Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Swedish Culture Special
Photo: Inphokus by Funke
Magical nature experiences at northern Europe’s hiking mecca With a total of 150 kilometres of hiking trails, Hässleholm and Hovdala recreation area is nothing short of a hiking mecca. Choose from hilly landscapes with charming farms, easy strolls around Finjasjön Lake, and treks to the heights of boulder ridges with stunning views. Sometimes lovingly referred to as ‘magical rooms’, these nature experiences offer everything Sweden is known and loved for: sustainability, simplicity and pure, untouched nature. By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Hässleholm
“You’ll get a different experience depending on which trail you choose, and depending on the season,” says Anna Nordstrand, destination developer. “If, for example, you explore the trail called Jakten på Gullspira, referencing a wellknown Swedish story about a goat kid who escaped for adventure, you’ll encounter wild, untouched nature, a virgin forest, walkways across damp marshes and bogs, a former health spring and volcanic remnants. The dairy farm Glada Geten (‘the happy goat’) makes the per48 | Issue 110 | March 2018
fect pitstop for coffee and perhaps a light lunch of local produce. You also get the chance to meet the goat Gullspira on the farm, of course.” Located in the northeast of the southern Swedish county of Skåne, Hässleholm is easy to get to by train from pretty much any direction. From the central station, there are trails taking you straight out into wilderness and what can appropriately be referred to as northern Europe’s hiking centre. Thanks to two boulder
ridges meeting right here, the landscape is varied, offering heights and waterways and everything in between. The trails vary in length and difficulty too, so there is something for beginners as well as more challenging routes. “It mightn’t be for hardcore adventure seekers who want to take on Kebnekaise, but there’s something for pretty much everyone else: families with kids, outdoor enthusiasts, hiking fans and novices who want to try a trek for the first time. You get the wilderness feel despite being close to civilisation; it’s safe, yet it’s all about pure nature,” Nordstrand explains. If you want a hike that lasts a few days, opt for the 55-kilometre Hovdalaleden, a combination of the best bits of the four one-day trails. Among other trails is Höjdarnas Höjdarled, a challenging trail of undulating