Scan Magazine | Special Theme | An Autumn in Sweden
Top left: Stay overnight in one of the cottages. Photo: Kyrkekvarn. Top right: Explore the nearby waters by canoe or kayak. Photo: G Assner. Right: Horseback riding is a fun activity with friends, family or co-workers. No previous experience is required to join a tour. Photo: G Assner.
Outdoor adventures come rain or shine Kyrkekvarn, near Jönköping in Sweden, is the perfect destination for an active holiday, conference or get-together this autumn. Choose between horseback riding, canoeing or other customised group activities. By Ellinor Thunberg
The family-run company offers outdoor activities and accommodation by a lake and river – Stråken and Tidan in Mullsjö, Sweden. The close proximity to water provides the perfect conditions for paddling. “We have classic Canadian canoes, kayaks and larger canoes for 13 people. The latter is perfect for schools, companies, hen or stag parties where everyone can paddle together,” says Henrik Eneskjöld, co-owner at Kyrkekvarn. Eneskjöld’s father and grandfather founded the company in the late ‘70s and the business has grown larger over the years. Today, they welcome upwards of 15,000 visitors per year to the countryside 30 kilometres west of Jönköping in southern Sweden.
Horseback riding – a popular autumn activity Guided rides are arranged all year round, with tours lasting one and a half 62 | Issue 91 | August 2016
to six hours. Kyrkekvarn has around 50 Icelandic horses, including a few ponies for younger visitors. You do not need any prior experience and the late autumn excursion is a popular choice. “After a few hours in the forest, the tour stops at a simple cottage where we serve a hearty casserole and a glass of wine,” says Eneskjöld. “It can be anything from ten degrees below zero and snow to five degrees and rain outside, and you arrive at this warm and cosy dining room where we have lit candles and the fire is crackling.” There is also another quite special set-up for experienced riders, called ‘horse and cottage’, offering accommodation and independent riding combined. “You ride out on your own and the horse is like your own during the stay, which can be anything from two to 14 days,” Eneskjöld explains. About 20 houses and cottages in various sizes are dotted around the
grounds within a radius of 1,000 metres. The largest building, Sörgården, can accommodate 52 guests, and another smaller house is newly renovated and boasts a swimming pool in the summer, a Jacuzzi and a sauna. Eneskjöld says that visitors are full of praise for the varied, beautiful nature and tranquil setting, but there is no shortage of activities for every season and large groups can always be catered for. “We are an outdoor facility with plenty to do, come rain or shine.”
Photo: Kyrkekvarn.
For more information, please visit: www.kyrkekvarn.com