Walking and hiking along designated footpaths provides greater security, and also gives you the opportunity to use new paths that you might otherwise have overlooked, while also sparing you the risk of ending up at the end of a blind road, and finally - the designated paths prevent you from trespassing onto private property. Added to which, the designated footpaths often go through some of the most scenic natural areas.

By far the majority of footpaths can be used on all year round, though some paths may be under water now and again so that you have to dress for the season and the conditions. You should exercise caution with regard to smoking and open fires and always keep your dog on its lead. You must show respect for the animal life and bird life, taking care not to disturb their habitats and young, and you must leave plants to grow on in their natural habitats. In the state forests, however, you are allowed to pick berries, mushrooms and flowers for your own use, as long as they are not protected species!

The following provides a list of long-distance trails of 10km or more. Some of the trails coincide with the cycling routes, short walks and may be tarmacked, but as a rule they run along natural paths and gravel roads. The individual footpaths are either designated or further described in a folder which in most cases is available to purchase from the secretariat of:

Danish Hikers' Association
Kultorvet 7, 1.sal,
DK-1175 Copenhagen K,
Denmark
tel. +45 33 12 11 65, between 1pm-5pm
E-mail: danskvandrelaug@dvl.dk
Internet: www.dvl.dk

1. West Coast Route - 160km Bulbjerg-Skagen. Cycling route, but on many stretches viable as a hiking route.
2. Round-trip trail in the Municipality of Hirtshals - 125km. The trail consists of 6 stages of between 10 and 32km.
3. Jyske Ås (Jutland River's) 30km Østre Vrå-Dronninglund hiking/cycling route. Part of the northern "Hærvej" (old military/trading road) route.
4. West Coast footpath -180km Bulbjerg-Nymindegab. A hiking/cycling route.
5. Nature trail Nibe-Hvalpsund - 55km. For hikers, cyclers, and horse-riders. Follows the disused railway track from Nibe to Havbro.
6. Sallingsund-Guide - 22km. Various marked trails along gravel lanes.
7. The "Planet" path - 12km. Lemvig-Stenodden, along Nissum Bredning.
8. "Hærvejen" - 265km (part of the E1 - a designated European long-distance route) Viborg-Padborg.
9. Mols Hills - 20km. Various routes along gravel lanes and footpaths.
10. Circular route around Trehøje - 177km. Eight stages of between 17 and 29km.
11. Silkeborg-Randers - 50km. The Langå-Silkeborg stretch uses the disused railway track.
12. Towpath Silkeborg-Randers 52km. Natural-wear path along the river Gudenåen.
13. Nature trail Horsens-Silkeborg - 56km. Walking/cycling route along disused railway track.
14. Footpath Århus-Silkeborg - 64km.
15. Holme Hills-Giber Å - 13km. Nature trail.
16. Mossø, Sukkertoppen and Gudenå - 18km.
17. Rørbæk Sø, Tinnet Krat, sources of the Gudenå and Skjernå (rivers) - 20km.
18. Endelave - 18km. Roundtrip on island of Endelave off Horsens Fjord.
19. Tørskind-Vejle and Egtved river valleys - 25km.
20. Bække-Varde, Varde-Blåvand - 90km.
21. Rands Fjord - 19km.
22. Elbodalstien - 20km.
23. Bramdrupdam/Hartestien - 19km.
24. Vranderup Trail - 19km. Along the Kolding river valley.
25. Kolding Fjord, Stenderup Forests - 13km.
26. Fanø - trails in the middle and southern part of the island.
27. Rømø - 2 long-distance trails in the middle of the island (17km) and the southern island (14km) and 3 short trails in the plantations of 3.2 and 3km, respectively.
28. Tunneldal Trails - 30km. Roundtrip through Haderslev Dam, Pamhile Forest and Stævninge Dam.
29. "Æ Markman" trail and Brede River trail - 33km. Marshland and dykes.
30. Tønder marshlands - 14km. Tramping paths and field lanes.
31. "Gendarm" trail - 77km. From Padborg, Germany to Sønderborg along Flensburg Fjord.
32. Nordby Bakker, Samsø - 15km. Natural-wear paths and gravel lanes.
33. Ruds river valley and Stavids river valley - 20km. Korup-Stige (Funen)
34. Odense river valley - 20km. Trail along the river and through the city.
35. Lindved river valley - 20km. Gravel lanes. The trail follows the river from Åsum to Højby.
36. Gilleleje trail, Hillerød-Gilleleje - 27km. From Frederiksborg Castle at Hillerød to Gilleleje Station via the Grib Forest.
37. Pøleå trail, Hillerød-Helsinge - 15km. Hiking/cycling route.
38. Isefjord trail - 30km. Rørvig Havn-Sandskredet. Hiking/cycling route.
39. Nordskoven forest, Jægerspris - 14km.
40. Orø - 16km. Tramping path.
41. Rude Skov-Skodsborg - 10km. Gravel lanes and forest trails.
42. Marked forest trails in Mølleå river valley - 60km. The trail goes through forest, residential neighbourhoods and along a lake.
43. Søndersø-Dragør - 46km. Hiking/cycling route.
44. Klampenborg-Vestskoven (forest) - 27km.
45. Gentofte Lake-Kalveboderne - 20km.
46. Store Vejleå river trail - 22km, Jonstrup Vang-Ishøj Beach.
47. Værslev trail - 24km. Kalundborg-Gørlev. Hiking/cycling route.
48. Jyderup trail - 50km. Jyderup-Kongskilde Friluftsgård. Hiking/cycling route.
49. Hedeland - 12km. Hedehusene-Tune. Gravel lanes.
50. Skjoldenæsholm, Bidstrup, Særløse Overdrev - 15km. Round-trips along forest paths
51. Køge Ås - 20km.
52. Lagune trail - 23km, Næstved-Bisserup. To be extended across Skælskør to Korsør (60km). In several places the trail runs directly along the shore.
53. Møns Cliff - 20km. Several trails on the cliff, shore or hinterland.
54. Hiking routes near Onsevig - 16km. 5 hiking routes made up of narrow lanes and paths.
55. Ravnsby Bakker (hills) - 10km.
56. Baltic trail - 37.5km. Albuen/Hyllekrog. Hiking/cycling route along narrow lanes and along the seawall.
57. Coastal paths on Bornholm - 110km. Made up of newly made paths and old lifeboat-rescue and forest and coastal paths.
58. Hammeren and Hammershus Slotslyng - 10km.
59. Almindingen - 10km. Several marked trails.
60. Paradisbakkerne (hills). 3 designated trails.
61. Longdistance trail E6 Sealand - Kastrup-Lorsør - 155 km.