Learn more about hiking Skjoldungestien (the Skjoldunge Trail). You will find directions both for the route itself and for getting there and back. And tips on camping or shopping. Another option is to read my 2025 blog and enjoy some nice photos. And of course, I have also made a video on YouTube. The world…..is thine oyster 🙂

1 or 2 days hiking 31 km. trough a historic landscape and some of the most varied nature Zealand has to offer!

Should YOU hike this trail?

Yes! Yes you absolutely should.

The Skjoldunge Trail is named after a mythical Viking tribe – Children of Skjold – and it takes you right through their ancient lands. Happily, those lands also happen to be a mix of lovely forest, rolling hills, deep lakes and even a bit of surpringsly fun-to-cross marshland.

Map of Central Zealand and the Skjoldunge Trail

Hiking Skjoldungestien will be all about a well maintained and easy-to-hike trail with shelters, decent facilities and very easy access from Copenhagen. At 31 kilometers (19 miles), it makes for a single long day or two leisurely days spending the night halfway. It is even possible to ‘hop off’ around halfway and still get a good impression of the hike.

You’ll get to enjoy nature at it’s best. Lots of forests and marshland, but also amazing vistas of rolling pastures and hills. Not to mention the viking spirit that still roam the lands.

There are only a few short sections of paved road. The whole route is sporadically marked. I recommend using a wayfinding app so you don’t get lost. Not least because the trail is actually several criss-crossing trails with alternatives to choose between.

You should find everything you need right here on my page. However, there is certainly a wealth of information to be found on official websites too. And there is even a nice app, which may provide useful info en route. You will have internet connectivity the whole way.

Anything else? Oh yes – safety. There is absolutely nothing to worry about when hiking Skjoldungestien – just be careful on the short stretch of roadside walking in the middle. No pavement here to separate you from traffic.

You will never be far from houses and people. And the fierce vikings are long gone. I guess the only real way to find risk, is by taking a swim in the lakes or the ocean. Please do so, but of course do so responsibly.

Hiking Skjoldungestien (direction)

Both directions are lovely, but I would strongly recommend starting in the west in the rather unremarkable small town of Hvalsø. Finishing in Roskilde, right by the massive cathedral, is a worthy end to a good long hike. Also, you can reward yourself with all the food, drink and snacks that is on offer in Denmarks’ 10th largest city.

You can hike from west-to-east, ending in the historic city of Roskilde, or from east-to-west, starting in Roskilde.

Getting to the trailhead and back

These are directions for setting off from central Copenhagen using public transportation. You could also go by car to either end of the trail, and then take a bus or train back to your car after arriving.

So, get yourself to one of the central train stations in Copenhagen (such as Central Station) and grab a train to Roskilde or Hvalsø. There is at least two trains departing every hour. The price is roughly 60 DKK (8 euros).

In 30-40 minutes you will arrive at the destination, and if you have decided to start your hike in Roskilde, you simply have to head for the Cathedral. It is huge and close by – directions wont be needed.

However, you are probably more likely to start from the westernmost trailhead south of Hvalsø. In this case, get off at Hvalsø Station and zigzag south-east. There are several possible routes to the trailhead that are all fine and easy to follow.

For example:

• Head east from the station and turn south on “Hovedgaden” (Main Street).
• Walk a few hundred meters to a roundabout and turn left (east) on Roskildevej.
• Very soon after, turn right (south) on Elmevej.
• Walk straight for a few hundred meters onto the Trailhead marked by a small signpost .

Of course, this is much easier if you use a wayfinding app and download my GPX-file.

And once you’re done it’s easy. Assuming you’ve arrived at the cathedral in Roskilde you just have to find the central pedestrian street (Gågaden). It is located just south-east of the cathedral. Walk east to the end of the pedestrian street, turn right, and presto! The station is straight ahead – about 150 meters away. Train service from Roskilde to Copenhagen is frequent all day long.

What to pack

There are no special needs as this is a highly accessible trail which is easy to hike. There are not too many places to get water, so bring enough. If you choose to spend the night half way, you just have to refill all your water bottles at Gammel Lejre (the village nearby).

So, if you are doing the whole thing in 1 day, simply bring water, food, snacks and sunscreen.

If you are camping, bring lots of water and otherwise just the usual stuff:

-Tent

-Sleeping Pad & Sleeping Bag

-Food for two days and one night

-Cooking gear, Plate & Cutlary

-Water Proofs

-Sunblock

-Hat & Shades

-Trailrunners or Hiking Boots

-Mosquito Repellent

-Toiletries, Toothbrush, Toilet Paper

-Smartphone & Power Bank

Camping, shopping, water and facilities

This map indicates where you can find those important things that all hikers need 🙂 Further description and coordinates below.

CAMPING

The obvious solution if you wanna camp is to take advantage of the free shelter located just after passing the village of Gammel Lejre. There is a primitive toilet, fireplace and not too far to walk to find water. Coordinates are: ‘N 55 27.883, E 011 56.632’. You are not allowed to pitch a tent here, and the shelter is first come, first serve, so that does hold the potential to be a fly in the ointment.

As for wild camping, I believe this is not allowed anywhere along the route. There are, however, a number of shelters with primitive toilets, which also allow for tenting. And while any of these will provide awesome camping, they are, unfortunately, kind of close to the trailhead of the Skjoldunge Trail. For me, this rules them out – I wanna hike the Skjoldunge Trail – not sleep at its very beginning.

Thus, I will settle for recommending the shelter mentioned above, but you can research other options here.

SHOPPING

There are plenty of options in the two towns, Hvalsø and Roskilde, at the start/end of the trail.

En route, you can find a super market in the town of Lejre, though you will have to detour a bit. Walk south in Old Lejre, and after 1,6 kilometres, you will find a supermarket which is nearly always open. Coordinates are ‘N 55 36.222, E 011 58.096’. This is also fairly close to the previously mentioned shelter. And should you have regrets, there is s train station right next door to the supermarket, which will provide quick transportation to Roskilde og Copenhagen.

Another option is available when you reach the small town of Svogerslev at about 25 kilometres of hiking. Veer east off the trail and into town, where you will find a supermarket at coordinates ‘N 55 38.010, E 012 0.982’. Then hike north to get back onto the trail. You wont miss anything important by doing this.

WATER

• After 9 km. (going west to east) there is a water tap on west side of the scouts’ cabin roughly at ‘N 55 34.111, E 011 53.386’
• After 21 km. The above mentioned shelter has primitive toilets. Coordinates are: ‘N 55 27.883, E 011 56.632’.
• After 27 km. When passing through the grounds of Roskilde Golf Club, you can – maybe – sneak into their toilet and get some water. Roughly at coordinates ‘N 55 38.789, E 012 2.141’
• And of course you can find public toilets in Roskilde, where you can fill your water bottle.

TOILETS

• After 9 km. (going west to east) there is a primitive toilet by the scouts’ cabin roughly at ‘N 55 34.111, E 011 53.386’
• After 20 km. Both the campsite and the pancake shop have toilets at ‘N 55 27.920, E 011 56.630’
• After 27 km. When passing through the grounds of Roskilde Golf Club, you can – maybe – sneak into their toilet. Roughly at coordinates ‘N 55 38.789, E 012 2.141’
• And finally, several public restrooms are available in Roskilde.

You now know all there is to know, and it’s time to click a button to go to either my blog or my video on the Ringsted Oplevelsessti.