Hellebæk between natural landscapes and industrial history

Hellebæk combines a diverse landscape with an unusually tangible industrial history. Between forest, pastureland, raised bog and coast, you will find routes for active days as well as historic sites connected with water, mills and energy.

Forest, pastureland and raised bog

Teglstrup Hegn, Hellebæk Skov and Hellebæk Kohave are designated as a Natura 2000 habitat area and are part of Kongernes Nordsjælland National Park. Together, they form an area of approximately 1,000 hectares with forest, 500-year-old oak trees, raised bog, pastureland and forest lakes. Hellebæk Kohave covers approximately 280 hectares with pastureland, natural forest, bogs and wet meadows. Cattle with calves graze there year-round; the fenced area is freely accessible to everyone through numerous gates. Skidendam is a five-hectare raised bog and one of Denmark’s few untouched raised bogs.

Routes through the landscape

Walking and running routes can be linked through Teglstrup Hegn, Hellebæk Kohave and Hellebæk Skov. Regional cycle route 47, Nordkyststien, runs along forest paths within Hellebæk from Skåningedam to Julebæk and then continues along the coast parallel to Nordre Strandvej. The European long-distance hiking trail E6 from Finland to Greece also passes through Teglstrup Hegn; there is also a signposted mountain-bike trail there. A route in Hellebæk Nature National Park follows Bondedam, which is surrounded by forest. At Skidendam, two footbridges at the southern end provide access across the lagg zone to the raised-bog area.

Birdwatching in different seasons

At Pernille Sø, you can observe plants, birds and insects from a birdwatching tower. In spring, the migration of birds of prey and cranes can pass by Hellebæk in their thousands. On the days of the strongest autumn migration, more than 3,000 common buzzards can pass by in a single day.

Water as the driving force behind the town’s history

Hammermøllen was built by Stephan Hansen in 1765. Today, it is used for exhibitions and as a café; occasionally, metal is still forged at the old hearth. It was part of the large Kronborg Geværfabrik factory complex, which consisted of eight watermills powered by the Hellebækken stream. In the Turbinehuset of the Hellebæk hydroelectric power station at Bondedammen, a Francis turbine from 1944 is still turning today, offering an insight into the historical production of environmentally friendly energy. In the forests around Hellebæk, canals, ditches, streams, dams and sluice gates are reminders of the 400 years during which water was the lifeblood of Hellebæk’s industrial society.

Understanding Hellebæk as a place to stay

If you are looking for a hotel in Hellebæk, you can base your choice of location on whether nature observation, hiking and cycling, or industrial history should be the focus of your stay. For comparison with other locations, you can also consider Espergærde Espergærde, Kvistgård Kvistgård, Snekkersten Snekkersten and Helsingør Helsingør.

To the higher-level travel overview: Helsingør.