Skjern

Skjern is a rural railway town in West Jutland. Just about 7,800 people live here, and there aren't any larger towns nearby.

Because of the rural conditions, not much is going on in or around Skjern, but the town can serve as an access point, or a base, for exploring the nature of the region.

The biggest attraction for travellers is the nature site of Skjern Ådal, a revitalised river delta stretching for 20 kilometres from the village of Borris in the east, past Skjern, and in to the lagoon of Ringkøbing Fjord in the west. The river delta was bound for inception as a national park in 2012, but the project was abandonned shortly before. For visitors, however, the nature site has everything a nature lover could want, complete with visitor centers, access points, hiking trails, shelters, lookouts, and of course great nature experiences and beautiful sights.

• 55.94768.492331 Skjern Station, Bredgade 55. It is connected to the Esbjerg–Struer line and the Skanderborg–Skjern line. The station offers direct regional train services from Aarhus, Esbjerg, Herning and Holstebro.  (updated Apr 2026)
• It is also served by the Stauning Vestjylland Airport.

• 56.0068298.4784671 Bundsbæk Mølle, Bundsbækvej 27 (between Skjern and Ringkøbing). Old watermill with a small museum and a cafe. DKK 35.  
• 55.89568.210122 Tipperne (south of Ringkøbing Fjord.). Watch birds at Tipperne, an important stopover for migratory birds.  

• 55.839338.26631 Bork Vikingehavn (southwest of the town of Skjern). Reconstructed Viking harbour town. Viking re-enactments and cultural activities. Great for kids and history enthusiasts.  
• 55.8187568.1722222 Nymindegab Strand (At the bottom of Ringkøbing Fjord, southwest from the town of Skjern). Great coastal beach. Good opportunity for a nature hike or rent a canoe and explore the shallow lagoon of Ringkøbing Fjord. Angling in the brackish lagoon waters if you have a fishing license.  

Skjern River is the largest river in Denmark by volume, draining more than 10% of Jutland. As Denmark's longest river, the Gudenå River, Skjern River emerges south of the Silkeborg Forests, between Vejle and Silkeborg.

The river delta was close to becoming a national park in 2012 as Skjern Å National Park, but the project was abandonned at the last minute. This means that all national park infrastructure is in place here, so the missing status doesn't make much difference to visitors.

The national park was scheduled to include a total of 45 km of the river valley, and other adjacent nature protections, but less than a third of it was realised. The smaller nature site is now referred to as Skjern Ådal, comprising two areas: the lower parts of the river (west of Skjern) and an upper inland part of the river (east of Skjern).

Skjern Enge, meaning Skjern Meadows, defines the lower parts of the river delta, west of the town of Skjern. This is where the river system spreads out and meets the large brackish lagoon of Ringkøbing Fjord, itself an important nature protection. Skjern Enge is a large wetland of lakes, meadows, and marshland. The diverse birdlife is the most obvious here, but the wetlands are also home to otter and of course a prolific aquatic life of various fish and amphibians hiding in the water.

If you are cycling from Skjern, this is the best route to follow to experience most of Skjern Enge:

• 55.917498.438643 Hestholm Bird Hide (Fugletårn Skjern Enge). Roofed lookout and bird watching tower in the middle of the delta, looking out across the Hestholm lake reserve.  (updated Oct 2026)
• 55.905318.442974 Lønborg Church, Kirkegade 11, Tarm (in the village of Lønborg on the south side of the delta). Open in the day time. Old village church. Great views across Skjern Meadows from the church tower. The church itself was founded in the 1100s as one of the early churches in Denmark. Interesting Medieval frescos. Free.  (updated Oct 2026)
• 55.904758.422845 Lønborggård Bird Tower (Lønborggård Fugletårn). Roofed lookout and bird watching tower.  (updated Oct 2026)
• 55.905618.398492 Nature Center Skjern Enge, Gamle Botoftevej 4, Tarm. Open every day 09:00-18:00 (16th April to 31st October). Main visitor center for Skjern Enge on the south side of the delta, close to Ringkøbing Fjord. Learn more about the diverse birdlife of the area. There are picnic tables and free facilities for grilling. Free.  (updated Oct 2026)

• 55.913058.405263 Rope ferries. Go north from Nature Center Skjern Enge in to the meadows and you will reach a small self-operated rope ferry. The ferry gets you across to the delta isle of Kalvholm and can carry bicycles. Further afield on the north side of Kalvholm you will find another rope ferry that will carry you to the north side of the delta not far from the Provstgaards Hus visitor center. The trip across the delta is 2 km and should take about half an hour.  (updated Oct 2026)
• 55.91968.406344 Provstgaards Hus, Langkærvej 10, Skjern (on the north side of the delta). Thu Sat 11:00-16:00 (July and August). Small visitor centre on the north side of the delta. The house is an old hunting lodge from 1922, formerly used for hunting otter, geese, and fish. Exhibit on the house' history and a small café serving coffee and cake. Rest your legs here and enjoy the views across the delta. Free.  (updated Oct 2026)

This is an upper inland part of the river delta, east of the town of Skjern. It comprise two merging arms of the meandering Skjern River, coming from the east and the southeast. The Skjern River itself takes center stage, but the nature site also includes surrounding meadows, small lakes, and wetlands.

• 55.944498.581013 Laksens Hus (Naturcenter Skjern Å), Ånumvej 161 B, Skjern (near the Albæk Bro crossing west of the town of Skjern), kf@vildlaks.dk. Open every day in the fishing seaon 10:00-13:30. Visitor center House of The Salmon where you can learn more about the wild salmon connected to the Skjern River specifically and how to engage with angling and flyfishing in the area. You can get advice and buy local fishing license and tackle as well. The fishing season for Skjern River is 16th April to 15th October and to fish here, you need a general State-license in addtion to the local license and you must adhere to specific rules and regulations concerning this particular river system. House of The Salmon visitor center is run by the fishing organisation riverfisher.dk covering leisure fishing in Skjern River, Gudenå River, and the Karup Å river.  (updated Oct 2026)

• 55.95288.403951 Stauning Whiskey. Local, award winning whiskey destillery.  (updated Jun 2026)

• 55.9633968.6318931 ^{[formerly dead link]} Guest House Flodgård Mohair, Flodgårdsvej 32, Borris (in Borris, east of Skjern), ☏ +45 97366447. Check-out: noon. Two nice rooms share a bathroom, at kitchen and a sitting area. Clean and tidy. single DKK 175, double DKK 350.   ^{[dead link]}