Hiking trail: Assens - Thorø

Hiking route from Assens to Thorøhuse and around Thorø

The 2 hiking routes

On Helnæs, you will find two marked hiking trails that allow you to experience the beautiful landscape.

Thorøhuse – Assens

A 3 km long route between Assens and Thorøhuse, where you can experience both culture and nature. It is an easy route suitable for most hikers.

Terrain: The path is a dirt trail and can be uneven and muddy at times. The trail is not suitable for strollers and wheelchairs. During periods when the trail may be partially flooded, you can follow Thorøhusevej up to the old railway.

Attractions on this hiking route:

Jordbassinerne Nature Area
The Shipwreck 'Verka'
The Old Fishing Village of Thorøhuse
Thorø

You can start your hike either in Assens or in Thorøhuse:

In Thorøhuse, the trail starts 'behind' the parking lot at Thorøhuse Community Hall.
In Assens, the trail starts inside Jordbassinerne. Enter the area through the gate at the end of Rylevej.

At each end of the trail, you have the option to extend your hike in scenic surroundings.

In Assens, you can explore the 40-hectare nature area, Jordbassinerne.

At Thorøhuse, you can continue your hike out onto the Thorø peninsula.

Around Thorø

Previously, it was possible to sail all the way around Thorø, but due to material transport from sea currents from the early 1970s to the mid-1990s, sand accumulation has increased across Thorø Sund, making Thorø connected to Thorøhuse.

Terrain: The path is a gravel trail and can be uneven.

Terrain and Surface

The hiking route runs along the shoreline and on some sections on the asphalt of Thorø Huse Vej. Be mindful of traffic when walking on the road.

During periods, the trail may be partially flooded. In such cases, you can follow Thorø Huse Vej up to the old sugar beet railway, which today functions as a railbike trail. It is permitted to walk along the track, but be aware of railbikes.

Facilities and Food/Drink Along the Way

You can pack provisions for the hike in Assens.

There is access to a toilet and water at Thorøhuse Community Hall.

Attractions on the Hiking Route

Here's what you can experience on the hike:

Jordbassinerne Nature Area
The Shipwreck 'Verka'
The Old Fishing Village of Thorøhuse
The Peninsula of Thorø, off Thorøhuse.

Experience a Man-Made Nature Area: Jordbassinerne

Jordbassinerne is a 40-hectare nature area with 2 marked hiking trails.

The area was man-made over 120 years through soil washed from sugar beets for sugar production at Assens Sugar Factory.

Before sugar production began in 1884, the area was a flat beach meadow just 0.5 meters above sea level. Today, the area lies 10 meters above sea level.

See the Remains of the SHIPWRECK 'VERKA'

The ship 'Verka' was built in 1913 and sailed as a cargo ship until the 1970s. When times became tougher for small cargo ships, the owner likely moored it here in Thorø Vig, just about 150 meters from land.

The good times never returned, and in 1977, 'Verka' began to sink.

Officially, the wreck is still privately owned. Since it does not pose a threat to maritime traffic, authorities do not have the right to remove the wreck. Therefore, it is up to the owner to pay for its removal if necessary.

This means that 'Verka' will likely remain until it collapses and disappears from the sea surface.

Idyllic Village Setting in Thorøhuse

Thorøhuse is a former fishing village with a protected natural harbor where boats could lie sheltered.

Most of the village's houses were built between 1870 and 1920.

The fishing community was characterized by hard work, toil, and frugality, and the houses were small and tightly packed. This dense settlement with narrow streets and alleys creates the idyllic atmosphere of Thorøhuse today.

In the village's main street, Jacob Gades Vej, the composer Jacob Gade lived from 1943 until his death in 1963. Jacob Gade is world-renowned for the melody "Tango Jalousie".

Beautiful Nature on Thorø

Thorø is a peninsula of approximately 65 hectares, located just off the old fishing village of Thorøhuse.

The island is known for its beautiful and untouched nature, and you might be lucky enough to spot both porpoises and seals from the shore.

The peninsula is only accessible on foot via a footbridge from the parking lot at Thorøhuse Community Hall. The sandbar between Thorø and Thorøhuse is called Drejet.

Thorø is owned by the Copenhagen Teachers' Association, and as a visitor to Thorø, you should show consideration by only using the marked hiking trails.

Harald Plum's Island

Thorø is known for Harald Plum's ownership of the island from 1917 to 1929, which has left many intriguing traces in the landscape.

On the western tip of the island stands a granite cross. The cross was erected by Harald Plum in 1928 in memory of three skeletons found in the 1920s during a ditch-digging operation. The grave is believed to date back to early antiquity.

You can listen to the podcast 'Legender fra Baghaven', which contains the story of Harald Plum, the merchant's apprentice from Assens.