Denmark has beautiful nature, rolling hills and vast forests. One of my favorite nature reserves is Mols Bjerge National Park. This park on the Djursland peninsula (East Jutland) has a surprisingly beautiful landscape full of heathland, forest, open grasslands, lakes and coastline. I visited the park, based in Ebeltoft, and I made 3 beautiful hikes. In this article you can read everything about Mols Bjerge National Park, practical tips and of course the 3 hikes.
Table of contents
About Mols Bjerge National Park in Denmark
Mols Bjerge National Park is a fantastically beautiful nature reserve in Denmark. Where you will find many hiking trails, charming villages and beautiful nature. Mols Bjerge is located in the municipality of Syddjurs and stretches from the coast of the Kattegat in the east to the forests near Kalø in the west. With inlets and bays in the south.
The park is approximately 180 km² (18,000 hectares) and you will find several villages. Of which Ebeltoft is the best known.
You will find large forests, heaths, open dry grasslands, lakes and coastal strips. It is precisely this variation that makes Mols Bjerge so nice to walk in: every kilometer looks different.
Rolling hilly landscape
The landscape was formed by the last ice age, with green hills, lakes and boulders. The highest point is the Agri Bavnehøj hill with a height of 137 meters. From where you have a beautiful view. One of the walks I did passes this point.
In Mols Bjerge you can encounter roe deer, foxes and badgers, among other things. On the coast there is a chance that you will see porpoises passing by, and regularly also seals. There is a rich bird life in the sky. You can hear the yellowhammer and there are also bird species such as the red-backed shrike. And don’t forget the bats: they hunt insects here in the evening.
In the visitor center you will find a small museum where you can learn which animals live there. Quite impressive.
Why Mols Bjerge is important in Denmark
The official objective of the national park is to preserve and strengthen nature, biodiversity, landscape, cultural history and the special geology. And to also give visitors the opportunity for outdoor activities and education. This makes Mols Bjerge not only a beautiful hiking area, but also a place where Denmark shows how nature, recreation and heritage come together.
Best time to visit Mols Bjerge
As far as I’m concerned, there is no best time to travel to go hiking in nature. It depends on what your wishes are. I visited Mols Bjerge National Park at the end of November. And it was quite cold, but wonderful weather.
I personally think the crowds are more important for the best travel time. In the summer months and during other school holidays, many domestic and foreign tourists and hikers come. And then it can be quite busy. If you want to avoid that, go outside the high season.
I did all the hikes on my own and I hardly met anyone.
Are there parking spaces, bus stops and toilets in Mols Bjerge?
Yes, throughout Mols Bjerge National Park there are parking spaces, toilets and bus stops. There are also a number of restaurants. The restaurants that I came across myself were all closed in the winter, but the associated toilets were open.
You will also find a visitor center with a parking space and toilet. In the visitor center there is a small museum (free) and a heated room for lunch.
Hiking in Mols Bjerge National Park in autumn and winter
I visited Mols Bjerge at the end of November and really enjoyed the cold and the autumn colors. Although it was not busy at all, there were Danes walking, running or cycling here and there.
Going to Mols Bjerge in autumn or winter provides a lot of space, you almost have the park all to yourself. Keep in mind that certain things are closed during this period, such as restaurants.
What do you bring when you go hiking in Mols Bjerge?
- Your lunch, especially in winter when all the restaurants are closed;
- I traveled with a reusable lunch wrap, ideal for storing your sandwiches without needing plastic bags;
- A reusable drinking cup, I myself use the one from Dopper drinking bottle;
- A power bank (especially if you follow your route with All Trails, your battery will be empty). I myself use the Anker PowerCore Essential 20K;
- Good hiking boots.
Where do you stay in Mols Bjerge National Park?
You can look for a hotel in one of the many villages in the national park. I myself stayed in the colorful village of Ebeltoft and visited Mols Bjerge from there by bus (you will find more information about traveling by bus and at which bus stop to get off at the hiking routes).
It is also possible to go for a day of hiking in Mols Bjerge from Aarhus. Plan a few more days for a city trip and take a day trip into nature.
The hiking possibilities in Mols Bjerge
There are many hiking routes in Mols Bjerge National Park. The most famous of which is the Mols Bjerge Trail. A hike of 80 kilometers through the park, with great variation in nature and historical places along the way. This trail is internationally certified as Leading Quality Trail – Best of Europe. The long-distance hike Mols Bjerge Stien is divided into 4 stages of 20 kilometers.
In addition, the park has officially 35 marked short hiking routes from 1 to 14 kilometers. But much more is possible, just take a look at All Trails, there you will find more than 150 hikes in Mols Bjerge. Variants on the official routes, which you can easily combine or shorten. To your own needs.
The routes are well indicated with posts in different colors. You can also follow your route very precisely with All Trails.
You could say that Mols Bjerge National Park is a true hiking paradise. Something I experienced myself, because it was so beautiful!
