Gelsådalen & Stensbæk Plantage - Gram

Beautiful natural area which is known for its geological pearls "the dumplings"

A beautiful natural area with fantastic hiking opportunities

Close to the castle town of Gram is Gelsådalen and Stensbæk Plantage, a nature area with large heaths that offers lots of experiences. The place is particularly known for the geological phenomenon "Klimperne" and with marked walking routes offers good opportunities for exploring nature. The 3 walking routes all start at the Goliaths Hoved car park at Stensbækvej. At the parking lot, there is a "lunch box house" where you can eat the food you have brought with you. You can take a closer look at the different hiking routes here . 

If you have your dog with you on the trip, there is also a large dog forest that covers an area of ​​approx. 10,5 hectares, which corresponds to the size of almost 15 football pitches.

The plantation is approx. 770 ha large and located on the Gelså Hedeslette between Ribe and Gram. 

History of the area

The whole area by Gelsådalen is an old border country. The Danish-German border followed a stretch of Gelsåen from 1865 - 1920. Around 1900, 2 large heath farms Åskovgård and Hedeagergård burned down at two-year intervals, and during this period heath farming was in decline, and therefore the farms were not rebuilt. 

The Prussian state bought both farms and the land for Stensbæk Kro, and started planting Stensbæk Plantage in 1904. The Germans bought the area for money they had received in war compensation from France after the war between the two countries in 2 - 1870. The area remained part of Germany until 1871. 

Stensbæk Plantage is dominated by fly sand because it is located on a sand-covered part of the heath plain, which is intersected by Gelsåen and Gelsådalen. 

Ancient monuments and cultural monuments

In Stensbæk Plantage there are only a few burial mounds. Near one of the old stud driver roads, Gelsbrovej, on Åskov Hede are 3 smaller burial mounds. From Vadestedet by Gelsbro, the studs were driven across the heath to Toldboden, where Åskovgård lay, until it burned down. 

At Åskov Hede you can see the remains of a large rock. Legend has it that a treasure was hidden under the stone. Treasure hunters tried to blow the stone away because they did not have the patience to wait for the stone to turn on its own. According to legend, the stone turned when it could smell that bread was being baked. The blast failed, however, and the remains of the stone are still found. 

Updated by: Destination Sønderjylland - Haderslev | bureau@visithaderslev.dk