Transport in Himmerland is more than just moving from A to B – it is a journey through time and landscape. Here, where fjords meet hills, and old railway tracks and hand-dug canals still tell stories, you can feel the footprints of the past.
Hop on the steam train in Mariager, take a cruise on Denmark’s most beautiful fjord, or experience freedom on two wheels in Aalestrup. From the wooden shipyards in Hobro to the peat train in Lille Vildmose and the ferry to the silence of Livø – here, you travel slowly, mindfully, and meaningfully through Himmerland’s living transport history.
Today, we take it for granted that we can go anywhere, anytime. But it hasn't always been that way. In Himmerland, you can feel how people before you struggled across moors and fjords – with ox carts, manpower, and determination. Transport is the story of movement – and it begins here.
You start your journey in the Town of Roses, Mariager, where the Mariager-Handest Veteran Railway winds through the hilly landscape. Here, you can take the train from Mariager to Handest and back – at a leisurely pace, allowing you to spot hares in the fields and hear the wheels singing against the tracks.
The train ride can be combined with a boat trip on the tour boat Svanen. This can be done on the “Triangle Route,” where a bus connects Hobro Harbor with Handest Station, or with the SaltTour, which includes the same trip plus a guided tour of the Mariager Salt Center and a meal at Café Salt.
At the fjord, the tour boat Svanen docks in Mariager, Hobro, and at the foot of Bramslev Bakker. Besides the extended tours, you can simply take a boat ride with Svanen on Denmark’s most beautiful fjord – and if you have the energy, you can hop off at Bramslev Bakker and walk along the Panorama Trail to Hobro, or vice versa.
The next stop is Hobro, where you can dive into the history of shipping. In the deep valley at the fjord’s end lies a wooden shipyard that is still operational — where generations of craftsmen have built and repaired ships for sailing on the fjord and out into the world. A visit here is a reminder of how much knowledge and precision are hidden in a wooden hull and keel. Take a walk along the shipyard path and see the fine vessels up close. From the top of the Shipwright’s House, you can look out over Mariager Fjord and get an overview of Hobro Shipyard, which is actually North Jutland’s oldest still active wooden shipyard.
If hunger strikes, a visit to Café K at Hobro Harbor or Bies Restaurant at Bies Brewery might be a great choice.
From Hobro, the journey continues west to Aalestrup, where Denmark’s Bicycle Museum takes you back to the early days of the bicycle. The museum is filled with everything from heavy tricycles and high-wheelers to modern racing bikes. The bicycle was freedom — especially for women and workers — and it remains a way of life in Himmerland. The museum is housed in the old director’s villa of the JYDEN bicycle factory and is a time capsule in itself.
If you feel inspired, you can hop on a bike yourself and take one of the many cycling routes that lead you further through the beautiful Himmerland countryside.
The journey continues toward the Limfjord and the ferry dock at Rønbjerg, where you board the boat to Livø — a dog- and car-free island in the middle of the fjord, where all transport happens at a pedestrian’s pace. Here, you’ll feel the silence, the wind, and the rhythm of nature. The island is known for its protected nature, hiking trails, and sustainable principles — and getting here requires a special kind of patience that fits perfectly with the theme: meaningful movement.
On the island, you can experience all of Denmark’s natural landscapes — except cliffs. You can also enjoy a delicious lunch at Livø Købmandscafé, which is open mainly during the high season. Otherwise, bring a packed lunch — perhaps something tasty from Rønbjerg Fiskehus — before boarding the Livø Ferry.
If you have time and interest, finish the day in Løgstør, where Frederik VII’s Canal winds 4.4 kilometers through the landscape — hand-dug by 400 workers between 1855 and 1861 to help ships bypass the tricky sandbanks of the Limfjord. The canal stands as a monument to human determination — and offers a peaceful route to follow on foot, by bike, or by kayak. The Limfjord Museum also offers guided canal cruises on the Grevinde Danner, taking you on a slow-paced voyage through history.
In northeastern Himmerland, you’ll find Northern Europe’s largest raised bog — Lille Vildmose. Here, the Peat Train (Tørvetoget) departs several times a day from the Lille Vildmose Center, taking you deep into the bog landscape. It’s also where you can begin a self-guided driving tour out to the land of the moose. Prefer a guided bus tour instead? Head to Tofte Forest, where bison, red deer, wild boar — and the occasional wolf — live side by side. And if you look up while exploring the area, you might just catch a glimpse of a white-tailed or golden eagle — now that’s a mode of transport like no other.
Transport in Himmerland isn’t just something we do — it’s something that has shaped us. And maybe you’ll feel it too, as you cycle along the old railway trail, sail the fjord, or stand on the platform in Mariager, waiting for a vintage locomotive to puff its way back into history.
