Bornholm, Denmark

This Danish island lies at the entrance to the Baltic Sea, about 95 miles southeast of Copenhagen. The southern tip of Sweden is actually much closer; about 20 miles away. Just 30 miles long and 20 miles wide, Bornholm packs a surprising amount of geological variety into a small rectangular area. The north coast has cliffs and rift valleys, while the south coast has white sand beaches and sand dunes. Farms, forests, and a handful of towns occupy the middle of the island, which is criss-crossed by more than 130 miles of bike and pedestrian paths. We love the north coast of the island and we therefore plan to anchor off the charming little village of Gudhjem. This picturesque village has two small harbours once filled with fishing boats and now occupied by pleasure craft. Our tender takes us right into the center of the village. The old fish smokehouses remain and the narrow streets are lined with cafes, artist's workshops and well-kept half-timbered houses. A beautifully restored windmill towers over the town.

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