The bike route Gravlevbanen in Mols Bjerge National Park
The old railway line Gravlevbanen is today a 25 km long cycling route in Mols Bjerge National Park, which offers beautiful and varied nature. Part of the route follows the old railway from Ebeltoft to Gravlev, where you step back in time as you cycle through forests, past lakes and over hilltops.
A route with natural gems
The route takes you through the idyllic Hyllested Bjerge, past Skovgårde and Jernhatten - a 49 metre high hill with an impressive view of the Kattegat. On your way you'll experience Havmølle å and Stubbe Sø, where the landscape opens up in all its splendour. Jernhatten stands as a distinctive landmark, where the ascent offers an encounter with troll beech and dark green ivy. From the top you get a magical view of the island of Hjelm, located in the Kattegat.
Dråby Kirkevej
Where Gravlevstien crosses Dråby Kirkevej, you can see the village of Dråby behind the hill with its large church, popularly known as Domkirken på Mols. Dråby Church belonged to the rich Skærsø Estate, and right up until the 16th century, Ebeltoft Parish was a church annex to Dråby. The oldest parts of the church date from the 13th century, and the interior is richly decorated with very well-preserved frescoes.
The Trustrup railway
Between Skærsø Estate and Ebeltoft, the Mols Bjerge trail follows the old railway line that served as a private railway between Ebeltoft and Trustrup from 1901 to 1968. Many have wondered why the railway was not placed between Ebeltoft and Aarhus. However, the route to Trustrup had the advantage of passing the large limestone deposits at Rosmus and Balle. Today, long stretches of the disused railway are used as a combined cycle and hiking trail. The section between Skærsø and Ebeltoft passes through willow swamps rich in tits and warblers, the silent beech halls of Dråby, across the open countryside and past lakes, meadows and fields where you can experience and enjoy larks, lapwings, ducks and geese.
Skærsø Manor
The name Skærsø means the clean or clear lake and refers to the fact that the manor was originally located on a headland in a lake. The first time Skærsø is mentioned is in connection with Marsk Stig's escape after he was convicted as an outlaw for the murder of Erik Klipping in Finnerup Lade in 1286. The wanted marshal is said to have spent the night on Skærsø during his escape to the island of Hjelm in the year after the murder. In addition to the Møllerup manor, Marsk Stig also owned Søholt on the northern side of Stubbe Sø - so perhaps he also owned Skærsø.
The lake Stubbe Sø
Havmølle Å originates from the eastern corner of Stubbe Sø and flows into the Kattegat after a stretch of approximately 4.3 kilometres. Along the way, several smaller streams join Havmølle Å, which drains a large area. The Havmølle Å system is home to a population of otters and you can also see ospreys and sea eagles in the area. In the Stone Age, the area was part of the fjord and there are many signs of early settlements here.
At several points along the trail you have a great view of Stubbe Lake. Visit the Bird Tower in the south-eastern corner of the lake, which offers the best views of both the lake and bird life.
Jernhatten - the Iron Hat
In Troldeskoven, the trunks of the beech trees are crooked. This is because the trees have been girdled. This means that trees have had their trunks sawn off close to the ground and thus renew themselves with many new root shoots from the stump. Trees from pollarded forests are used for e.g. firewood and poles. Scattered around Jernhatten you may be lucky enough to find blue anemones. They thrive here due to the high calcium content in the soil. Enjoy the beautiful sight, but leave them standing as the plant is rare. The soil on Jernhatten is plastic clay and gravel and in some places you can see the soil sliding down the slope in whole slabs, taking bushes and trees with it.
Arnakke
At the very tip of the beach we are standing on what is called ‘Store Spids’ or Arnakke. On the beach you can find many flint stones, brought by ice and meltwater from areas north of Jernhatten, where the limestone lies just below ground level. In the water between Jernhatten and Hjelm you can see something dark and shiny. It's a large rock called Blak, and cormorants can often be seen sitting on it, drying their wings. Anglers can catch trout, garfish and mullet from the beach during the season. Be aware of the conservation belt at the outlet of Havmølleåen further up the beach.
Hjelm Island
From the top of the knot you can see the island of Hjelm with its white lighthouse to the south. The island is just a small moraine hill surrounded by salt marshes, but it hides an exciting history. Hjelm is first and foremost known for being the home of Marshal Stig Andersen and his people, who were all found guilty of the murder of King Erik Klipping in 1286. Exiled and outlaws, but under the protection of the Norwegian king, they settled on Hjelm, and from there they launched raids and attacks against the Danish kingdom. Hjelm is privately owned and there is no public access to the island.
Accommodation in shelters
You can spend the night in shelters at Stubbe Sø. Enter the path from the car park at Stubbe Søvej 18. Please note that you must book shelter 1, shelter 2 cannot be booked.
Practical information
- Gravlevbanen in Mols Bjerge National Park, Djursland
- Start: Several places, but e.g. in Ebeltoft at the car park (Googlemaps)
- Distance: 25 km
- Highlights: Hyllested Bjerge, Skovgårde, Jernhatten, Havmølle å, Stubbe Sø, Hjelm