3 Hiking trails in Mols Bjerge National Park
I made 3 beautiful hikes in Mols Bjerge National Park. I found all the hikes on the app All Trails. Below you will find the link to each hike, the route, how to get to the start by bus and more useful information. I did all the hikes alone, and in the winter (end of November / beginning of December).
Hiking route 1. Castle ruins of Kalø, horse garden and the Ringelmose forest | 11.7 km
The first hike I did was to the castle ruins of Kalø. A truly beautiful walk with many different views and landscapes. And a nice piece of history, because the path to the castle ruins is with 1.5 kilometers the longest medieval road in Denmark.
A little history
Kalø Slot was built in 1313 by order of King Erik Menved, shortly after he suppressed a major peasant revolt. Not so much to ward off foreign enemies, but mainly as a coercive castle: a means of power to keep the local population in line.
In 1320, the successor, Christoffel II, was forced by the nobility to demolish castles in Jutland, but it is unclear exactly how much of Kalø was demolished. Later the castle was rebuilt and expanded, and around 1343 it took on approximately its current form. But due to debts, it was pawned several times in the 14th century. It was not until 1407 that it was definitively bought back by Queen Margaretha I. After that, Kalø got a new role: administrative center and state prison. The most famous prisoner was Gustav Vasa, who was imprisoned there in 1518 and 1519, escaped, and later became king of Sweden.
After the introduction of the absolute monarchy in 1660, the castle lost its function. It fell into disrepair and was demolished in 1672; the stones went to Copenhagen for the construction of Charlottenborg. It was not until the 19th century that its value was really seen again, and restoration began in 1903.
The ruin has been part of Mols Bjerge National Park since 2009.
The hiking route
I saved the castle ruins for last. I started at the parking lot and started the route along the water, with a view of Kalø Vig. Then the route continues through Hestehaven, a forest area. Finally, the path goes through the beautiful nature of the Ringelmosebos, back to Kalø Slot. I spent quite some time here, and ate my self-brought lunch, with a view over the hills and the water. Don’t forget to climb Kalø Slot for the beautiful view.
Practical information
- Click here for the hiking route on All Trails
- Number of kilometers: 11.7
- Difficulty: easy
- Click here for the starting point on the map
- You can get there by bus 123 from Aarhus, Ebeltoft or any place on this route. Buy your bus ticket easily via the app Rejsebillet. Get off at bus stop Kalø Slotsruin (Syddjurs Kom)
- At the starting point you will find a parking space, restaurant (closed in winter) and a toilet (which is open)
Hiking route 2. Mols Bjerge – Half mountain stage north (10.9 km)
This route is half of the 20 kilometer long mountain stage that is part of the Mols Bjerge Trail. It is a truly beautiful route through the Danish hills, with fantastic views. For example, you will pass Agri Bavnehøj, the highest point of 137 meters.
On this route you will also pass the Mols Bjerge visitor center. Here you can go inside to eat your self-brought lunch in a nice heated room. You will also find a small museum here where you can see which animals live in the national park.
It took me about 4.5 hours to walk this route. Also because I regularly sat somewhere to enjoy the view. And to have a nice lunch.
This hiking route is totally different from the other two. Suddenly you walk through hills and see the Danish nature in a different way. Absolutely highly recommended!
Practical information
- Click here for the hiking route on All Trails
- Number of kilometers: 10.9
- Difficulty: average
- Click here for the starting point on the map
- You can get there by bus 123 from Aarhus, Ebeltoft or any place on this route. Buy your bus ticket easily via the app Rejsebillet. Get off at bus stop Femmøller Efterskole (Syddjurs Kom)
- At the starting point you will find a parking space and a toilet
Hiking route 3. Ebeltoft: Ahi Plantation Loop (3.1 km + walking to starting point)
From the village of Ebeltoft, you can hike in Mols Bjerge without having to drive anywhere first. This walk starts just outside the village, but if you don’t have a car (like me), you’ll need to walk to the start of the trail first. That’s about 2.5 kilometers there and another 2.5 kilometers back.
Because it was late in the day, I decided to do a slightly smaller loop, and I chose the Ahi Hage Skanse walk. This is half of the big loop (1.9 km) and very beautiful.
But the most beautiful thing was perhaps the walk from Ebeltoft to the starting point. The weather was beautiful and I was there just before sunset. And that gives beautiful pictures.
In total I walked about 7 kilometers.
Tip: if you walk back to Ebeltoft, go through the harbor. Especially at sunset that gives beautiful views and it yields beautiful pictures.
Practical:
- Click here for the 3.1 km walk
- Click here for the 1.9 km walk
- The beautiful walking path from Ebeltoft to the starting point
- The parking space on the map
- Difficulty: easy
- How to get there: walking from Ebeltoft or by car
Discover the beautiful nature in Jutland
Although I have made more beautiful hikes in Jutland, Mols Bjerge was (literally) a highlight. I thought it was difficult to get there by bus, but it turned out to be very easy. I can definitely recommend this nature reserve during your holiday in Denmark.
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