Almost all Danish beaches and stretches of coastline are open to the public on foot and using the beach is free. This free access has some limitations.

In principle, you can get to the beach by road, path and over uncultivated
areas. But you may not put your belongings or bathe closer than 50m from private residences. You may not pitch tents on the beach.

Some beaches allow cars on the beach, e.g. on Fanø and between Rødhus and Løkken on the west coast of Jutland, where you can park your car on the beach while using it but may not stay overnight.

Do not block roads or paths, and park as instructed. This applies especially to plantations. It is in everyone's interests that ambulances and fire engines can get through if an accident happens. Always use existing paths when climbing on cliff tops to protect the vegetation and prevent erosion. In summer, dogs must be kept on leads. Read and observe the local notices explaining special rules/bans for the area.

The Danish Protection of Nature Act is intended to protect nature, but also give people greater access to the natural world. However, what you may and may not do in the forests depend on the ownership of the forest.

Private Forests:
2 out of 3 forests are privately owned. While cycling in the private forests is permitted along designated paths and roads, access off the paths and roads is prohibited - for walkers as well. There is public of right access all year round from 7pm until sundown.

Non-surfaced roads and designated paths in open country are open to people travelling on foot or by bicycle and there are only 3 circumstances in which the landowner can prohibit access: if access would
be disruptive to commercial exploitation of the property; if access is disruptive to the private life of the landowner or if the animals or plants there require particular protection.

In addition to such instances the landowner is permitted to temporarily close private roads for the purposes of shooting parties or intensive agricultural activities that might be hazardous to the public.

Finally, the Protection of Nature Act also prescribes rules for group access to private woodland. Without obtaining prior permission, groups of max. 30 people have access, but for larger groups permission must
be obtained from the landowner, irrespective of the purpose of access.

The basic rule is that the landowner's instructions must be adhered to.

State Forests:
In the state forests access off the paths is also permitted, and access is likewise permitted after sundown. Riding is also permitted in the state forests, but is subject to special regulations. If you wish to ride in the state forests you should therefore contact the owner of the forest to find out what conditions apply to riding.

In the state forests, groups of people have unlimited daytime access provided that the ordinary regulations are observed. Special permission need not therefore be obtained for trips to pick mushrooms
or watch birds, just as the nursery schools, primary and secondary schools, scouts and guides associations have group access to the state forests without needing to obtain prior permission.

For orienteering events, group outdoor camping, etc. permission must ALWAYS be obtained from the landowner, irrespective of whether there are 5 or 100 participants, and irrespective of whether the intended site is a state forest or privately-owned woodland.

Camping in the State Forests:
Camping at the primitive shelters in the state forests can be done without prior permission.

Also, in 40 forests dispersed over the country you now have the opportunity of getting close to nature and leaving civilasation behind - provided you obey the rules laid down by the Danish Forest and Nature Agency:

You are only allowed to stay for one night at the same location, with maximum two tents at the same location and only using tents designated for a maximum of three persons

Tents must be out of sight from forestry and residential buildings, including eg. neighbours, camp sites and roads for vehicles

Open fires and use of Trangia alcohol stoves are not allowed

Use of motorised vehicles is not allowed on the forest roads

Camping is not allowed on the beaches and dunes

When you leave, please take your litter with you and leave the location tidy
On the site of the Danish Forest and Nature Agency you will find lists and maps of the areas in which you can find shelters and where free camping is allowed, see www.skovognatur.dk

Today ten per cent of Denmark is covered by forest. After the end of the ice age, there was forest everywhere but by around 1800 coverage had sunk to as low as two per cent. People had felled all the trees to use them as firewood or to build houses or ships. As the population grew, the pressure on the forests became so great that they almost disappeared. Something had to be done, and the authorities therefore laid down rules specifying how forests were to be protected and expanded.

What is a protected forest?
In 1805 it was decided that all forests were to be fenced in to protect them against livestock foraging for food. The purpose of this measure was to protect the forests, and that is why they are now called "protected forests".

Specially trained forest experts were hired to keep an eye on the forests, and new forests were planted in huge areas owned by the Danish government. Because of these initiatives taken almost 200 years ago, ten per cent of Denmark is now covered with forest.

Who owns the Danish forests?
One-third of Danish forests is owned by the National Forest and Nature Agency. The rest belongs to foundations, companies or private individuals. The National Forest and Nature Agency is also the supervisory authority for private forests. According to the Danish Nature Protection Act, you have a statutory right to walk in Danish forests. The act also contains provisions as to what you may and may not do within forests.

Nature trail folders
The forests under the National Forest and Nature Agency are divided into 20 state forest districts, which each comprise several major and minor forest areas. Nature trail brochures have been prepared for many of these districts and areas. They contain suggestions for walks of varying length and duration, as well as descriptions of the special features of each individual area.

There are 100 different brochures available of which 6 have been translated into English and 18 into German. They are available from libraries, nature and sports organisations, and tourist offices. In many cases you will also be able to find them in the forest itself - either at a nature centre or in special boxes.

You can find the brochures at Forest and Nature Agencys homepage
www.skovognatur.dk

In many forests you can also join walks organised by Rangers.

See the site www.naturnet.dk tour suggestions and calendar of activities, etc.

The Danish Ranger scheme is a networked scheme administrated by a joint secretariat under the auspices of the Forest and Nature Agency and the Outdoor Council.

The Rangers work for the state forest districts, counties and municipalities, museums and organisations. There are currently 300 Rangers.

The Rangers organise a range of activities and outings in their local areas, and they also work to set up, coordinate and promote similar activities in the area, such as trips organised by The Danish Society
for the Conservation of Nature, Danish Cyclists' Federation, DOF Danish Ornithological Society, the municipal parks administrations, etc. The counties and the state forest districts publish a large number of
pamphlets with information about annual events. The majority of Ranger guided tours are conducted exclusively in Danish, but several places also conduct a limited number of tours in German. The tours are conducted throughout Denmark all year round.

The tour themes are very varied - ranging from bird watching through city walks to visits to water purifying plants. Many tours and events are specifically aimed at children and families. In most cases you can
get an idea of the types of tours organised in a particular area by contacting the local libraries or the Forest and Nature Agency's Landscape Division in the county in question. Tours can often be organised
- in English or German - for special groups of tourists.

See the site www.naturnet.dk tour suggestions and calendar of activities, etc.