The Black Clover Leaf Trail in Søndersø takes you on a trip through the beautiful landscape and the culture and history of the area.

Practical information

The Black Clover Leaf Trail in Søndersø is a long route of 21 km. It is suitable for a brisk bike ride or a walk for experienced walkers.
The route starts and ends by the pylon at Søndersø Bypark, Toftekær 7, and is marked with black Clover Leaf Trail signs.
The route rises and falls through hilly terrain, and the maximum gradient is 9.2%.
Parking is available on Carlsvej opposite Edelkær and opposite Tofteparken.
There are bus routes between Søndersø and Odense and between Bogense and Søndersø. You can find your journey on rejseplanen.dk.
If you want to get to Søndersø from somewhere else in North Funen or from a neighbouring municipality, it is possible to book a Flextrafik trip.

Along the route

The Black Clover Leaf Trail in Søndersø takes you out into the lovely countryside and past the woodland by Dallund Sø, along the large forest Frihed, the bog area Øksnemose and the stream Lunde Å, which flows into Odense Fjord.

Finn, the Troll

Along the route, you also pass the old villages of Glavendrup and Skamby. Look out for Skamby Church, which was built at the beginning of the 12th century and is therefore one of the oldest churches on Funen. By the church, there is a stone with the clear imprint of a giant foot.

The footprint belongs to the troll Finn, who did not want a church in the village. First, he threw stones at it, but missed – and that is why there is now a huge stone on Carlsvej in Søndersø.

Instead, he tried to kick the church to pieces. But God held his hand over the church, so Finn was the one who hurt himself. So he had to give up. If you would like to see where he sleeps, you can visit Finnshøj near Nørre Højrup a little further north – and perhaps you can hear him snoring.

In Skamby, you will also find a passage grave from the Neolithic period.

Vikings

The route continues to Glavendruplunden, where you will find the Glavendrup Stone, the rune stone with Denmark’s longest runic inscription. There are also remains of a ship setting and two Bronze Age burial mounds in the grove.

You will also find shelters, a campfire hut, tables and benches, so there is a chance to enjoy the food and drinks you have brought with you.

Dallund

The route also takes you along Dallund Sø, a very old lake that is beautiful all year round. You pass Dallund Castle, which is known as far back as the 14th century, when it was owned by the noble Bryske family.

The estate was badly damaged during the destruction of the Swedish Wars in 1657–1660. Later owners, however, were highly enterprising and turned Dallund into a large estate. In the 19th century, the castle was owned by the Blixen-Finecke family, and King Frederik VII was a frequent guest here.

In 1925, the castle was bought and turned into a home for people recovering from illness. Today, the building is a sustainable hotel and conference venue.

The route returns towards Søndersø along the very old Dallundvej, where you can see many old and well-preserved houses and farms.

If you want to bring tasty sandwiches, snacks and drinks for the trip, there are several grocery shops in Søndersø close to Byparken and by the roundabout at Odensevej.