The bike route Ørnbjergruten in Mols Bjerge National Park
The Ørnbjergruten in Djursland is a 34 km cycle route that takes you through idyllic areas such as Stubbe Lake and Ørnbjerg Mill. Discover a rare habitat shaped by the Ice Age, enjoy a lunch break at the historic mill and take a dip in the clear waters of the lake. The route is perfect for both nature lovers and cycling enthusiasts who want to experience the unique combination of nature and culture in the area.
The Ørnbjergruten cycle tour takes you through the beautiful and very special nature of Mols Bjerge National Park, where you will experience hills, valleys, lakes and fantastic cultural gems.
Start the tour at Maltfabrikken
Start your hike at Maltfabrikken, for example, where you can choose to head south along the coast along the Ahl Plantage trail or north along the coast to the hiking trail Gravlev nature trail. This place is also the starting point for a cycle route around Ahl Hage.
Maltfabrikken is one of the major landmarks of Ebeltoft, a cultural centre, library, event and meeting venue and much more. Take a look around before you continue your journey and experience the many activities.
Stubbe Lake
Along the way, you'll get a view of Stubbe Sø, Djursland's largest lake and death hole in Mols Bjerge National Park. The hole was created during the last ice age when a very large piece of ice was left in the landscape. It slowly melted and left a deep imprint on nature. Today, the lake drains through Havmølleå to the Kattegat. Surrounded by forest and nutrient-poor sand, the water is clear and clean and the lake is rich in aquatic plants and fish.
Otters, sea eagles, ospreys and kingfishers visit the area, and the lake is an important breeding and especially resting place for large flocks of geese, ducks, grebes and avocets. You might see the white-tailed eagle high in the sky above Stubbe Lake. The lake was protected in 1963. On the south side of Stubbe Lake, the path runs through an open, flat landscape with very old Scots pines.
Ørnbjerg Mill
On the route you'll pass the old idyllic mill Ørnbjerg Mølle, where you can take a short water break. The mill was first mentioned back in 1552. At that time, it was part of Skærsø Manor and served as a customer mill, where farmers from the surrounding area came to have their grain milled. In 1980, the Danish Forest and Nature Agency took over the mill, but in 1988 a fierce fire ravaged the four-storey mill building and it burned down. The watermill building itself was saved and is today still owned by the Danish Nature Agency.
On special occasions you can still see grain being ground at the mill.
On the route you cycle through Kejlstrup and Femmøller town and on your way towards Ebeltoft, you'll pass Egil Fischer's Holiday Village. If you have the energy, you can leave your bike and walk up to the Egil Fischer Memorial to get a sense of his vision for the area.
The village of Kejlstrup
Where the landscape rises up towards Krogeryggen lies the picturesque village of Kejlstrup. It is believed that the village was founded in the Viking Age around 1100. However, many ancient artefacts indicate that the rich, fertile soils made the area an attractive place to settle even earlier. Kejlstrup was built around a fort, i.e. a common area around which the farms were arranged in a tight circle.
At the fort, cattle were watered at the street pond and the surrounding farms provided effective protection for the animals at night. The square also served as the village gathering place where the aldermen's guild discussed important matters and young people danced the night away at May Day celebrations. To this day, farms and houses in Kejlstrup still surround the fort.
Femmøller town
Femmøller's picturesque location in a gorge with a large difference in altitude used to provide optimal conditions for milling. Even though Mølleåen is not very big, it supplied water to all the mills in Femmøller from the 16th century until the 19th century. This was possible because the river was dammed in mill ponds, creating enough pressure on the water to drive a mill wheel. The gorge flows into a wide valley that ends at Femmøller Beach.
You'll also pass the old seaside hotel, now home to Femmøller Efterskole, Wigil Fischer's Holiday Village, an area by Femmøller Strand with distinctive timber-framed ‘Fischerhuse’ and a Baroque-inspired park with axes, avenues, stadium, squares and green spaces.
Among these is the iconic Molskroen, which has been restored several times over the years.
Practical information
There is a water point, toilet and shelters at Ørnbjerg Mølle.
- Ørnbjergruten, Mols Bjerge National Park, Djursland
- Start: f.x. the tour in Ebeltoft. See the car park
- Distance: 34 km
- Highlights: Stubbe Lake, Ørnbjerg Mill