Easy hikes and walks in Dronninglund Storskov

Highest point in North Jutland (136m) fifth highest point in Denmark

At this point, an additional note for film lovers and cinephiles: near Lønstrup is another hotspot of North Jutland's film history, the original filming location of the popular and educationally valuable television series Teletubbies, which is definitely worth a visit with its colorful windmills.

Well, the title is a bit misleading. There are no memorials or monuments here. On Knøsen, there is a plaque adorned with the crown's coat of arms, which, however, simply prohibits the lighting of fires on the summit and within a 12-meter radius. Otherwise, there are only two old boundary stones here. So far, so unspectacular. However, between the mountains, there is a monument that immediately catches the eye of the connoisseur of cinematography and strikes them like a bolt of lightning. A monolithic, brick stele without any decoration or inscription. Captivating in its utter meaninglessness and lostness in the forest. But it was precisely this magical place that inspired Stanley Kubick, during a vacation in Denmark in the early 1960s, to create his immortal film monument "2001: A Space Odyssey," a story conceived around the monolithic stele. Of course, only the monkeys in the film are the result of artistic license, but a glance over your shoulder for safety in the deep forest is certainly not a bad idea...

Knaghøj, located just 50 meters from Knøsen, is considered the second-highest mountain in North Jutland. It, too, consists of a Bronze Age burial mound in its upper reaches. You won't find a summit monument here. Only an old, leaning boundary stone adorns the flank. A hiking destination for connoisseurs, true to Goethe's old motto: "You only see what you know."

Mountain lovers simply can't miss the highest peak in North Jutland. It measures an impressive 136 meters, but the upper 8 meters are not natural but a Bronze Age burial mound that was built here around 1000 BC. At the top stands a stele from 1930 decorated with the royal coat of arms. If Google Translate is to be believed, this isn't a classic summit inscription, but rather a prohibition against lighting fires on the summit or within a 12-meter radius.

Between the highest mountains in northern Jutland, Knøsen and Knaghøj, a monolithic, brick pillar stands suddenly in the forest. Its apparent senselessness and out-of-placeness so inspired the famous director Stanley Kubrick during a visit to Denmark in the early 1960s that he based the famous film "2001: A Space Odyssey" on the pillar motif. A truly special insider tip for film fans.

Unfortunately, there's no view from either Knøsen or Knaghøj. However, there's a viewing platform with a view right next to the mountains.

Vendsyssel-Thy (after the landscapes Vendsyssel and Thy) or North Jutland Island (Danish Nørrejyske Ø) is the northernmost part of Jutland. The area is separated from the Jutian peninsula in the south by the Limfjord; however, it did not become an island until 1825. From around 1100 until the February flood of 1825, the island was still connected to the mainland and is still rarely considered an island in general perception. It is the second largest island in Denmark with an area of 4685.73 km². It has a population of 294,424 (January 1, 2020). The highest point on the island is the 136-meter-high Knøsen north of the village of Dronninglund. Right next to it is Knaghøj, which reaches almost the same height. These hills are located on the ridge of Jyske Ås, which stretches over a length of 25 km and has further elevations over 100 meters: Allerup Bakker, Storstensbakken, Voldene and Skelbakken. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vendsyssel-Thy