Frederikshåb Plantage is not just a dense conifer forest. It lies on the edge of Randbøl Hede, where drifting sand, inland dunes and plantation meet, and where the forest gradually gains more deciduous trees among the older Norway spruces. On a walk, the landscape can change from forest road to open heath stretches and sandy formations that tell the story of an area shaped by drifting sand.
Syvårssøerne in the middle of the plantation are one of the places that do not quite conform to expectations. The lakes follow the groundwater level and can therefore be either filled with water or dry; either as an open lake landscape with sandy beaches or as flat, former lake beds with scattered trees.
Another distinctive feature is De rygende bjerge by Lille and Store Rygbjerg. The dunes are named after the drifting sand, where they could look like mountains that were smoking. Here the landscape is also linked to the story of the village of Rygbjerg, which according to records had eight farms, but later disappeared without visible traces.
The plantation contains several visible layers of history: the forest road Langs Egene with embankments from the first plantings, ancient burial mounds, and remains from World War II air-raid shelters. Wildlife is also part of the experience, but it requires calm; red deer are shy, and the spinning song of the nightjar is especially a feature of early summer evenings.
The Seven-Year Lakes lie in “Klitterne” in Frederikshåb Plantation, where inland dunes and temporary lakes are part of the Natura 2000 area Randbøl Heath and dunes.
The name is based on an old observation: the lakes appeared roughly every seven years. In practice, they follow the groundwater level, and even heavy rain does not guarantee water. Some years the place can be a lake landscape with sandy beaches; other years, open, flat lake beds between dunes and plantation.
