The best traffic-free bike rides around Belauer Lake

Beautiful lake in the landscape

The lake was first mentioned in a document in 1075 in a description of the Limes Saxoniae by Adam of Bremen. The village was first mentioned in 1347, when the knight Nikolaus Splyth pledged his estate, including the village of Stocksee, to Reinfeld Monastery. From 1640 to 1649, Stocksee was owned by the noble Brockdorff family. In 1649, Duke Joachim Ernst (Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön), the first Duke of the Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön, acquired Stocksee.[6]

On October 1, 1937, the municipality of Stocksee was merged with the neighboring village of Damsdorf under the name Stocksee. In 1948, the municipal council decided to separate the municipalities again, and this decision was implemented on March 31, 1951.[8][9] In the 1980s, divers found a roughly 700-year-old dugout canoe in the lake, indicating a longer settlement history in the village.

Today's lake fills a deeply incised glacial tongue basin from the Weichselian glaciation. This basin was formed by the advance of various glaciers, which carved out large basins in the soft soil and deposited the material laterally. This formation resulted in the lake's shores being relatively steep, and the reed beds along the shores are relatively narrow. The lake contains three islands (Großrethberg, Kleine Insel, and Lange Insel) and a peninsula, which, like the shoreline, are predominantly covered in alder swamp forests. In higher elevations, these wetland forests transition into extensively managed beech forests.

Cows and calves grazing on pasture is an image often associated with species-appropriate animal husbandry and a high quality of life for the animals. Spending time together on pasture promotes the animals' natural behavior, enables social interaction, and contributes to their health. Advantages of grazing cows and calves: Natural husbandry: Cows and calves can pursue their natural needs, such as eating, exercising, resting, and interacting with other animals. Social learning: Calves learn how to interact in the herd from older animals and imitate their eating behavior. Improved animal welfare: Grazing promotes the animals' health because they can exercise, soak up sunlight, and breathe fresh air. Stable herd structure: Grazing together contributes to the development of close relationships and promotes a calm and stable herd structure. Promoting natural feeding habits: Calves learn to eat pasture feed early on and can thus better meet their needs. Less stress and competition: Due to the larger space and forage variety on the pasture, stress caused by competition is reduced. Aspects to consider when grazing: Weather conditions: Dry weather is important to protect pasture soils and animals from wet conditions. Forage availability: A good pasture with sufficient forage is crucial for successful grazing. Shelter: A sheltered shelter with dry bedding should be available to protect the animals from the elements. Frost-free water troughs: A frost-free water supply is important in winter, so heated water troughs should be provided. Keeping cows and calves together on pasture is an animal-friendly and natural form of husbandry that has a positive effect on the well-being and health of the animals.

The Holmweg trail runs above the road through the forest, lined with huge fir trees. The 1 km long trail is a singletrack trail and is easily accessible.

Here, on a large meadow, is a popular bathing spot in Lake Stocksee. The bathing area is fully developed and always busy in summer. Lake Stocksee is low in nutrients and is considered one of the cleanest lakes in Schleswig-Holstein.

Stocksee is an idyllic lake in Holstein Switzerland. Surrounded by forests, meadows, and rolling hills, the 1.3-square-kilometer body of water is ideal for swimming, paddling, hiking, and biking. Here is a large bathing area with a wooden jetty. The lakeside pool is fully accessible and has a large, shaded parking lot.