Route No. 23 – Rønne – Helligdommen
Regionalrute 23 leads from Rønne to Helligdommen (18.8 km) – a varied route through the island's interior, connecting Bornholm's smallest round church, the fairytale-like rock gorge of Spellinge Mose, and one of the island's most dramatic locations: the Helligdomsklipperne cliffs with Bornholms Kunstmuseum.
Route facts
Length
18.8 km – from Rønne to Helligdommen via Nyker and Klemensker
Riding time
1 hour – without longer stops
Surface
Asphalt 10.6 km / gravel 8.2 km – the section through Spellinge Mose is on gravel
Difficulty
Easy / moderate – gentle climb to Klemensker, the rest is flat or downhill
Elevation gain
130 m – gentle climbs, no steep sections
Recommended bike
Trekking or gravel bike. A road bike may be uncomfortable on the Spellinge Mose section.
Route character
Partly along a former railway embankment – the section through Spellinge Mose is often called Denmark's most beautiful cycling path.
Return
From Helligdommen via route 10 to Gudhjem or Allinge, or by BAT bus (free bike transport).
Route – places along the way
From Rønne the route follows a former railway embankment through the island's agricultural interior, two charming villages, a fairytale rock gorge, all the way to dramatic seaside cliffs. Below are the stops along the way.
The route begins in Rønne and quickly joins the cycling path along the former railway embankment. It leads between fields and gentle hills towards Nyker.
Ny Kirke – the smallest and youngest of Bornholm's four round churches. Unlike the others, this one bears the fewest traces of defensive purpose. Beautiful Romanesque interior with 13th-century frescoes. Nyker is a quiet village – perfect for a short break.
Klemensker with its 12th-century church is the last settlement before the forested section of the route. From here the path joins the former railway embankment leading through Spellinge Mose – considered by many to be the most beautiful cycling section on Bornholm.
Spellinge Mose – a lush, green gorge where the former railway embankment passes between steep rock walls covered in moss and ferns. Wetlands, old peat bogs, and a fairytale landscape. This section is often called Denmark's most beautiful cycling path.
Helligdomsklipperne – some of Denmark's most dramatic rock formations. Steep stairs lead down to deep rock crevices and caves with massive spiders. At the top sits Bornholms Kunstmuseum – an art museum overlooking the cliffs and the sea, showcasing Bornholm painting from the golden age to the present day.
