https://www.langeland.dk/langeland/byer-og-oeer/sydlangeland/besoeg-ristinge

On the south coast, you’ll find the impressive cliff, which slopes gently westwards into Ristinge Hale with its low-lying meadows and beach lakes.

There are several options for circular walks on the peninsula, which can be made shorter or longer in various ways. Here, we suggest two circular walks of 6 km and 9.5 km respectively.

6 km walk – Around the Ristinge Peninsula with views of the South Funen Archipelago

The walk begins and ends at the car park by Ristinge Beach and is characterised by beautiful views of the South Funen Archipelago.

From the car park, you can see the steep cliff rising to the west. Follow the path along the coast and up over the cliff.
The path winds along the edge of the cliff, rising and falling with its recesses. In some places, the path is bordered by dense scrub, forming a winding wall that offers shelter from the wind.

The path continues up to the top of the cliff (approx. 30 metres above sea level), where you will find the Ristinge dolmen. The dolmen is a freestanding dolmen chamber with four tall supporting stones and a domed capstone. Do take a moment to enjoy the view of Marstal and the rich birdlife of the Baltic Sea.

Continue along the edge of the cliff towards Ristinge Hale. Here, the cliff becomes lower and lower, eventually levelling out into the Hale.

You might want to take a walk out onto the spit and enjoy the flat landscape with its salt marshes and rich birdlife.
Ristinge Spit is formed from sand and stones from the Ristinge cliff and is constantly growing as more and more sand is deposited.

To the west, you’ll find Storeholm, which stretches towards Ærø. You can wade through the water to Storeholm, but to protect the rich birdlife, this is not permitted between 1 March and 15 July.

From Halen, it’s just over 2 km to the village of Ristinge, and from there it’s just under a kilometre to the car park.

Walk 9.5 km – Around the Ristinge peninsula and a detour into Ristinge Nor

If you’d like to go for a slightly longer walk, you can start your walk a little further away from the cliffs, namely at the car park by Bjørnhøj Strand. Here you’ll enjoy a slightly longer walk along the beach and can see the full extent of the cliffs on the horizon.

From the car park, follow the path across the foreshore and down onto the beach. Head inland past the abandoned seaside guesthouse Havblik and follow the path along the top of Ristinge Cliff as described in the 6 km walk.

Continue to the western tip of the peninsula and, if you like, take a detour out onto the headland itself.

Continue along the gravel track towards the east and take the public path round the dykes on the northern coast.
Cross Ristingevej and walk round Ristinge Nor. Note the many drainage ditches that have drained the lagoon. Follow the grassy paths back to the car park.

Part of the South Funen Archipelago Geopark

Ristinge Klint is one of the three special geosites in the South Funen Archipelago Geopark.

The geopark showcases the area’s unique geological history, natural environment and cultural heritage, creating a shared narrative about the South Funen Archipelago. The area is a flooded Ice Age landscape, and on Langeland you can experience, amongst other things, Ristinge Klint and the characteristic hathills.

The South Funen Archipelago Geopark tells the story of the dramatic rise in sea level around South Funen and the islands following the last Ice Age over 11,000 years ago. The rise in sea level created the Archipelago’s 55 islands and islets, and the unique natural environment that has since been the foundation for the entire area’s existence and for the countless opportunities for nature experiences and outdoor activities. Find out more at www.geoparkdetsydfynskeohav.dk