Kultippen Hasle

A man-made moonscape on Bornholm’s wild west coast

Kultippen lies just south of Hasle, where dense coastal forest suddenly gives way to a stark, ash-grey open slope falling towards the Baltic. Created in the mid‑20th century when spoil from local coal and clay extraction was dumped over the cliffs, the area has slowly weathered into a rugged, terraced landscape with a distinctly lunar feel. Dark gravel, scattered boulders and sharp ridges stand in vivid contrast to the soft blues of sea and sky. From the upper edge you look down over broken ledges and gullies carved by rainwater. The surface crunches underfoot, and in places wisps of grass and pioneer plants have begun to colonise the slag. It is at once raw and strangely beautiful, a reminder of how industry can reshape a coastline in just a few decades.

From coal wagons to coastal curiosity

After the Second World War, the area around Hasle saw intensified mining of coal and clay, used for brickmaking and energy. Waste material was tipped here from narrow‑gauge trolleys, which ran out towards the edge and emptied their load straight towards the sea. Over time, thousands of tons of spoil formed an artificial promontory with steep man‑made slopes. A few of the old wagons still stand nearby as silent witnesses to that industrial past. When mining ceased, nature began a slow takeover. Wind and rain sculpted the heaps into smooth curves and sharp channels, while grasses, heather and low shrubs started to creep across the darker surfaces. Today Kultippen sits somewhere between ruin and regeneration: a coastal scar that has become an outdoor archive of Bornholm’s working history.

Walking the edge between forest, slag and sea

Visiting Kultippen is less about formal trails and more about wandering through contrasts. One moment you are under tall trees in Hasle Lystskov, the next you step into a broad, open slope of charcoal‑coloured grit. Simple paths lead across the upper terraces, where you can feel the wind and watch ships pass on the horizon. Underfoot the surface is uneven but manageable for most reasonably sure‑footed walkers. Those who continue down towards the shore are rewarded with a long sandy beach, softer in colour and texture than the landscape above. Here you can sit on the sand, listen to the waves and look back at the dramatic dark slope behind you. On calm summer days the sea invites a swim, while in rougher weather the breakers only heighten the sense of standing at the edge of something elemental.

Light, weather and the changing face of Kultippen

Because the area is so open, Kultippen changes character with every shift in light and weather. Under clear midday skies it can feel bright and almost harsh, the ash‑grey ground reflecting the sun. In the low light of evening, the contours of the slopes are picked out in long shadows, and the Baltic often glows orange as the sun sinks towards the horizon. Mist and drizzle can turn the place atmospheric and slightly eerie, with the forest edge receding and the crunch of gravel amplified in the quiet. Even on windy days, when sand and fine grit lift in small clouds, the play of clouds and light over sea and slag makes the visit memorable. Good footwear and a windproof layer help you enjoy the elements comfortably.

Part of a wider Bornholm coastal story

Kultippen does not stand alone; it is part of a chain of varied landscapes along Bornholm’s west coast. To the north lie sea cliffs and rock formations, while to the south the shoreline becomes more gently curving and sandy. Nearby, Hasle’s harbour and smokehouse speak of fishing traditions, and the surrounding forest offers lakes, broad paths and picnic spots. Seen in this context, Kultippen becomes a kind of open‑air exhibit linking geology, industry and recreation. Fossil finds along the coast hint at much older natural histories, while the slag slope itself tells a more recent human story. For many visitors it works best as a short stop within a wider day of walking, cycling or beach time, adding an unexpected, almost otherworldly chapter to their experience of Bornholm.