Skjern River Valley. However, the fields at Holter and Falbækvej are known as a resting and feeding site for the Eurasian dotterel in May.
It is a short window: outside the migration period, the place may seem quite ordinary. In autumn and during mild winters, smaller flocks of shore lark may also appear, so Holter especially rewards the patient binocular user.
King Hans’ Bridge spans 55 meters across the Skjern River and is regarded as Denmark’s longest wooden suspension bridge. It was erected in 2003 during the ecological restoration, but the site is much older as a crossing: during the excavation, remains of posts from an oak bridge from around 1105 were found.
The name points to a more dramatic history. King Hans fell here into the icy water in 1513, became ill, and later died. By the bridge stands the memorial stone, and the pylons are built from naval oak, which was originally intended for warships.
Pump Station North is the largest of the five pumping stations from the drainage project in the 1960s, and it is still in operation. The technical building stands as a rather stark meeting point between nature and water management in Skjern Enge.
At the pumping station is the cable ferry to Kalvholm, the delta's largest island. However, the ferry may be unavailable at extremely high or low water levels.
Skjern Enge is a wet, open landscape created by a meandering river, meadows, lakes and water surfaces. This provides good conditions for waterfowl and meadow birds, and at Hestholm Sø, the bird tower and parking area by Skjernåvej offer an overview of ducks and wading birds.
The bird experience is not only about species lists. Here it is often the movements on the water, flocks resting, and birds in reed beds and damp meadow that reveal the area's special rhythm.
The bird tower east of Lønborggaard is among the most visited in Skjern Ådal and offers open views over the meadow and wetland area. To the west lies the old episcopal manor; to the east, Lønborg Church marks the landscape.
From here there are good chances of seeing ducks and wading birds, and the area can, among other things, offer black-tailed godwits in spring, spoonbills in summer and white-tailed eagles all year round. The boardwalk was renovated in 2021, so the path out is normally drier underfoot.
Lønborg Church is situated high on the hill southwest of Skjern, overlooking Skjern Meadows, the branches of the Skjern River and the flat countryside towards Ringkøbing Fjord. On clear days, the view extends all the way to the dunes by the North Sea.
The site is also an ancient crossroads: roads met here, and a deep sunken lane descends towards the former river crossing. At the viewpoint, there is a car park, information board, and tables and benches.
Skænken Sø is a shallow lake and wetland close to the Skjern River and Kong Hans’ Bridge. It is part of the recreated river valley landscape, where water, meadows, paths, and birdlife once again define the terrain after the restoration of the Skjern River.
The special feature here is water soldier, a rare aquatic plant that can bloom with white flowers on the water surface in July and August. There is parking by the lake, and a paved path connects the area with Skjern Marina via Kong Hans’ Bridge.
