Gelsted lies at the southern entrance to Herlufmagle; the two towns have since grown together. Stenskoven and Rendebakken are in Gelsted itself, while the Ravnstrup Sø nature reserve and Herlufmagle Church are close to the town. Choosing this area therefore brings nature destinations together with a historic building.

The Landscape Around Gelsted

In Stenskoven, you can enjoy a walk through the scenic woodland setting in Gelsted. The Municipality of Næstved’s 2017 landscape analysis describes sub-area 12a, the Tunneldalen valley around Gelsted, Herlufmagle and Glumsø, as a varied, gently undulating to hilly valley landscape, with a longitudinal orientation and enclosed, complex landscape areas. Numerous bodies of water lie on the valley floor, including streams, lakes and marshes.

The difference between an individual walk and the wider landscape lies in scale: Stenskoven is a specific woodland destination in Gelsted, while Tunneldalen describes a broader landscape area that also includes Herlufmagle and Glumsø. The analysis thus connects the shape of the valley, its landscape areas and the bodies of water on the valley floor.

Birdwatching at Ravnstrup Sø

The nearby Ravnstrup Sø nature reserve includes a lake, reed beds, marsh, meadows, willow scrub and mature natural woodland with old, gnarled deciduous trees. Visitors can observe many bird species that live in the woodland, scrub, marsh and lake. So when birdwatching, it is worth looking beyond the lake: the woodland, scrub and marsh are also bird habitats.

There is a bird tower and a birdwatching hide for observing birds. The reserve also has a campfire site and a composting toilet. A shelter for overnight stays can be reserved.

Views from Rendebakken

Rendebakken in Gelsted offers good views and is well worth a visit. There is also a newly planted forest at Rendebakken. From Rendebakken, you can get a good view across Gelsted Nederland; to the west, for example, you can see the pylons of the Storebælt Bridge. The view across the landscape and the visible pylons describe different aspects of the panorama.

Herlufmagle Church and Its Building History

The nearby Herlufmagle Church was originally built in the early 12th century from granite, with a nave and chancel. The chancel contains six frescoes by Rud Pedersen, dating from 1951. The two dates mark different historical periods: the earlier date refers to the original construction of the church, while 1951 is the date of the frescoes. This makes it possible to distinguish the original construction from the later artistic decoration of the chancel.

Getting Around and Bus Connections

Suså landevejen is the road connection through the nearby area between Næstved and Ringsted. Bus route 680 runs there several times an hour. This frequency gives you an initial guide for planning your journey; check the current timetable before travelling, as service frequency may change.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Menstrup, Tappernøje, Karrebæksminde, Fuglebjerg Municipality, Næstved, Sandved, Holme Olstrup, Glumsø

For the overview of the wider area: Næstved Municipality.