4.4 kmThe Weir Site lies at the edge between Varde Å, meadow, river valley and woodland. This is a place where outdoor life is not tucked away in a small corner: canoes can dock by the river, the trails continue out into the landscape, and the fire shelter provides space for a break, even when the weather is not quite on your side.
The site functions both as a camping area and as a starting point for trips on foot, by bicycle, on horseback or from the water. The exhibition, open around the clock, makes the site more than a practical stop; it explains why the name is still connected to a weir, even though the structure itself is gone.
From the site, you can follow the Canal Trail along the disused Ansager Canal towards Karlsgårde Lake. Here, the history becomes quite tangible: water from Varde Å was previously held back and sent on through the canal to generate electricity further west.
Today, the canal is closed, and the water once again flows more naturally through the Varde Å system. This gives the site a slightly unusual dual role as both a shelter site and a reminder of a time when the river was treated as a resource.
The site is located at the end of Kanalvej near Ansager. Trails connect the area with Ansager and Vejlevej, and dogs are welcome on a lead. The water tap may be closed during the winter months.
The floating pier at Stemmeværkspladsen is a canoe and kayak rest area right by Varde Å. Here you can dock, take a break, and use the site's facilities, including a toilet, water, a fire hut, and shelters.
The site is practical if canoes need to be picked up or launched, as cars can be driven all the way down to the river. Sailing on the stretch at Ansager/Stemmeværkspladsen is regulated and only permitted during certain periods.
The short trail follows Ansager Å west of Ansager through old oak scrub, a damp river valley, meadow, and small open views of the water. The terrain and landscape change enough that the 2.5 km does not feel like a straight transport stretch.
The special point is the confluence, where Ansager Å and Grindsted Å meet and become Varde Å. At Stemmeværkspladsen, shelters, a fire house, and an exhibition give the walk a practical and historical frame around the water that was formerly directed toward Karlsgårdeværket.
Drive along Kanalvej from Ansager; Kanalvej 16 by Varde Å is the specific driving direction to Stemmeværkspladsen. The road is narrow, but it leads all the way into the open area.
Parking is available on the site and by the shelters. For canoeists, it is practical that the car can drive right down to the river at the canoe/kayak rest area. From the parking area there is also access to Kanalstien and connections towards Ansager and Vejlevej.
