Sose: Coast, Geology and History

Around Sose, a bathing spot, geological traces and history come together. Sose Bay lies in southwest Bornholm, about 12 km from Rønne. Its beach is considered a relatively little-known bathing spot on Bornholm; the coast is also shaped by deposits in the coastal cliff. If you enjoy combining your holiday with discoveries by the sea, you’ll find different aspects of the same coastal landscape here.

A Coast with Geological History

Between Sose Odde and Lilleåen, the coastal cliff reveals rock layers that formed just over 200 million years ago. At that time, the climate was warm and predominantly tropical. The layers in the cliff at Sose Bay also show that a large delta with rivers, lakes and swamps once lay there. Finely layered sand and clay deposits can be found at several spots along the bay. This stretch of coast therefore brings visible traces of very different periods together: the deposits, the present-day cliff and the landscape at the beach.

Beach Walks, Fishing and History

A beach walk runs from Sose Odde in the west to the mouth of Lilleåen in the east. Access to Sose Beach is via a car park near Møllerup, about 1 km east of Sose Odde; there is also a toilet at the car park. Check local conditions before your visit. The approximate location of the car park and the information about the toilet offer practical guidance, while the walk focuses on the coast between the two named endpoints.

At Sose Odde, a granite reef extends far out to sea. It has pronounced depth edges on both sides; sea trout hunt above the reef and along its edges. If you plan to fish, be sure to check for possible seasonal restrictions. The coast offers a different perspective alongside the beach walk: the reef and the movements of the fish shape the view of this stretch.

A specific historical event is also associated with Sose Bay. During the war, 18 Swedish warships were destroyed there in 1678. About 1,000 people lost their lives, and three times as many were taken prisoner. The number of ships, the date and the consequences give the bay a history that sits alongside its geological traces.

More Topics on Bornholm

Beyond the coast at Sose, Bornholm offers a range of nature and cultural topics. At the NaturBornholm experience centre, you’ll find dinosaurs, live crocodiles, an aquarium and a bison exhibition; the exhibits may change. Bornholm Medieval Centre is a 15-hectare open-air museum that brings 14th-century Bornholm to life in an engaging and interactive way. The smoking tradition also has specific locations: Bornholm’s first smokehouse opened in Gudhjem in 1866, where herring has been smoked ever since. Hasle Smokehouse is Bornholm’s last smokehouse where fish is smoked in the traditional way, using open chimneys and alder wood.

If you’re travelling with children and want to take different interests into account, the animals and aquarium offer a different focus from the open-air museum or the coastal geology at Sose. This makes it possible to shape your choice of holiday activities around whether you mainly want to explore the landscape of the bay or include different aspects of Bornholm.

Getting There and Choosing a Holiday Apartment

Bornholm can be reached by ferry, plane, bus or train. The ferry crossing from Ystad in Sweden to Bornholm takes one hour and 20 minutes. Check the current timetables when planning your trip.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Sose, it’s worth deciding on your priorities first: should the coast, with its beach walks and geological history, shape your holiday, or would you also like to include Bornholm’s museums and smoking tradition? This distinction helps you tailor your search to your planned holiday days and decide which places matter most for your trip.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Nylars, Kås, Balka, Årsdale, Bodilsker, Vang, Klemensker, Boderne.

To the main travel overview: Bornholm.