Stubbe: Nature Experiences at Stubbe Sø and Birdwatching

Stubbe is defined above all by Stubbe Sø, the largest lake in Djursland. Covering 376 hectares, the lake combines an unusual landscape history with diverse opportunities for birdwatching. If you are looking for nature experiences, short paths as well as longer hikes, and special insights into a protected landscape for your holiday, Stubbe offers concrete opportunities to do so.

Stubbe Sø: Lake with a Unique Landscape History

Stubbe Sø is a water-filled kettle hole. During the Stone Age, this kettle hole formed the innermost part of a small fjord that stretched inland from the coast south of Jernhatten to what is now Stubbe Sø. This development makes the lake an interesting destination for anyone who wants not only to look at the landscape but also to gain a better understanding of how it was formed.

Stubbe Sø has been designated by the EU as a NATURA 2000 site. Its natural resources require special attention and special protective measures. During your stay, treating the landscape with consideration is therefore naturally part of your planning. The marked footpath in the Stubbe Sø nature reserve leads through mixed woodland, across open land, and down to a meadow and the lakeshore.

Birdwatching from the Covered Bird Tower

A bird tower stands at the southeastern corner of Stubbe Sø, offering the best views over the lake and its birdlife. The covered tower has openings on three sides. This allows the view to extend across most of the lake, over the reeds, and to the trees at the eastern end of the lake. For families, this can be an exciting place to observe together: instead of simply checking off a single attraction, you can take your time here to follow what appears on the water and along the shore.

When birdwatching, you can observe, among others, large flocks of tufted ducks, pochards, goldeneyes, mallards, and greylag geese. Great crested grebes, coots, and cormorants can also be seen. White-tailed eagles are regularly sighted year-round, while ospreys can occasionally be seen during migration periods. A photographic hide with a water basin in the nature reserve is open for everyone to use and adds another specific location to the birdwatching opportunities.

Paths for Different Day Plans

The Stubbe Sø Øst hiking trail is 2.4 kilometres long and passes a shelter as well as a bird tower with views over the lake. This makes it possible to incorporate nature observation into a manageable section of trail. If you prefer a longer route, you can include the public hiking trail Gravlevstien in your plans. It is 8 kilometres long and runs from Ebeltoft to Gravlev along the former railway embankment. Shortly after Havmølle Å, a side path leads down from Gravlevstien to Stubbe Sø.

Access can also be chosen according to your preferred starting point. The Stubbe Sø nature reserve is accessible from a car park on Møllebækvej near Gravlev; from there, the entire route to the protected area is signposted. From the car park on Stubbe Søvej, it is approximately 300 metres to the bird tower. The different route lengths and access points allow you to plan your holiday days around birdwatching, walks, and longer excursions without having to fit all the experiences into a single outing.

Stay Overnight and Plan Further Destinations

When searching for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Stubbe, you can take the focus of your trip into account: if you would like to set aside time for birdlife in the morning or late afternoon, use the described paths and access points as a guide; if you prefer longer excursions, include Gravlevstien in your daily plans. When choosing your accommodation, decide whether birdwatching and shorter paths or longer tours should be the focus of your holiday days.

If you would like to include other places in your travel plans alongside Stubbe, here are the direct destinations from the selection: Ugelbølle, Begtrup, Balle, Øerne, Stødov, Skovgårde, Dråby and Ebdrup.

To the higher-level travel overview: Syddjurs Municipality.