Kettingskov: Burial Mounds, Forest and Trails

Kettingskov brings together Stone Age burial sites, Blommeskobbel Forest and trails through the area. When planning your trip, you can focus on a range of topics: the shapes and dimensions of the burial mounds, the forest’s flora and fauna, and ways to explore the landscape on foot or by bike.

Stone Age Burial Sites in Kettingskov

The Langhøj in Kettingskov dates from the Stone Age and is dated to around 3950 to 2801 BC. The burial mounds in Kettingskov date back around 5,000 to 6,000 years. The group of burial mounds comprises two long dolmens and three round dolmens. Seven burial sites lie together on the northern side of Kettingskov Forest.

Their dimensions also give an impression of the scale of these monuments: the largest long dolmen in Kettingskov is 53 metres long, 12 metres wide and 1.5 metres high; it is surrounded by 34 kerbstones. The capstone of the largest burial chamber in the monument group measures 4 metres long, 2.5 metres wide and 1.25 metres high. These figures refer to different parts of the sites and therefore cannot be combined into a single measurement.

The Kettingskov burial sites were restored in 1936 under the direction of conservator J. Rabler from the National Museum of Denmark. At the Langhøj, an information sign explains the local legend and methods of stone splitting; signage may change. From the Langhøj, you can walk about 250 metres towards the coast to reach the largest group of burial mounds in the north.

Blommeskobbel Forest is also home to five round and long dolmens, several of them close together. The forest thus combines archaeological monuments with a wooded landscape. As part of a local project, trees and scrub were cleared from one of the long barrows. A pile of split stones was uncovered next to the mound.

Blommeskobbel: Forest, Watercourses and Plants

The Kettingskov area surrounds Blommeskobbel Forest. This biodiverse deciduous forest consists mainly of beech and also includes stands of oak and ash. Several orchid species and Danish ginger also grow there. Nature enthusiasts will find specific botanical points of interest alongside the burial mounds.

Thorshavnsbæk in Blommeskobbel is a watercourse protected under Section 3. According to regional planning, the forest lies within a natural area and an area of special landscape value. These designations refer to regional planning and describe the forest’s protection and landscape context.

Trails, Cycling Route and Coast

A marked nature trail from Fynshav passes through Blommeskobbel. The Alsstien nature trail runs through the Kettingskov area. There is also a cycle path connecting Kettingskov with Fynshav. When planning a trip, check the current trail route and conditions, as local routes may change.

The Kettingskov area extends to the Lillebælt, where bathing is possible. Check current conditions before swimming. This lets you weigh up a forest walk, a bike ride and time on the coast for your trip, without assuming that these activities are part of a particular accommodation or its facilities.

Other Historic Sites

Rytterkulen lies near the coast on an elevated headland. A tower was built at Blommesgård, just to the west, in a small patch of woodland. Faint remains of the ramparts and a protected area of just under 100 square metres survive at the tower site.

Another stop is the Stendysseskulptur ved Kettingskov: it depicts a model of a burial mound from Blomeskobbel and has a capstone weighing around six tonnes. An information sign at the sculpture covers the prehistoric history of the island of Als and the area around Kettingskov. The table and bench set there invites you to take a short break during a bike ride.

Discover more destinations: Rinkenæs, Bredsten, Kruså, Oksbøl, Fynshav, Høruphav, Rønshoved, Asserballeskov.

For the wider travel overview: Sønderborg Municipality.