Gelting Bay: Nature, Harbour and Baltic Sea Experiences

Natural Landscape with Maritime Expanses

Gelting Bay combines marine nature reserves with open expanses of water and a distinctive coastal landscape. Extending along the bay and beyond Schleimünde, the second-largest contiguous reef system in the Schleswig-Holstein Baltic Sea stretches out. Large parts of this system are protected by marine nature reserves. In the Geltinger Birk nature reserve, a seagrass meadow approximately 1,000 metres long extends into Gelting Bay. Those who wish to experience the landscape from more than just the shore are permitted to swim, bathe and dive in the marine nature reserve “Baltic Sea Area from Gelting Bay to the Schlei Estuary.”

Beach between Norgaardholz and Ohrfeld

The beach between Norgaardholz and Ohrfeld is located on Gelting Bay and, with its playground, offers a specific place to spend time by the shore. The beach bathing area and car park are free of charge there; a campsite is nearby. For families who want to combine a day at the beach with recreational activities, the playground is a factual part of this section of the coast. At the same time, the bay remains more than just a destination for traditional days at the beach because of its nature reserves and expanses of water.

Harbour, Sailing and Surfing

In Wackerballig, the yacht harbour is located directly on Gelting Bay and the open Baltic Sea. Also in Wackerballig, the marina for recreational boats was inaugurated on 18 July 1980. It has 234 berths and a 220-metre-long jetty system. Gelting Bay also offers areas for surfing and sailing. The harbour, open sea and water sports shape the maritime character of the destination from several perspectives.

Cycling around the Birk

The developed, approximately 12-kilometre-long hiking and cycling path “around the Birk” runs mainly along the dyke around the Geltinger Birk nature reserve between the two Birk entrances. There are also many cycle paths along the coast of Gelting Bay, offering views across the bay as far as Denmark. If you prefer to explore the coast by land, the circular route around the Birk provides its own perspective on the dyke and nature reserve, while the coastal paths direct your view across the water.

Birdlife, Mill and Lighthouse

Regular NABU birdwatching tours focusing on the birdlife of the Geltinger Birk take place from April to September. They begin at the car park by the “Birklein” kiosk near Charlotte Mill. Charlotte Mill is a smock mill built in 1826 to drain the Noore and grind grain. The historic Falshöft Lighthouse also stands on the coast of Gelting Bay. This places nature observation, the history of the mill and a distinctive coastal structure alongside one another as different experiences in the surrounding area of the bay.

Further Places for Regional Orientation

Further local pages for regional orientation: Steinberghaff, Kronsgaard, Steinberg, Niesgrau, Maasholm, Stoltebüll, Sterup, Esgrus, Steinbergkirche, Quern, Stangheck, Rabenholz, Pommerby, Hasselberg, Nieby, Rabel.

To the higher-level travel overview: Schleswig-Flensburg.