Mols Bjerge

Panorama view from east to west
The three Bronze Age mounds of Trehøje, 127 metres above sea level, offer a panorama view from Aarhus to Ebeltoft, including four inlets: Kalø, Begtrup, Knebel and Ebeltoft. From up here you can see the National Park’s border to the south west, where fertile clay once deposited by the ice means the land is intensely farmed, as opposed to the nutrient-poor sand left by the ice on the hills and on the coastline along Ebeltoft Vig.

The ancient grassland
There are around 11 additional Bronze Age mounds in the area. There are also distinct ridge and furrow fields, preserved from medieval times. Cattle have grazed these nutrient-poor hills for many years. Sloe, rose and juniper bushes resistant to grazing dominate the landscape even today. During the boom in agricultural cooperatives in Denmark, the hills were planted with conifers  that continue to characterise the landscape today. Several yellow-dot routes start from here.  

The area for outcoor activities
Fuglsø Beach is a very popular destination for active people who enjoy walks or far more challenging physical activities, such as paragliding. At the same time, it is a perfect place for quiet relaxation under the shelter of the impressive cliffs.

Explore the surrounding nature
The sandy bottom soon becomes deep water. Surrounded by the ocean, hills and dry grass vegetation, you can find edible sea-kale and thistle-like sea holly, but also maiden pink, orpine and harebell. The cliffs are habitat for butterflies, grasshoppers, sand lizards and adders. There is a yellow-dot route from the coast to Store Jættehøj (hill) and onward to Karpenhøj Nature Centre.  

The Ice Age scour-marks on stones
Distinct parallel scour-marks across the surface of a rock may be glacial striations. These glacial grooves can occur in many different ways, but most often they are caused by moving glaciers. The striations bear witness to the rock’s journey with the ice from distant regions. The ice dragged the rock across other loose rocks and rock masses: a journey that leaves its mark. Fuglsø Strand is a good place to look for stones and rocks with glacial striations. 
 
Underwater recreation course
Out in the water is the first underwater recreation “course” to test snorkellers and swimmers e.g. playing underwater noughts and crosses. Buoys indicate the location of the underwater course, and there is an anchored float for the more playful. Practical information: Car park on Fuglsø Strandvej, 8420 Knebel.

Another amazing view
The two naked hills called Stabelhøjene present an amazing view. The trip here is by footpaths across fields. The hills lie in an open landscape and may not look much, but from their respective tops 133 and 135 metres above sea level, there is an amazing view. 

The Ice Age landscape
The moraine stretches around Kalø Vig are clearly visible from up here, testifying to the fact that the ice stopped its advance here during the most recent glacial period. About one kilometre to the south-east is Agri Bavnehøj, the highest point in Mols Bjerge.

Bronze Age graves
Your are standing on top of a mystery. According to legend, these large mounds from the Bronze Age were home to subterranean spirits. Furthermore, it is likely that these mounds also contain several graves, because it was custom to add more graves to the same mound over time.

Practical information
Car park at Stabelhøjene on Dybdalvej, Agri, 8420 Knebel  

An amazing view
The highest point at Mols Bjerge, Agri Bavnehøj (beacon),  is situated 137 meters above sea level. From here you overlook an undulating dead-ice topography, Trehøje with its three humps, and Tirstrup Hedeslette (outwash plain) with dense conifer stands growing where meltwater from the ice once deposited large quantities of sand and gravel.

Bonfires to warn against enemies
In ancient times, Agri Bavnehøj was where a bonfire was lighted to warn of approaching enemies. Later the hill became important in connection with land surveying. The monument at the top of the hill used to serve as a monitoring station and trig point, but now has an instrument with an arrow indicating points on the horizon such as the Cathedral of Aarhus 21.8 kilometres away.

Practical information
At the foot of Agri Bavnehøj is a sheltered picnic area. Car park on Agri Bavnehøjvej, Agri, 8420 Knebel. 

Mols Laboratory
Field Laboratory of the Aarhus Natural History Museum.

Night attraction
Glow-worms try to outshine the moth-attracting light bulb. Only around Midsummer Day does the female glow-worm glow to attract a mate. The bulb that lures moths in the garden of Mols Laboratory, however, can be turned on year-round.

Picnic areas
Here are picnic tables where you can enjoy a hot night-time drink while you observe the moths. Mols Laboratory, originally Nedre Strandkær farm, is owned by Aarhus Natural History Museum and serves as a field laboratory for researchers and students from universities etc.

Routes in the area
One of Mols Bjerge’s famous routes springs from here, “The Italian Path”, named so because of the Mediterranean vistas it offers and its tall cypress-like junipers.

Five mills village
From whichever direction you arrive, it is obvious that the village of Femmøller (five mills) lies in a gorge. A real mill town used to be situated here by a lively stream, the Mølleåen (mill stream), which ran through the gorge.

The town was previously called Essendrup, but around 1790, Femmøller became the predominant name, even though one of the five mills had by then burned down. All five mills can be dated back to the 1500s. The mills were powered by water from the same stream, which caused problems whenever there was a lack of water. In the early 1900s, the mills ceased operation and the mill works disappeared. However, many of the buildings as well as four of the mill ponds have been preserved.

The gorge opens out to a broad valley which ends down by the coast at Femmøller Strand. From Femmøller a yellow-dot route leads on to Mols Bjerge.

Primeval forest
Not quite, but almost. A hike along the yellow-dot route through Skovbjerg almost brings you back to the forests of the past. Skovbjerg has never been subject to cultivation. It contains old oak forest which grew on top of the original oak underwood. Today, the forest is managed as natural forest for the benefit of hole-nesting birds, insects and fungi.

Memorial Stone
There is a memorial stone in Skovbjerg, which reveals some of the story behind the conservation of Mols Bjerge as a valuable natural asset. The A.P.Møller and Chastine McKinney Foundation sold the Skovbjerg lands to the Danish state in 1971. The Foundation’s purchase and later sale of the area to the state saved it from being developed. The Danish state subsequently purchased and listed more land.

Today, large parts of Mols Bjerge are state-owned and subject to protection.