Hiking route: Højlyngsstien leg 3 – Rø Plantage to Rytterknægten in Almindingen

We have chosen to divide the route into five legs. This article describes leg tree from Rø Plantage to Rytterknægten in Almindingen.

Route description:

From Borgedalssøen in Rø Plantage, follow the orange dots marking Højlyngsstien up the steep steps. The route takes you down to the lake again and along its beautiful shore before reaching a wide forest path. Keep an eye out for the signs, because after a short while you have to take a sharp right up through the forest on hairpin bends.

On the other side of the plantation you’ll walk along the road for a few kilometres, and then the route reaches Bornholm’s largest forest, Almindingen Forest.

Here, you’ll first walk along mainly wide forest roads past sights such as Rokkestenen (the Rocking Stone). This is one of the most famous because it’s easy to get to, and at 16 tonnes is an impressive sight, but unfortunately it can no longer be rocked.

Further on, you cross the main road that runs across the island. On the other side is Lilleborg (Little Castle), the old royal castle, which only existed as a royal castle for about 100 years before it was burnt down in the 13th century, and has been a ruin ever since. It is located on a 16-metre-high rock outcrop, and from the top you have a lovely view down over the lake with the special name of Pølsesø (Sausage lake).

Cross the bridge on the other side of Lilleborg and follow the signs steeply uphill through the forest until you reach the paved road to Rytterknægten. This is a good spot to take a break. (When the Kongemindet tower is renovated in summer 2023, you will once again be able to take the trip to the top and enjoy the view.)

Højlyngsstiens 5 hiking stages:

Leg 1 – Sandvig to Ravnedalen

Leg 2 – Ravnedalen to Rø Plantage

Leg 3 – Rø Plantage to Rytterknægten i Almindingen

Leg 4 – Rytterknægten to Ølene

Leg 5 – Ølene to Årsdale

Facts:

Duration:

5 hours
Length:
12 km
Difficulty level:
Challenging in Rø Plantage, medium at Lilleborg, the rest is easy
Suitable for prams and wheelchairs:
No
Parking:
If you only want to walk this leg, park at Flagermusehuset on Sigtevej, or at Udkæret on Springbakkevejen 11 Aakirkeby, if you want to walk in the opposite direction
Toilets:
At Flagermusehuset, at Rytterknægten and at Udkæret
Access to water:
There is a water point at Flagermusehuset about 200 metres from Lake Borgedalssøen in Rø Plantage. There is also one on the gravel road towards the Udkæret Shelter site and a toilet with water at Rytterknægten
Surface:
Relatively flat, but part of it is paved, because the route here follows the cycle path between Sandvig and Almindingen Forest on a country road and paved cycle path
Special remarks:
Udkæret is not officially part of Højlyngsstien – the shelter is an extra few hundred metres’ walk away but worth the effort.

Written by Gitte Holtze

Hiker and outdoor freak as well as journalist, lecturer and author of "jeg lever" about Gitte's hike along the Pacific Crest Trail and "Gå langt", a guidebook to long hikes.