Hiking with your dog
It’s becoming more and more popular to take your dog with you on a hiking holiday, and it’s difficult to imagine a type of holiday more suited for you and your four-legged friend.
Sønderjylland has several hiking trails that are ideal for this type of holiday. The most well-known is probably the Gendarme Path, which is a European Leading Quality Trail, and with its 84 km is perfect for a hike lasting 5-7 days.
The path follows Flensburg Fjord and leads you through an attractive, varied landscape with undulating beech forests and flat salt marshes. Most of the route lies away from roads and motorised traffic, so both you and your dog can relax and enjoy the peace and quiet of the countryside.
Sønderjylland’s latest hiking route, the Marskstien - Marsh Trail, is also ideal. This European Quality Trail is 54 km long and runs through Denmark’s largest area of marshland, Tøndermarsken.
Along both routes you can find shelters, B&Bs and small hotels where dogs are welcome.
Good advice for hiking with your dog
Hiking holidays are not suitable for very young puppies.
Your dog must be at least one and a half to two years old, as its bones must be fully developed before embarking on a hiking trip lasting several days.
Your dog must also be in good physical condition before taking it on a hiking trip. If this is the case, you can easily plan to hike between 15 and 20 km per day, as long as you remember to take breaks every now and again.
Remember to bring fresh water with you. Flensburg Fjord is a saltwater fjord, and your dog will need fresh water while en route.
