By the Cattegat

Udmodkattegat Foto Mathiasjuuldahl

Gåsehagestrand3 2022 Mathias Juul Dahl.Web

Birdwatching The southern-most tip of the Hasnæs peninsular, also known as Ebeltoft peninsular, is called Gåsehage (goose spit). This tip of the peninsular is covered in heath areas rich in flora and insects and famous for abundant birdlife.
 The shallow waters around Øer Maritime Ferieby (a marine holiday village), the lock and the ferry harbour are a genuine Eldorado for seabirds, wading and migratory birds. Dunlin, oystercatcher and curlew explore the shallow waters for worms and crustaceans, with fluttering wings, shrill calls and long legs and beaks. During spring and autumn many migratory birds pass the area. Common eider, seagulls and cormorants flock around the ferry terminal.
 Shaped by the sea North of Øer harbour are coastal cliffs formed by the Stone Age sea. The landscape was different then. The sea reached to the top of the cliffs and the beach stretched from here, past the forest and on towards the beach at Elsegårde. When the sea level fell, the water left behind sandy and nutrient-poor soil where mussels are easy to find. The beach contains flints and chalks that were carried here from northern Djursland, where the chalk cliffs have been laid bare.

Øer Foto Mathiasjuuldahl

An artificial lake Mols Bjerge National Park stretches out into the sea, encompassing five marine areas. However, Øer Havn (harbour) was built on an artificial lake where quarrying used to take place. It is the only harbour in Denmark that is accessed through a lock. The lock leads to a 700-meter fairway and a 220-meter channel.
 Modern holiday village Here lies the modern holiday village designed by Danish architects Friis &amp; Moltke, which stood ready for use in 1988. The village comprises houses in small groups placed on islands in the artificial lake. It is a perfect place for a quiet walk along the water’s edge.

Jernhatten Mathiasjuuldahl

49 meters up Jernhatten hill descends steeply down onto a white beach. Jernhatten reaches 49 metres above sea level. The ascent to the top takes you past troll-shaped beech trees, blankets of dark-green ivy and, possibly, hepatica, and offers views of the island of Hjelm out in the Kattegat. Just north and south of Jernhatten are depressions in the landscape which were covered by the sea during the Stone Age, when this landscape was very different.
 Seaweed and stones The beach is a perfect starting point for snorkel trips to the “Blak” stone situated like a big tortoise shell about 150 metres from land. The seabed here is varied with many seaweed species, such as sea lace, sweet tangle and red algae, as well as eelgrass: the only seed plant in Danish waters.
 Hjelm - the island of an outlaw Out in the Cattegat lies the island of Hjelm, the history of which will surely spark your imagination. The small island, which is privately owned, was the haunt of Marsk Stig and his followers. Marsk Stig was outlawed for the murder of King Erik Klipping in 1286, an event known in Danish history as “the murder in Finnerup Barn”. He fortified Hjelm and from here he and his outlawed men ran a counterfeiting business.
Marsk Stig died in 1293. Doubt has since been thrown on his conviction for the murder. However, the story about Marsk Stig and the outlaws has fascinated many throughout time, and it has provided material for folk ballads, plays, an opera and several novels.   A hill of marl Jernhatten consists of glacial depositions including flakes of the calcareous Kerteminde Marl. In Denmark, this marl typically lies 30 meters below sea level, but here the ice has pushed it up. The marl has its name from Kerteminde on Funen, where the ice has also pushed up deposits. Local farmers used to dig marl to spread across their fields from a small marl pit to the west.

Flyfotos Rugaard Strandr

A slow landslide Rugaard Klint (sea cliff), running along the forest called Sønderskoven, is slowly sliding, transporting lumps of green forest bed with anemones and trees towards the sea. The landslide is particularly evident in the area known as “Hullerne” (the holes), where it stretches several hundred meters inland. Here, the trees lean in against the centre of the landslide. They look as if they are stretching to avoid falling over. Eventually, however, they will end up as bleached logs on the beach. The trees grow in moraine soil.
 Plastic clay and fossils The moraine lies on top of plastic clay and it therefore slides. The cliff face reveals the dark-grey plastic clay at the bottom and the moraine layer at the top. Most of the rocks on the beach are flints that arrived here with ice and meltwater from northern Djursland where the chalk lies immediately below the soil surface. You may even be lucky enough to find a 70-million-year old fossilized sea urchin. Porpoises often hunt for small fish close to land.

Rugaardgods

On a combined forest and coastal tour in Ruggaard Sønderskov It is a special experience in all seasons to visit Rugaard Sønderskov, which lies on the verge of the Cattegat.
 The trees grow on an almost impermeable subsoil of plastic clay and when it is particularly humid here in the autumn, you can experience how the big trees sometimes slide out and fall towards the sea.
 The forest is private and owned by Rugaard Estate, but the public is welcome to visit as long as you stay on the many established forest roads and the coast itself.
Begin the walk at the large pond by the road, which is popularly known as the Heksedammen (the witches pond). The estate's former owner from 1682-1707, Jørgen Arenfeldt, participated in the witch trials of the time in the area. Suspected witches were "tested" in the pond. If they drowned, they were innocent, but if they floated above, it was thus proven that the accused women were witches.
 Suggested starting place: Parking lot at Heksedammen at Rugaard Estate (Rugaardsvej 14, 8400 Ebeltoft)

Sletterhagefyr Foto Mathiasjuuldahl

Sletterhage is located on the Helgenæs peninsula, which is not part of the National Park.
<a rel="noopener" href="https://www.sletterhagefyr.dk/" target="_blank">Read more about Sletterhage Lighthouse on their website (in Danish)</a>

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Experience the National Park|By the Cattegat