Gribskov Forest

Gribskov ('Grib Forest') is Denmark's fourth-largest forest and one of the finest areas of wild woodland on Zealand. Covering some 5,600 hectares west and south of Lake Esrum in North Zealand, it is owned and managed by the Danish state and forms part of the Kongernes Nordsjælland National Park. In 2015 it was recognised on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the 'par force' royal hunting landscape of North Zealand, a reminder that these woods were once the hunting grounds of Danish kings.

Today Gribskov is a haven for both wildlife and walkers. Its old beech stands, dark conifer plantations and atmospheric bogs shelter a rich range of animals, including red and fallow deer and several species of birds of prey wheeling overhead. A generous network of trails threads through the forest, offering excellent hiking and cycling, and the landscape shifts beautifully with the seasons. The forest is traditionally divided into four parts, gathered around the village of Mårum, the shores of Lake Esrum, the little lake of Gribsø and the village of Nødebo.

Access is free and the forest is open all year. Autumn is the most dramatic time to visit, when the deer rutting season fills the woods with the roars of stags, while spring brings carpets of white anemones across the forest floor. Stop for coffee at Stenholt Mølle to round off a walk. To get here, drive, or take the S-train to Hillerød and then bus 301 to Nødebo on the southern edge of the forest.