Mini-break on the Marsh Trail by Markshotellet

On the Marsh Trail you’ll experience the unique marsh landscape: a landscape that appears to be wild and untamed, but is in fact meticulously shaped down to the last detail, created by the lives of local people in pact with and against the water. You’ll feel the wind in your hair as you look out over the flat landscape with its rich birdlife as far as the eye can see. On the trail you’ll experience everything from dykes and pumping stations to the marsh landscape, canals and lakes characterised by the unique countryside and birdlife.

If you set off from Højer, you can choose between three hiking trails of 4.2, 9.4 and 12 km respectively. You can read more about these hiking trails at the end of this description.

In Højer you’ll be staying overnight at the delightful Marskhotellet. The hotel is situated in the heart of Højer, not far from the fantastic scenery in the surrounding marshland. For dinner, a tapas plate with specialties from the marsh is served.

As mentioned above, you can choose between 3 hiking trails, which all begin from the windmill at Højer Mølle, some 400 m from the hotel. If you’re up to it, you may even be able to complete one of the trails on the day of your arrival and one on the day of your departure.

Højer, Højer sluice, Højer harbour: (GREEN TRAIL)

Start: Højer Mølle windmill

Distance: 4.2 km.

Attractions: Højer, Kiers Gaard cultural centre, Højer harbour, marsh boats and former fishing huts.

Understand and experience the marshland at Tøndermarsken on a trail of just 4 km. Many of the unique features in the marshland are found on this route. You’ll see dykes, sluices, irrigation and drainage canals, Højer harbour and marshland farms.

The hike starts at Højer Mølle windmill and runs past Højer harbour, before heading onwards to the sluice and back to the town of Højer, where you’ll walk past the cultural centre at Kiers Gaard.

Note that the terrain on the dykes is uneven.

Højer, Emmerlev Klev, Vidå Lock: (RED TRAIL)

Start: Højer Mølle windmill

Distance: 9.4 km.

Attractions: The Wadden Sea, UNESCO World Heritage Site, the forward dyke (Det Fremskudte Dige), Vidå sluice, the polder of Margrethe Kog (protected habitat), the old sea dyke from 1861, Højer sluice, Højer, Kiers Gaard cultural centre.

Walk along the Wadden Sea. On this route, you’ll find yourself walking on both the new and old sea dyke. You’ll experience the geest and the steep slope at Emmerlev Klev and the beautiful view of the Wadden Sea.

The hike starts at Højer Mølle windmill and crosses Emmerlev Klev to the new sluice at Vidå, before heading back to Højer, where you’ll walk past Højer sluice and follow the old sea dyke that dates back to 1861.

This trip is suitable for everyone, including wheelchair users.

Højer, Klæggravene marine clay trenches, Vidå stream: (BLACK TRAIL)

Start: Højer Mølle windmill

Distance: 12 km

Attractions: The central section of Tøndermarsken (the polders of Margrethe Kog and Ny Frederiks Kog), Wadden Sea National Park, birds, canals, the old protected sea dyke from 1861.

Geese, waders and white-tailed eagles. On this route you walk on the old sea dyke from 1861 with the polders of Margrethe Kog on one side and Frederiks Kog on the other. Margrethe Kog is one of Europe’s most important bird habitats, where you can spot species such as barnacle geese, white-tailed eagles, ducks and a wide variety of waders.

The route starts at Højer Mølle windmill and runs past Højer sluice. You walk along the old sea dyke and back towards Højer on the dyke running along the stream of Vidå. Once back in Højer, you‘ll pass by sights such as Kiers Gaard cultural centre.

Note that the terrain on the dykes is uneven.