Winter Activities in the National Park
Here are tips for enjoyable winter activities in the National Park, which covers the Roskilde, Lejre, and Frederikssund areas. The guide focuses on forest experiences suitable for both children and adults.
Danish Doughnuts (“Æbleskiver”) over the Campfire
Bring the family and a touch of Christmas spirit outdoors. Pack a bag of æbleskiver — the traditional Danish round pancakes — and head to one of the many campfire sites in the National Park. They’re perfect for warming over the fire: just place them on a stick and heat them over the embers for an even better taste.
You can find an overview of campfire sites on the National Park’s online map – simply search for ”campfire sites”.
Go on a Nature Adventure in the National Park
In collaboration with Lejre and Roskilde Municipalities, the Skjoldungernes Land National Park has developed a series of outdoor fairy tales that families can experience on their own through "the Natureventyr app". The stories are designed for children aged 3 to 8 and their parents, and take place along short walking routes in nature. In the app, you can see where each route begins, and as you walk, new chapters are unlocked one by one.
Watch the Tufted Ducks Paint the Moon Black
In winter, the tufted duck is one of the most common birds on Roskilde Fjord. During the day, these small dark ducks gather in large, dense flocks resting on the nearby lakes.
The main resting site is Store Kattinge Lake, located just south of the fjord. Here, up to 20,000 tufted ducks can gather in a single flock. Throughout the day, they swim quietly and rest, but about an hour after sunset the entire flock takes off and flies together from the lake out to the fjord to feed. Stand on the road between the fjord and the lake – ideally during a full moon in January – and you may experience the rush of tens of thousands of wings painting the moon black. This spectacular natural event is known locally as “Black Moon”.
Go Tracking for Animal Footprints in the National Park
Scents, sounds and sights – everything changes in nature as the seasons turn. A winter walk where you search for animal tracks in the soil or snow can be a wonderful motivation to get everyone outside for a stroll in the woods or park.
Winter is the perfect time to follow nature’s footprints and look for traces of wildlife. In Skjoldungernes Land National Park, you can, for example, explore Bidstrup Forests or Boserup Forest.
Make a Forest Leaf Wreath
Now that the trees have shed their leaves, there are plenty to collect.
The National Park’s nature guide, Sofie Clauson-Kaas, shows in a video how to make a beautiful wreath from fallen leaves. Even the youngest children can join in! Decorate it with ribbons and a touch of glitter for a festive look.
You can also turn the leaves into a lion’s mane: draw a lion’s face and glue the leaves around it to form the mane. Or thread leaves onto a string to create garlands or mini wreaths.
You’ll need:
– Wire
– A good pile of leaves
– A red ribbon or other Christmas decorations for finishing touches
Play with Sticks from the Forest
Bring a bag with you on your forest walk and collect leaves, cones, sticks and other little treasures for creative projects at home. Sticks can be turned into many fun things, but they’re especially good for a bit of simple woodcarving.
Take a few good sticks home and enjoy shaping them into different designs and patterns. Perhaps you can turn your stick into a butter knife or small Christmas gnomes.
How to do it:
Whittle the top of your stick into a point and peel off the bark below to form a face beneath the pointed hat. Paint the top red and give your gnome eyes, a nose and a mouth. The little gnome can, for example, decorate a flowerpot.
Look for Sea Trout
In December, you might be lucky enough to spot large sea trout swimming in the small streams of the National Park. They return to spawn – often in the very same place where they themselves once hatched. The female finds a spot with a stony bottom and a good current. Here she digs a small hollow, called a spawning pit, using powerful strokes of her tail. Then she waits.
When the right male appears, the two fish swim closely together over the spawning pit. The female releases her eggs while the male fertilises them. The eggs sink to the bottom, and the female covers them with gravel before heading back towards the fjord.
So if you see a large fish swimming in a small stream, think of this! The spawning sea trout are protected until the end of February.
Reuse Your Christmas Tree: Coat Hook or Bird Feeder
When Christmas is over and the tree is on its way out, there are still plenty of fun projects to try! Your Christmas tree can easily be reused in creative ways.
To make a coat hook:
Cut the trunk near a point where branches grow – both above and below the branch. Trim the branches so they’re only a few centimetres long. Peel off the bark and voilà – you’ve got a rustic wooden hook.
To make a bird feeder:
Leave the branches a bit longer, around 10 cm. Mix up some lard with seeds or nuts – for example, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, or peanuts. Press the fat-and-seed mixture firmly around the old Christmas tree branch, and voilà – a homemade bird feeder ready to hang in the garden, by the window, or on the balcony to bring the birds close.
Take the Plunge – Winter Bathing in the Fjord
A winter dip can wake up even the sleepiest couch potato. Find your courage and wash away the grey winter layers from body and soul with a refreshing swim in the fjord. Along Roskilde Fjord, you’ll find several winter swimming clubs and sauna groups – for example in Gershøj, Herslev, Roskilde, and Jyllinge.
The clean bathing lake Avnsø, located in Bidstrup Forests, is also a popular spot for winter bathers. Here you’ll find a jetty, picnic tables, and a campfire site – perfect for warming up afterwards.