Sunds – Nature, Trails and Local History

Sunds brings together nature around Sunds Sø and the plantation with easily accessible points of interest in local history. At the lake, you can walk a loop or explore swimming and fishing opportunities. Nearby, you’ll also find trails through heathland and meadows, a historic church, and traces of the former railway. Sunds therefore offers a range of starting points for planning your trip.

Sunds Sø: Trails, Swimming and Fishing

Sunds Sø covers 127 hectares and is Denmark’s largest heathland lake. A 5.5-kilometre trail goes all the way around the lake and is suitable for walking or running. If you’re looking for a shorter walk, Sunds Kommuneplantage has a marked red route that is 1.7 kilometres long. It is considerably shorter than the route around the lake.

The Strandparken bathing area at Sunds Sø has a sandy beach, a picnic shelter, benches, outdoor showers and toilets. Take seasonal swimming conditions into account and check them before your visit. There is also a municipal bathing-water site on the eastern shore of Sunds Sø.

Fishing is possible at Sunds Sø; check the fishing regulations before your trip. Sunds plantage provides access to free fishing in Sunds Nørreå. The lake and river therefore offer different fishing opportunities, each located at the respective body of water.

Plantation and Nature

Sunds plantage covers 50 hectares and includes heathland and meadows. The red hiking route in Sunds Kommuneplantage is marked and 1.7 kilometres long. The municipal plantation also has designated areas where you can camp for free. Check local fire and camping conditions before you arrive.

Sunds Sø is home to a small but notable population of the rare and protected plant gulgrøn brasenføde. A historical nature report also mentions 80 different bird species recorded at and around the lake within a short period. This observation adds a historical glimpse of the birdlife to the picture of the lake.

On the outskirts of Sunds, there is a shelter site with two shelters in Troldeskoven. It has a composting toilet and a water tap. Check the conditions before you arrive.

Church, Railway and Local Life

The present-day Sunds Kirke was inaugurated on 12 December 1897. Around the year 1200, a towerless stone church stood on the same site. It was 18 metres long, 8 metres wide and 3 metres high. The present church has a simple design, with round-arched windows and a flat beamed ceiling. The information about the older church and the present building relates to two different periods in the history of the same church site.

The railway is also part of the area’s history. In Sunds, the disused Herning–Viborg railway line was converted into the Alhedestien walking and cycling trail in 1995. Alhedestien is a route of about 49 kilometres for walking, cycling and horse riding. Baneparken was established on former railway land in 1994–95; this date refers to when it was created.

Troldeskoven in Sunds was established as a local community project on 26 and 27 October 1990. If you’re interested in local history, you can view materials held at Sunds Lokalhistoriske Arkiv. Check visiting arrangements before you go.

The Sunds Sejlklub holds events on Sunds Sø, including regattas and sailing trips. Dates vary between events. If you want to plan your trip around a particular event, check its date before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Sønder Felding, Stakroge, Kølkær, Kibæk, Avlum, Herning, Ørnhøj, Skærbæk

For the full travel overview: Herning Municipality.