The west of the island
Sunset Coast
Where quiet and landscape run into one another: nature reserves, salt meadows, a rough shingle beach — and a different display of colour over the water every evening.
The west of the islandwhere quiet and landscape meet
The Sunset Coast in the west of Fehmarn is a place that lifts the heart of anyone who cares about landscape. Rough coastline runs for miles here, along with several protected nature reserves that hold a remarkable range of species. The Wallnau waterfowl reserve in particular — a mosaic of ponds, reed beds and meadows — is an oasis for migrating birds and rare wildlife.
A visit is an outing for young and old alike: observation towers and footpaths let you watch the birdlife at close quarters, which is a rare thing in Germany.
Landscape, undisturbedsea air and waves
On the paths along the coast you get the fresh sea air and the uninterrupted sound of the waves breaking on the shingle. The horizon opens out wide, and the expanse of the sea runs into the sky in soft blues.
Between the reed-lined shore, the salt meadows and the open water you'll keep seeing cormorants, gulls and other waterbirds gliding past without a sound. It's as if the landscape were telling a story thousands of years old — one of wild winds, quiet sunsets and a beauty that predates all of us.
Landscape left alone lets you into a world where small moments become large ones: the evening sun on the swell, birdsong at first light, and the salty air that ties it all together. In all that space you can let your mind wander and forget the everyday.
Time with the animals on the Sunset Coastwith alpacas and horses
- Walk with woolly alpacas — and earn your alpaca licence
- Picture yourself walking a woolly alpaca through Fehmarn's landscape. On the alpaca licence course you learn everything about these gentle animals: how to lead them, how to care for them and how to read them. By the end you're a genuine alpaca expert with a certificate to prove it. An experience that's fun and builds a real connection with the animals.
- Rides through the dunes and along the beach
- On the guided hacks along the shingle beach you see the island from a completely new angle. You ride at a walk along the coast with the sea beside you. Fresh sea air, seabirds, and the pull of the landscape — a relaxed adventure for riders of any level.
- First time on a horse, on a mini ride
- Never ridden but curious? On the mini rides you take your first steps into riding. On patient ponies you get used to horses as you go, with instructors alongside you the whole way. A perfect start for anyone who wants to find out what the appeal is.
What you'll find herethe good bits
Sunsets worth the wait
On the Sunset Coast every sunset is a small piece of work in its own right. As the sun goes into the sea and the sky lights up orange, pink and gold, time appears to stop. It's worth putting dinner back for.
The salt meadows
The rough coastline and salt meadows are full of life and colour. From flowering wild plants to the coastal birds, the landscape here is wild and original — nothing about it has been arranged.
Quiet on the natural beach
This is where you can properly switch off. The natural beach with its shingle stretches and gentle swell invites you to walk, collect stones and do nothing much at all.
Wallnau waterfowl reserve
Ponds, reed beds and meadows, with observation towers and footpaths. Cormorants, gulls and a great many waterbirds breed and rest here.
Collecting stones on the beach
The shingle beach delivers new material after every storm. Bring some time and you'll find hag stones and amber.