Tour Ref: GD10/1
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This has to be one of the least obvious touring holiday locations as, outside of Copenhagen, the country is remarkably free of tourists. It is clean, pretty, full of interesting places, and the fun-loving, friendly Danes all speak perfect English.
We are off! An early afternoon Eurostar to Brussels and then THALYS to Cologne delivers us for an overnight stay close to the station.
Today German and Danish high speed trains take us via a change in Hamburg to Randers in Denmark, our base in Jutland for the next three nights.
The local steam railway between the port of Mariager and rural Handest provides our first chug through the Danish countryside and this is combined with a gentle fjord cruise from Hobro. We’re also going to Randers Zoo because it’s so different. It is housed in three large atmosphere controlled biomes (like the Eden Project). Walk amongst giant butterflies and fruit bats while squirrels cross your path – dare you enter the snake pen!
Off to the Lake District we head today for a steamy combo that starts aboard the world oldest paddle steamer (allegedly!!). Oxygen masks will be provided later as we visit Denmark’s highest peak “Sky Mountain” and then savour the most beautiful steam train ride in the land. From Bryrup the train meanders through wild flower speckled woods to its isolated terminus at Vrads.
Transfer day today and one that is full of fun and variety. Luggage goes ahead as we take the express train from Aarhus to Odense. Outside the station is the impressive and very well presented National Railway Museum. Our coach catches up and delivers us via a 45 minute ferry crossing to Maribo for the standard gauge steam train journey to picturesque Bandholm Harbour. Again, the coach goes ahead as we conclude our journey to Roskilde by train and stroll through the park to the hotel.
A “local” day involves a huge tram museum in the woods with a running line as long as Crich and a privately hired steam train on the longest narrow gauge railway in Denmark at Hedeland. Back in Roskilde we must visit the Viking Ship Museum where you will even have the option of taking to the oars and rowing out into the Fjord as a Viking crew – great fun!!
Steel yourselves now for a coach free tour of the capital, Copenhagen. We have devised a devilish itinerary by train, metro, bus and boat to see royal palaces, the Little Mermaid, and “all the fun of the fair” at Tivoli Gardens. It’s a full day’s frivolity but as we will be armed with travel passes you can duck out and do your own thing if you’ve a different agenda or goal.
Our last full day in Denmark takes us by rail over the bridge into Sweden and then a ferry crossing to popular Helsingor. This vibrant seaside town and port has two captivating attractions. As well as visiting Hamlet’s Elsinore – an imposing and impressive castle – there is the Danish Technical Museum which houses examples of almost every mode of transport imaginable. We’ll make our journey back to Roskilde in the afternoon an interesting one and include a north coast rail ride.
Travel by Danish Railways takes us via one change of trains to Hamburg for an overnight stay close to the station. Arriving early afternoon should provide us with a couple of hours to visit Miniatur Wunderland, the world largest, and most famous, model railway.
This morning we journey home via Cologne, Brussels and Eurostar to London arriving late afternoon.
An unusual but wonderful find. It has an art deco theme, a café/restaurant and bar, and rooms are to a good standard with flat screen t.v.’s and tea/coffee making facilities. It is central to the town of Randers and there are more dining options available in the cobbled streets around and about.
This modern establishment is set in a park on the edge of town that used to be a famous motor racing circuit. The town and railway station are a 15 minute stroll away and the hotel has a bar and restaurant. Roskilde is ideally situated within ½ an hour by train of Copenhagen. It’s a quiet old town, steeped in history, and has monastic links and a UNESCO cathedral.
