The Gendarme Path: Length, Map, Stages and My Verdict

Have you thought about walking the Gendarme Path? In this guide you can learn much more about this wonderful trail, which runs along the coast at the Danish-German border. The Gendarme Path is 84 kilometres long, full of stories and varied terrain.

I tried to run the whole Gendarme Path in a single day. Because of bad weather and a couple of other challenges I only made it 55 kilometres, but I still became a huge fan of the trail. Here I share my own experiences and guide you on how to get the most out of the trip.

Where does the Gendarme Path start and end?

Like almost every walking route, you decide for yourself where you start and which direction you want to go. The official start of the Gendarme Path is in Padborg, and the trail ends in Skovby.

If you zoom in on a map of the route, it is marked to start at the junction of Nørregade and Haraldsdalvej. From there you just look for the blue gendarme symbol and follow the trail safely onwards.

The five stages of the Gendarme Path

When we are out on a hike, we generally do not follow a route’s official stages to the letter. If you spend five days on the 84 kilometres, that works out to about 17 kilometres a day. We are used to walking the Camino, where we average 30 kilometres a day, so the pace is a matter of your own taste.

If you want an overview of the five official stages, here they are:

I quite like that the stages have been given names that describe the terrain. Most people know we do not have mountains in Denmark, and many long for some hilly ground. If you are one of them, you can easily start with the first stage.

I was very surprised by the terrain, and after a wet winter there were also a fair few challenges on the trail. Water up to your knees and high water can quickly become a problem. I felt that especially on the beach stage, which nearly knocked me off my feet.

On the whole I was thrilled. I chose to run the trail the day after the border and the country were locked down, so I barely saw a soul. In summer there is undoubtedly far more life.

We test every Danish walking route we can get near, and we are always on the lookout for new Danish Camino routes. More and more routes identify with the Camino, and the Gendarme Path is one of them. You also come across the classic Camino symbol along the way.

Gendarme Path map

A good map is worth its weight in gold on an unfamiliar route. Luckily the Gendarme Path is full of maps along the way, so you can always get a sense of where you are. At the same time the trail is really well signposted, so very few people get lost.

What does Gendarme mean? A little history

The trail is steeped in good history, and the name Gendarme itself comes from French, where it is written gens d’armes. In English it translates to men-at-arms, meaning men who carry weapons.

The gendarmes were part of the Border Gendarmerie, which was tasked with guarding the border against smugglers. For more than 100 years the gendarme corps kept watch at the border, which was moved a few times, partly because of the war in 1864. In the 1980s the Gendarme Path came back into use, and today it has become one of Denmark’s most famous and most charming walking routes.

Can you cycle the Gendarme Path?

Many walking routes can be both cycled and walked. It is possible to cycle the Gendarme Path if you take alternative routes, but you cannot cycle the whole way. The trail runs along the beach and through some very narrow paths. That is why it is first and foremost a walking route, where those on foot have, or should have, right of way.

How long is the Gendarme Path?

The Gendarme Path is 84 kilometres long and officially divided into five stages. The trail runs through varied terrain and is signposted so you do not get lost. The route is certified by the European Ramblers’ Association, which is a mark of quality that the Gendarme Path is maintained along its entire 84 kilometre stretch.

The Gendarme Path

In Danish the trail is called Gendarmstien. We are steadily working on guides to the various walking routes we test, so you can find both Danish and English versions over time.

Accommodation along the Gendarme Path

More and more people use Denmark’s walking routes as a way to travel. If you have considered a short holiday to the Gendarme Path in southern Denmark, there are plenty of places to stay along the way. If you zoom in on a map of the route, you will find a wealth of accommodation options. You can find holiday flats, campsites, hostels and much more. The Gendarme Path is a very civilised walking route that welcomes its many guests.

My verdict on the Gendarme Path

When you love walking and running as much as I do, it is always slightly hard to judge a route. Everyone’s experience is different, whether you take on a whole Camino or just go for a long evening stroll.

My verdict on the Gendarme Path is that it was a wonderful route I would gladly walk again. I ran 55 kilometres in a day and would very much like to take on the whole trail in the near future. The Gendarme Path is for anyone who enjoys walking. I have walked many routes in Denmark, and the Gendarme Path surprised me in particular with its varied terrain, good signposting and plenty of interesting stopping points full of stories. That is why my verdict is that the Gendarme Path is one of Denmark’s best walking routes.

If you set off, we wish you a wonderful trip to southern Denmark. Thank you for reading.