Site 8 of 20: Riis Feriepark, Denmark
The Meek Family
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We've arrived in Denmark - our third country of five! It was a long drive from northern Germany to our eighth site but we're getting used to them and try to get a lot done in the time. Riis Feriepark is near the small village of Riis in central Denmark and whilst Riis might not be well-known there is famous attraction nearby that gets many visitors - Legoland! Denmark is the home of lego and the theme park attracts many visitors to the area. So if making a visit to this popular park, then this Caravan Club site is ideal.
The site, which is small in comparison to some of the recent sites that we've been staying on, is set in woodland; it is open but surrounded by trees. Pitches are grouped into areas and lined by hedges; they are mostly grass with the occasional hard standing. Tents, caravans and motorhomes are welcomed on to the site which also offers wooden chalets. There is one central toilet block for toilets and showers. Tokens for showers cost 70 cents or 5 Danish Krone and can be purchased from reception or from a machine outside it. Neighbouring the toilet block is a large kitchen area with cooking stations that reminded us of The Great British Bake Off. Each area has a hob, sink and counter surface. Microwaves, ovens and dishwashers are positioned at the side as are tables and chairs to eat at. This is a very sociable area and many families used it in the evenings. Outside but under cover there is also a large BBQ area with BBQs and picnic benches. If only we'd brought some coal along to have a BBQ one night because this certainly looked great fun - no burnt grass patches here!
Beside the reception is a shop and cafe. The shop sells a small selection of food and drink including fresh bakery produce. The cafe (within the shop) serves warm and cold drinks (including beer and wine) and offers a fast food menu, including reasonably priced pizzas.
There is a large area for children at this site which includes a zip wire, go-cart track, trampolines and giant pillow, giant lego-style pieces to build with, large chess pieces and board, a ball pool for under 10s and table tennis. Larger carts are also available to use and there is a mini golf course. Equipment for the table tennis table and golf course are available from reception (a deposit needs to be left) as well as a selection of board games.
Then there's the swimming pool, a small pool area with a couple of slides - one fast slide and a slower more genteel tube slide. The pool is heated and open from 8 in the morning but there is no life guard.
All of these facilities are overlooked by the two campsite goats which reside in a small fenced off area by the playground. They were extremely friendly and liked to have a tickle!
One of the main reasons for staying at this site would have to be its location. The lure of Legoland is everywhere from leaflets to posters all over. Legoland is in Billund about 14 miles away and there is bus from the nearby village about a mile away. Legoland isn't the only attraction in the area though and when you arrive at the site you are presented with a brochure that lists a wide range of activities within a 50km radius. We wanted to learn about the Viking history and didn't want to drive far, having had a long journey the day before so we drove 20 minutes down the road to Jelling where The Home of the Vikings museum (Kongernes) is. The museum is free and prides itself on being a 'showcase' for the Viking period. The visitor centre lies in the middle of a monument complex. In the centre of two large mounds is Jelling church. On show, outside the church are two large rune-stones belonging to Viking kings Gorm and his son Harold Bluetooth - they are particularly special because one is the oldest stone to name the country of Denmark and the other shows the transition between Vikings gods and Christianity. It is believed the remains of Gorm lie beneath the church. The oldest feature are the remains of a huge ship-shaped stone setting - built to take the dead to Vallhala and the after life. Another impressive feature is the concrete posts and circles that represent where a gigantic palisade was built to protect the land. The centre itself is a high-tech museum that delivers all the historical facts and information in a creative and stimulating way. Audio, spoke in both Danish and English, talk you through what life was like for the Vikings, stories told around the campfires and the beliefs that they held. The museum is on two floors with a balcony at the top overlooking the grounds. Sets of binoculars allow you to see what the land would have looked like during different historical periods - an impressive touch.
The Vikings certainly left their mark and there are other museums to visit in the area as well. There is also a wide range of activities, near and far, to suit most people and the Riis site seems well located to visit them.
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It's a fascinating period of history that we all loved hearing and reading about.
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