Banestien - Staurby/Vejlby

Banestien is a paved path, 4.3 km long, following a decommissioned rail line from the new Lillebælt Bridge to Vejlby, west of Middelfart. You can bike it or walk it. The route is flat enough to suit most people.

The old rail bed was paved over long ago, but the alignment remains, and the path still takes you the same way: out of town, into the forest, and on toward the open fields. From the starting point under the bridge, the surroundings shift fast. Staurby Forest closes in around you, light filters through the treetops, and the sounds of the city fade away.

Along the way you pass the edges of Røjle and Vejlby, two of the smaller communities along the route. The path is marked and ends in Vejlby, where you turn back or continue on roads of your choosing.

At the entrance to Staurby Forest there's a parking lot, and about 900 meters into the route you'll find a spot with a shelter, if you want to turn the trip into a night in the forest.

Tip: Vejlby Fed beach lies southwest of Vejlby and pairs well with a swim at the end of your ride.