Stubbe: Stubbe Sø, Landscape and Birdlife

For nature lovers, Stubbe Sø is the main attraction in Stubbe. The lake covers 376 hectares and is the largest lake on Djursland. It is a water-filled dead-ice hollow; in the Stone Age, this formed the innermost part of a small fjord. The fjord stretched inland from the coast south of Jernhatten to what is now Stubbe Sø. Together, the lake and the former fjord landscape shape the character of this natural destination.

Landscape and nature reserve

Stubbe Sø is designated by the EU as a NATURA 2000 site. Its natural environment requires particular attention and special conservation measures. In the nature reserve, a marked footpath runs through mixed woodland and open land, down to a meadow and the lakeshore. There is also a photo hide with a water basin in the area, which everyone is welcome to use.

Birdwatching at Stubbe Sø

Among other species, you can see large flocks of tufted ducks, pochards, goldeneyes, mallards and greylag geese. Great crested grebes, coots and cormorants are also among the species mentioned. The times when birds of prey can be observed vary: white-tailed eagles are regularly seen throughout the year, while ospreys are occasionally seen during migration periods. If you are specifically interested in birdwatching, this distinction between year-round and seasonal sightings is a useful guide.

The bird tower at the southeast corner offers the best view of the lake and its birdlife. The covered bird tower at Stubbe Sø has openings on three sides; from there, you can look out over most of the lake, the reeds and the trees at the eastern end of the lake.

Trails and directions

The Stubbe Sø Øst hiking trail is 2.4 km long and passes a shelter and a bird tower with views over the lake. The public Gravlevstien hiking trail is 8 km long and runs from Ebeltoft to Gravlev along the former railway line. Shortly after Havmølle Å, a side path leads down from Gravlevstien to Stubbe Sø; Gravlevstien also provides access to the bird tower, among other places. The distances provide a clear guide for planning your route: Stubbe Sø Øst is shorter than Gravlevstien, and the trails pass different points described here.

The Stubbe Sø nature reserve is accessible from a car park on Møllebækvej near Gravlev. The entire route to the reserve is signposted. From a car park on Stubbe Søvej, it is about 300 metres to the bird tower. These two details help you find your way without implying that the routes or car parks are the same.

Shelters and overnight stays outdoors

There are two shelters east of Stubbe Sø, each with around 5–6 sleeping places. There is also a composting toilet and a fire pit. Different rules apply to their use: Shelter 1 can be booked, while Shelter 2 is available on a “first come, first served” basis. If you are planning to spend the night in a shelter, bear this distinction in mind when choosing a spot.

Discover more destinations: Knebel, Femmøller, Dråby, Thorsager, Skødshoved Strand, Mørke, Ebeltoft, Boeslum

For the overview of the wider area: Syddjurs Municipality.