Tolne: Nature Park, Trails and History

Tolne combines an extensive nature park with hiking trails and cultural and historical sites. If you are looking for a hotel in Tolne, these themes can help guide your travel plans: Would you mainly like to explore the landscape, choose a route or learn about the area's history? The following highlights show what Tolne has to offer for these different interests.

Nature Park and Woodland Landscape

Tolne Nature Park covers 2,440 hectares. Its hilly, glacially shaped landscape consists of a mosaic of old-growth deciduous forest and open natural areas. Special features include numerous rare plants and insects. Tolne Bakker, a Natura 2000 site, is also part of the nature park. The nature park offers views over Skagens Odde.

Tolne Skov is another important landscape area: the forest covers 715 hectares and also lies in hilly terrain. The protection status established in 2000 applies to the northernmost part of the forest. So, when exploring the natural surroundings of Tolne, both the size of the forest and its protected areas are worth bearing in mind.

Hiking Trails and the Tolneruten

There are several marked hiking trails in Tolne Skov. One specific option is the marked Tolne Skov Red Route, which is 1.3 kilometres long. The marked Tolne Nature Park Route also runs through the entire nature park: it leads from Katsig Bakker in the south to Eskær Skov in the north and is listed as 12.6 to 23.3 kilometres long. The distances differ considerably, helping you choose a route that suits the length you have in mind.

You can start the Tolne Nature Park Route near the Tolne Skov Pavilion, where parking is also available. Since parking arrangements can change, it is a good idea to check the parking situation before you travel. At the Tolne Skov Pavilion, you can pass under the railway line to reach the part of the forest south of the tracks. This access point is a useful landmark when exploring the forest's hiking trails.

For a cycling trip, the Tolneruten offers another way to experience the nature park. It runs through hilly terrain and alternates between paved roads, gravel roads, farm tracks and small paths. When planning your trip, you can take this variety of surfaces into account alongside the hilly route. This clearly distinguishes the Tolneruten from the hiking trails, for which the marked route and its length are the main considerations.

Local History and Historic Sites

Tolne has a history that can also be traced through its development from a village into a railway town. Tolne Kirkeby is the original settlement, located about two kilometres south of Tolne, the railway town. It is home to a Romanesque church dating from the 13th century. The old village developed largely into a railway town after the railway line between Hjørring and Frederikshavn was built in 1871.

Tolne Church was built from medieval bricks that may have been made in the nearby area. You can visit the interior after contacting the churchwarden, Jørgen Kristensen, at 98 93 03 87. Check the contact details before you travel. This means that a visit is subject to the explicitly stated requirement to make contact beforehand.

Stenhøj is a protected Stone Age burial monument dating from the Neolithic period, located 400 metres north of Tolne Church. It is about 28 metres long, 8 metres wide and 1 metre high; 19 large kerbstones surround the monument. Its dimensions and edging make Stenhøj a different kind of historic landmark from the church, with its medieval architectural history.

Tolne Skov Pavilion also has its own history. It was built in 1907 at the initiative of the estate owner Jørgen Larsen of Gaardbogaard and the landowner Jens Saxager. After its inauguration in 1908, the pavilion was leased as a restaurant and later also used as a dance hall. A pond and a path network were created below the pavilion. These developments add former uses and structural changes to Tolne's history.

Discover more destinations: Sæby, Dybvad, Thorshøj, Voerså, Bunken, Østervrå, Nordby, Hulsig

Go to the main travel overview: Frederikshavn Municipality.