Råbjerg Mile – the largest migrating dune in Northern Europe

Tiny desert in north Jutland

A day in Råbjerg Mile, almost makes you feel you are taking a stroll through the desert, when you walk through the beautiful landscape that is Europe’s northernmost migrating coastal dune. From the highest point of the dune, you have a fantastic panoramic view over the entire surrounding landscape, with Skagen visible in the Horizon. Råbjerg Mile moves with a speed of approximately 15 meters per year and has moved around 1.5 kilometres further east over in the last 110 years. Click here for more information.

Featured Holiday homes near the Råbjerg Mile

Denmark’s largest migrating dune

Råbjerg Mile is the largest migrating dune in Denmark, and in fact in all of northern Europe. The Dune is located a short 15 minute drive south of Skagen, in close proximity of the Bunken Klitplantage. The Dune stretches over an area off approximately 100 acres (1.000.000 m²) and contains around 3.5 Million cubic meters of sand slowly making its way towards Skagen. An estimation predicts, that the dune will Block the main Road in and out of Skagen within the next 100-200 years. Trees and other stuff covered by the dune, usually shows up again after forty years, the time it takes the dune to pass an obstacle.

The History of Råbjerg Mile

Throughout a large part of the 16th and 17th century the region around Skagen, as well as many other places along the Danish west coast, were plagued by drifting sand. The result of these sand drifts was one enormous Dune, which today is known as Råbjerg Mile, that slowly moved across the land.

The dune has brought a great deal of destruction in the cause of its lifetime and has destroyed large parts of the farmland as well as buried roads and chased the local residents out of their homes. Den Tilsandede Kirke (The Sandburied Church) still stands as a memento of a time where many houses and farmsteads disappeared under the sand. In the end of the 19th century the Danish state accepted responsibility for the region and promised to improve the infrastructure. What followed was a successful attempt to reforest the area, in order to hinder the continuous drifting of the sands, as well as the establishment of a railway line and a road from Aalbæk to Skagen.

 

Hiking in the Danish desert

Thanks to the varying nature in the region around Råbjerg Mile, hiking trips can feel like a true adventure. However, caution is advised as quicksand is a possible danger. Click here for more information.

The big Kite-day in Raabjerg Mile

Råbjerg Mile offers a lot of activities for the entire family. Due to the constant wind in Northern Jutland it is always possible to fly kites. Once a year, in August, the great kite day takes place, and you will be able build your very own kite, and let it fly.

Råbjerg Mile

One of the main attractions at the Top of Denmark is undoubtedly Råbjerg Mile. Hiking on this migrating dune is truly a treat for both body and soul. Come here early in the morning in low season, and you can almost hear how the sand absorbs all sounds - the stillness is amazing. On windy days you can hear the sand whistling on its way over the dune.

From Råbjerg Mile you have a fantastic view over the Top of Denmark, with Skagen town on the horizon.

Råbjerg Mile emerged at the west coast, facing the North Sea, about 300 years ago. Since then, the wind has moved the dune eastwards across the Top of Denmark at a speed of 15-20 metres per year.

 

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