At the end of Østermarksvej, you reach ”Søgaard Bed and Breakfast” on your left where you can see and purchase various kinds of souvenirs produced on Omø.

From the road, it is easy to observe the island´s rich bird life. You have the sun behind and slightly beside you from sunrise to noon so you are not bothered by sun in your eyes. While watching birds in and around the lake, you might get lucky and see a marsh harrier circling above, looking for mice and small birds.

During the last couple of years, bittern has settled down on Omø. You can hear its hooting (sounding like somebody blowing across the top of an empty bottle) almost all day and night. There is a lot to see but it’s better to stay on the road in order not to disturb the birds at the lake.

If you go on to the left past Søgaard, you arrive at Draget – the best bathing beach on Omø – and might want to rest and take a swim or a little walk along Skovklinten. (See route 2) On the right side of the road, there has been set up a post with a stork’s nest which might hopefully be inhabited on day!

The route goes on to Omø village where you can enjoy strolling along the narrow lanes between half-timbered farmhouses and cottages with their well-kept gardens and stone fences. It is the best preserved village in Western Zealand. Until the year 1900, all of the farm houses of Omø were situated in the village. You can find most of the farms on a map from 1791.There is a grocery store, a school, village hall, fire station and ”the gate”, a farm house gate tarred black, which has served as a notice board and and ”newspaper” for generations. Even if there is now a monthly newsletter, it is still very much in use for all kinds of notices. Behind the gate, there is Langelændergaard Gårdbutik (farm shop) which is worth visiting. Opposite the gate, there is a wooden sculpture, carved out of elm wood. The old farmer figure represents Christian Langelænder, who lived on the farm behind the sculpture. There is another sculpture by Flemming Mundt, a barn owl, by the school. The front wall of the school is decorated with a ceramic mural by Gerda Østergaard.

In Husmandstræde No. 13, you can visit the museum, which is a memorial to Edith Nielsen, organist in Omø Church for 50 years, and houses the historical archives of Omø. The museum is open during school holidays and by appointment. After resting a while by the village pond, you can visit the church (see route 3) and the well-kept churchyard before turning back to the starting point in the harbour. There is good bathing beach by the harbour; you can also take stroll around the harbour village.

Route 2
The harbour – Revspids – Skovklinten – Ørespids – return by Ørevej (appr. 10 km)

Take Revvej to the left from the harbour past the old smithy and Kirkeengene (”church meadows”) with the old gnarled hawthorn bushes called Kirketorne (”bell towers”). On the outside of ”Maden”, the low meadow to the right of the road, it has been necessary to secure the coastland against flooding during northerly storms.

You can walk along the the Stone Age slopes to Revspidsen where you see waves from east and west meeting at the reef (Revet) which goes on nearly 1km into the sound and makes it somewhat dangerous to navigate.

Along the beach towards Revet, you’ll see birds from fields and coast meadows. There are mostly titlarks, skylarks and linnets. Out on Revet, you’ll see often common eiders, gulls and cormorants. Reed warbler and reed bunting are often seen in the small growth of reeds.

Further along the shore, you reach Skovklinten which is constantly altering owing to heavy erosion; it is advisable to take the walk during low tide. The cliffs are almost vertical, the highest point being 24 m above sea level, with large patches of land slip without vegetation. One has here an opportunity to see the layers and deposits from four gletchers that rolled over Omø during the Ice Age. You can see glacial striae on many of the large boulders on the beach. Although it is fascinating to look at the stones you might want to look up as well. If you do, you’ll see sand martins swarming above, busy flying in and out of the many nesting holes (75 cm deep) in order to feed their young. Skovklinten ends at a pleasant bathing beach called Draget. You can take route 1 from here to the village. Alternatively, you can follow the coast to the south tip of Omø called Øret. You can find big overgrown anthills on the Stone Age slopes and large patches of the lovely hollyhock mallow. The coastline consists of huge stone banks and the clear streaming waters are popular with anglers. During the 19th century large amounts of gravel were dug from behind the stone banks. The gravel was used for building the Kiel canal. The dig is now covered by wet shore meadows with salty soil plants such as samphire plant, sea blite, sea milkwort and sea aster. To explore it will be interesting for any botany enthusiast.

Different kinds of small birds can be seen in the summer cottage area, e.g. linnet, whitethroat, once in a while yellowhammer and red-backed shrike. One has ample opportunity to observe the migration of birds in spring and autumn from the south tip of the island. On the way back, you take Ørevej through the summer cottage area. Further on you, you’ll pass the waterworks on the left side of the road; there is a windmill on the right. From here, you can enjoy the view over the bog (Mosen), with the lighthouse at the far end. In the background, you will see Langeland and Funen. You will soon reach Møllebanken (Mill Hill) on the highest point in the southern part of the island where the old mill ground corn and produced electricity (A.D.). It was in 1960 direct currence came into use on Omø.

Back in the village, you take route 1 to the harbour.

Route 3
The Harbour – Omø village – The bog - The Lighthouse (appr. 5 km)

Take Havnevej to Omø Village. The church is built in 1828; the foundation is partly made of field stones and the bell tower serves as porch. The Communion table carved in oak dates probably from 1576, but was rebuilt in 1828. The altarpiece is painted by Tony Møller in 1911. There excists an old triptych from 1522, which can be seen at the National Museum (a photograph of the triptych in the porch). The still excisting silver paten from 1576 belonged to the first wooden church on the island. There is a small white building at the far end of the wall surrounding the church. It used to house the island’s fire engine until a more up-to-date fire station was build in 1970’s in Dragesvej.

After the church, you pass the ”gate” (porten), where the islanders pin messages and notices. It has been the ”newspaper” of the island for generations. You can visit the farm shop behind the gate –Langelændergårdens Gårdbutik- with country products and large selection of woolen goods.

After taking a rest by the lovely village pond, you can go on past the grocery store and the vicarage (the vicar lives on Agersø) and turn to the right, and you will have a magnificent view over the bog. In June, one hears hundreds natterjacks and the wading birds inhabiting the bog. You hear sometimes the ”drumming” of a common snipe in the air. The snipe marks its territory with the sound it produces spreading its tail feathers while descending rapidly. You might also hear the hoarse sounds of the red-necked grebe. It is a paradise for ornithologists.

Continuing towards the lighthouse, you’ll see large sea kales on the beach, covered with white flowers which turn to decorative seed pods later on. Sea kale and sea plantain are characteristic to Baltic Sea shores. You can also find the pale purple Large Pink on the shore meadows.
The bog is formed between two shore banks which also include an islet where the lighthouse is situated. The bog is under the sea level, which means that it has been necessary to build ditches and groynes for coast protection as well as set up a windmill in order to regulate the water level.
The lighthouse which is 23 m high, was built in 1892-93. It has been closed for the public since 2005 for safety reasons, but it is expected to reopen after rebuilding and updating the safety measures.

Going back, you can turn to south and take the path along the shore. After about 200 metres, you reach another path by the sheep pasture, which leads back to the road through the bog. There are usually lots of water in Mosebækken.
The nesting birds in the bog include greylag goose, the rare northern pintail, northern shoveler and gadwall as well as common snipe.

You can end your walk by following the shore to the harbour or by returning to the village and taking Omø Havnevej back to the harbour (turn left).

Gunhild Jensen
Birgit Christiansen
Poul Erik Hansen