Mols Bjerge Trail
Slow down, fresh air in your lungs and peace of mind. The Mols Bjerge Trail is an 80 km hiking trail that is divided into four day stages. All the stages offer hiking experiences of high quality with major natural and cultural historical attractions along the way.
All four stages are marked on our map in the National Park Mols Bjerge app. Download the National Park Mols Bjerge app from home - then you have your map with you on your phone.
Go to the mapThe Kalø stage
There is high-tension historical drama at the 700-year-old Kalø ruined castle, located at the western end of the stage. The path runs along the coast between crooked wood of gnarled trees and passes the Jagtslottet (the hunting lodge) on Kalø.
From Krogryggen up on the marginal moraine there is a unique view in wide format over the Aarhus Bay.
On the Kalø stage, you also get a taste of Mols Bjerge's open pastures and dramatic kettle holes. Farthest to the east is the idyllic Femmøller with its many old water mills.
Length - approx. 20 km
Time - approx. 6 hours
Difficulty level - medium
Start location: Molsvej 31, 8410 Rønde (parking lot at Kalø Slotsruin)
Final location: Molsvej 134, 8400 Ebeltoft (parking lot opposite Femmøller Efterskole).
The mountainstage
On Denmark's only real mountain stage, it goes steeply upwards from the start. Mols Bjerge is a nationally and internationally valuable nature reserve in one of Denmark's most hilly and varied Ice Age landscapes.
It is one of the nature reserves in Denmark that accommodate the most rare and endangered species.
The path takes visitors through impressive viewpoints, through dramatic ravines with wood of gnarled trees and past deep kettle holes. Only very scattered buildings break the feeling of being far from the beaten track.
Although the four stages are roughly the same length, most people will spend the longest time and most effort to walk the mountainstage, as it is more strenuous than the other two. This stage of the trail goes through one of Denmark's most unique natural areas in a circular route back to the starting point.
Length - approx. 19.5 km
Time - approx. 7 hours
Difficulty level - medium
Start and final location: Molsvej 134, 8400 Ebeltoft (parking lot opposite Femmøller Efterskole).
The Ebeltoft stage
This stage goes through a forest-clad Ice Age landscape that opens at Ørnbjerg Mølle with spinning mill wheels and millpond.
In Ulstrup Ådal and at Djursland's largest lake, Stubbe Sø, fine bird experiences await the attentive hiker. The path passes Skærsø manor house and then follows a disused railway line out to the coast.
Here the stage ends in the seaside town of Ebeltoft with hollyhocks, crooked half-timbered houses and topped cobblestones.
Length - approx. 22 km
Time - approx. 6 hours
Difficulty - easy
Start location: Molsvej 134, 8400 Ebeltoft (parking lot opposite Femmøller Efterskole).
Final location: Østeralle 9, 8400 Ebeltoft (parking lot at Ebeltoft School).
The Gåsehage stage
The Gåsehage stage winds its way along the coast, starting and ending in Ebeltoft. In the old town, you can experience cobbled streets with charming half-timbered buildings and hollyhocks, before the tour continues towards the harbor front and follows the coast line with salt meadow, beach and forest.
Experience the bird protection area Ahl Hage, Ebeltoft Ferry Harbor, a holiday town with water canals and Skelhøje's view of Ebeltoft and the cove.
Length - approx. 22.4 km
Duration - approx. 5.5 hours
Difficulty - easy to moderate
Start and final location: Østeralle 9, 8400 Ebeltoft (parking lot at Ebeltoft School).
Be aware that during periods with heavy rain parts of the route, that goes through the swamp area can be flooded.
The grazing nature keepers
Large parts of Mols Bjerge are fenced in large paddocks, where various animals keep the landscape bright and open by grazing the areas.
Animals are generally good at letting you know when you’re upsetting them, but their signals can be difficult to read if you’re unaccustomed to them.
When walking a dog among grazing animals, you must keep it on a short leash and leave the enclosure if the animals start approaching you. If there isn’t enough time to leave, you must let your dog off the leash, enabling it to escape the animals.
Never feed the animals. Grazing animals are only rarely, if ever, fed. In this way, the conservation effect of their regenerative grazing will be optimal, and we avoid them approaching people for food. When there is a shortage of food, the animals will be removed from the area.
Look at how the animals behave and respect them when they signal that your presence is stressing them – pay extra attention on beaches, salt marshes, coastal grasslands, and in enclosures with grazing animals.
It is rare for grazing animals to react to humans who keep their distance. Particularly mothers with offspring may react strongly – especially to people and dogs close to them. The same may be the case with newly arrived animals which don’t yet know their landscape and the movement and behavioural patterns of park visitors. If the animals start gathering in a flock facing you, you must turn around and bypass them in a bigger curve or leave the enclosure.