Trail 14, Langeland

This text is an excerpt from the book about the Archipelago Trail and therefore contains more background, detail and inspiration than the shorter trail leaflets.

This trail takes you from Rudkøbing through Peløkke and Rifbjerg and across Tullebølle to Løkkeby and Spodsbjerg.

Peløkke

For the first few kilometres north of Rudkøbing, the Archipelago Trail follows the coast below Peløkke.

Peløkke is a contraction of Peters Løkke (“løkke” meaning a fenced field). At first you walk past beautiful orchards.

In earlier days, fruit was shipped directly from the coast below Peløkke and Strandhuse in flat‑bottomed “pear barges”, which carried produce to coastal towns throughout the archipelago—even as far as Copenhagen.

In late summer you will find fruit stands by the roadside, and a farm shop operates throughout the year.

Rifbjerg Stub

Rifbjerg Stub is an old coppice woodland where the trees regrow from the stump, creating valuable habitat for many species.

Parish Boundary

In the woods lies a small “hat hill”—a steep, rounded glacial hill characteristic of Langeland.

Art Towers

The Art Towers are 12 old transformer towers converted into Denmark’s longest outdoor art exhibition.
Find tower no. 5 at Lismosevej 6A west of Tullebølle, and see the full list at langeland.dk.

The Fire Pond in Tullebølle

In the centre of Tullebølle lies the village pond—once the fire pond—and the small pump house.

From 1764 all villages were required to have a hand‑operated fire pump, and the fire pond was the fire inspector’s responsibility.

Tullebølle Church

Across the main road stands Tullebølle Church, whitewashed and dating from around the year 1200.
Inside is a large Hell motif from around 1550, over‑painted for centuries but uncovered in 1969.

Behind the church you’ll find toilets and water.
North of the church is Tullebølle Recreation Park with shelters, and nearby stands the art centre Nowhuset.

The Old Church Path

The trail follows the medieval church path from Tullebølle to Troldebjerg Huse, once used by churchgoers from Løkkeby.

Bagenbjerg Mill

North‑east of Tullebølle stands Bagenbjerg Mill from 1860. It operated as a windmill for a century.
No public access—enjoy the view from the road.

Løkkeby Long Barrow

The Løkkeby Long Barrow sits high in the landscape—a 40‑metre Neolithic long barrow from around 3600 BC, with kerbstones and capstones still visible.

Sylten

Sylten is a low-lying natural area north of the road to Spodsbjerg—a small wetland hosting species such as garganey and shoveler ducks.

Spodsbjerg

People have lived in Spodsbjerg for 5,000 years, and a Neolithic settlement has been excavated here.

The ferry route between Spodsbjerg and Tårs is first mentioned in 1472.

A steam ferry began service in 1884. Later came seaside hotels and a marina.

The station building of the Langelands Railway (from 1911) still stands by the ferry berth.