We have chosen to divide the coastal path into seven legs. This article describes leg five from Svaneke to Snogebæk.

Route description:

A pleasant stage along beautiful rocky coastline, through the unpretentious coastal town of Årsdale and Bornholm’s second largest town Nexø, before ending your hike on Balka Beach’s white sand

From Svaneke Harbour, follow the road south and turn left on the narrow road Ved Stranden, which turns into a path that winds past Svaneke Gamle Fyr (Svaneke Old Lighthouse) and the pretty little sandy beach at Hullehavn Camping.

Follow the signs through the campsite to the rocky stretch on the other side. The cliffs here are neither high or steep, but still beautiful and dramatic, and except for the last stretch towards Aarsdale, you’ll walk close to them and the sea.

Follow the beach road to the smokehouse in Aarsdale, where you turn left towards the harbour and follow the signs through the town to the path south of it leading towards Nexø. Again there are cliffs along the coast in true archipelago fashion.

There’s one place where you can walk directly on them, but otherwise the gravel path is lovely, alternately narrow and wide. Stick to this path until you reach the road into Nexø.

Walk through the town to the cycle path to the south – it takes you across Balka Lyng to Balka Beach, which you walk on directly for the last four kilometres or so to Snogebæk.

The Coastal Path 7 hiking stages:

Leg 1 – Rønne – Hasle

Leg 2 – Hasle – Sandvig

Leg 3 – Sandvig – Gudhjem

Leg 4 – Gudhjem – Svaneke

Leg 5 – Svaneke – Snogebæk

Leg 6 – Snogebæk – Boderne

Leg 7 – Boderne – Rønne

Facts:

Duration:

4-5 hours
Length:
16 km
Difficulty level:
Easy to medium
Suitable for prams and wheelchairs:
No
Parking:
If you only want to walk this leg, park at the harbour in Svaneke or near Snogebæk Røgeri (Smokehouse) in Snogebæk
Toilets:
At the harbour in Svaneke, at the bus stop in Årsdale, near the square in Nexø, at the northern end of Balka Beach and at the harbour in Snogebæk
Access to water:
The public toilets along the route
Surface:
Relatively flat, on paved roads through the towns, on sand at Balka Beach, nature trail and gravel path for the rest of the route
Special remarks:
Weather permitting: Take a dip in the sea at the wide beach with the chalky white sand, Balka Beach.

Written by Gitte Holtze

Hiker and outdoor freak as well as journalist, lecturer and author of "jeg lever" about Gitte's hike along the Pacific Crest Trail and "Gå langt", a guidebook to long hikes.