Rønshoved: The Gendarmstien, Hjertesti and Højskole

You can get to know Rønshoved via two different hiking trails: the Gendarmstien passes through the town and then continues along the coast; the Hjertesti runs through woodland, beach and fields. Rønshoved Højskole’s history and prehistoric traces in Rønshoved Skov are also part of the picture. If you’re looking for a hotel in Rønshoved, these themes can help with your travel planning: would you prefer to focus on hiking trails, coastal scenery or local history?

Hiking trails in and around Rønshoved

The Gendarmstien reaches Rønshoved and follows the paved road around Rønshoved Højskole in a curve. The trail then returns to the water and follows the coast to Huk. The route thus includes the stretch of road by the school and the coastal section that follows. For orientation, these are two distinct aspects of the same trail: its route through Rønshoved and its continuation along the water.

The Tegl stage of the Gendarmstien also passes through Rønshoved. It is 20.3 km long. The stage length and the route through the town answer different planning questions: the distance indicates the length of the stage, while the route by the school and along the coast provides specific landmarks in the town.

The hiking trail Rønshoved og omegn Hjertesti starts and ends at a public toilet building on the beach at Strandvejen in Rønshoved. Since the start and finish are the same point, the loop returns to its starting point. Along the way, the trail passes through woodland, beach and fields. These details make the Hjertesti particularly easy to understand using two criteria: its stated start and finish point, and the types of landscape it passes through.

The two trails have different focuses. For the Gendarmstien, the main features are its route by the Højskole, its return to the water and the coastal stretch to Huk. For the Hjertesti, the description highlights its shared start and finish point and the sequence of woodland, beach and fields. If you plan your days in Rønshoved around a hike, you can take these differences into account without treating the two routes as the same.

Rønshoved Højskole and its history

Rønshoved Højskole was founded on 9 March 1921 as an independent, self-governing educational institution. On 3 November of that year, it began operating as a folk high school in the border region. The dates mark two different milestones: the institution’s founding and the start of its work as a Højskole. The school’s history therefore offers not only a way to orient yourself in the area, but also a specific connection to the border region.

The school offers a wide range of short courses with a shared cultural and historical focus. If a course like this is relevant to your trip, check the current offering before making plans. The courses and their cultural and historical focus are a separate reason to learn about the Højskole; they are distinct from the hiking trails as another side of Rønshoved.

Prehistory in Rønshoved Skov

Rønshoved Skov is home to a prehistoric long barrow. It is 20 m long, 6 m wide and 0.75 m high. These measurements give it an easy-to-imagine shape: the mound is a little more than three times as long as it is wide, and its stated height is under one metre. These specific dimensions give you a sense of the prehistoric structure’s size.

A prehistoric stone grave is also located in Rønshoved Skov. Together with the long barrow, it offers another glimpse into the area’s early history. Those interested in Rønshoved’s past can find two distinct prehistoric sites here, in addition to the more recent history of the Højskole.

Discover more destinations: Dalsgård, Asserballeskov, Sønderborg, Kettingskov, Sydals, Nordborg, Stenderup, Havnbjerg

For the overview of the wider area, see: Sønderborg Municipality.