Råbjerg Mile

Råbjerg Mile is the largest and most impressive dune in Denmark. From the top of the dune, you have an incredible view over the area, which is a bit like a lunar landscape in miniature.

Råbjerg Mile is an overwhelming natural scenery and an obvious excursion destination when you visit North Jutland and Skagen, which is located just south of Hulsig Hede.

The mile is about 1000 meters on each side, contains about 4 million cubic meters of sand, and the highest point is 40 m above sea level. It covers an area of ​​about 2 square kilometres. Every year the dune migrates 15 meters to the north-east towards Kattegat.

Råbjerg Mile was formed more than 300 years ago in the 16th century on the West Coast and is expected to go into the sea again in about 200 years, and in about 100 years, the mile will reach the main road. From the highest point of the mile, there is a fantastic view of the dunes and Skagens Gren. So this protected area is one of Denmark's most unique natural areas.

What is a mile

A mile is a large, unvegetated dune that rises significantly above the surrounding terrain. A mile is characterised by having a steep leeward slope and a sloping windward side. The word "mile" comes from the Old Norse word "melr", which means a sandbank.

The sand drift in Thy

The sand drift began as early as the Middle Ages and continued into the 19th century. Houses, farms and villages were covered in sand, and also destroyed agriculture. It was the strong storms that set the large dunes in motion. The reason why it was possible for the dunes to move so quickly was that the areas in Thy are low-lying, as in the Stone Age, the area was the seabed.

In 1539, Christian III established a regulation intended to prevent the destruction of dune vegetation, but this initiative was not implemented until the end of the 18th century. Today, coniferous and deciduous trees are used as a form of protection against sand drift.