Bjergeskoven

Bjergeskoven is located in the northern part of Rold Skov and is a special forest area known for its dramatic terrain, old beech trees and rich woodland flora.

Over the course of just one kilometre, the terrain drops by 85 metres – from the highest point by the burial mounds of Svinhøje down to the bottom of Gravlevdalen. Along the way, the forest changes character from tall spruce trees on the higher ground to younger deciduous woodland and the old, crooked beech forest that Bjergeskoven is especially known for.

The twisted and often multi-stemmed beech trees tell the story of a difficult past. When the Danish state took over the forest in 1826 due to unpaid taxes, it had been heavily cut back and exhausted. Since then, the forest has slowly recovered and today stands as a beautiful and atmospheric natural area.

Rare plants and orchids

Bjergeskoven is known for its lime-rich forest floor, where several special plants thrive. One of the highlights is the Lady’s Slipper orchid, which grows inside an enclosure surrounded by 200–300-year-old beech trees.

The lady’s slipper orchid is one of Europe’s largest and rarest orchids. The enclosure protects the plant from illegal digging and allows visitors to experience it from a respectful distance.

The best time to visit the lady’s slipper orchid is in the last week of May, when the forest is light green and the flowering usually reaches its peak. Earlier in spring, Bjergeskoven is also a good place to look for blue anemones. In July, you may be lucky enough to spot another very rare orchid inside the enclosure: the red helleborine.

Find Bjergeskoven

Bjergeskoven lies in the northern part of Rold Skov. On the Rold Skov map, you can find the area’s marked trails and plan your walk through the hilly forest landscape.