Hiking the pearl of the Baltic Sea: Bornholm
Now it is time for a new adventure! Not the wonders of the world like Himalaya, Ayers Rock, Sierra Nevada or something like that. Just a pearl. But why go to the end of the universe, when you have a pearl in your backyard? Or, at least, in your back-sea? Because that is what the Baltic Sea is, seen from Copenhagen where I live. A small ocean with a lot of secrets and mysteries - and one of them is the Danish island Bornholm, the pearl of the Baltic Sea.
Spend a week hiking the entire coast of Bornholm, and you will have a fantastic experience! A walk along the sea is always a special pleasure, but here you will come through so many different types of landscape, as if the whole of Scandinavia should be concentrated here on this beautiful island. In the north dramatic cliffs and a rough sea, in the south the whitest dunes of sand that you can imagine and a smooth turquise sea like a tropical laguna. And all the way around Bornholm you come through small fishing villages smelling of smoked fish, which is the famous speciality here - and it tastes delicious!
Bornholm is a mecca for artists and handicrafts, even a wineyard has been established lately, and that is something very exotic in a country known for beer but certainly not for wine! The difficulty of the coast hike is above level compared to other parts of Denmark, but for a skilled hiker used to cliffs or mountains it is absolutely OK. I love to go in late summer or autumn as the weather in this period is extremely nice with a lot of sun and still very good possibilities for a good swim in the sea (at least for us “vikings” from the northern Europe!). There are youth hostels (called “Danhostels”) in all the small towns around the coast, and of course a lot of bed and breakfast possibilities. Calculate around 18-22 km per day and you will be able to complete the very good signed route in 6 days. Perfect for a week! And be sure: You will never forget the pearl of the Baltic Sea!
