Published
Monday, August 17, 2020
Growing up, I associated neighboring Skåne with yellow rapeseed fields, impressive Skånelängor, the inviting beaches of Österlen and the concrete city of Malmö. Sure, I also made my fair share of trips to the port city of Helsingborg, cute Åhus and Danish-influenced Kristianstad - but I definitely have no memory of any Scanian "jungle forests". Obviously, I never had the opportunity to visit the national park in Söderåsen and its nearby surroundings, which I have now done and am happy to add to my collection of Swedish gems!
Annika MyhreResfredag.se - the travel blog where dreams become reality.
Forget concrete, city life and crowded outdoor cafés. Just five miles from Helsingborg, and eight miles from Malmö, an oasis of inviting greenery, unique farm shops, atmospheric environments and a buffet of outdoor activities are close at hand. Here you'll find small villages, wilderness and a rift valley that's like Skåne's answer to the Grand Canyon.
Tips on Söderåsen in Skåne: active days in southern Sweden
Just as summer is in full bloom, my friend Louise and I head south, excited for our upcoming days in Skåneland. The mix of pulse-raising activities, outdoor life and nature experiences is exactly what we're looking for, as well as relaxation in environments that are beneficial for both body and mind. In this post, I share some of our highlights from our stay in Söderåsen. (You can expect more posts from the trip in the future.)
#1. Söderåsen National Park: hiking and views in a national park for everyone!
Söderåsen National Park, which was inaugurated in 2001 by the King of Sweden himself, spreads out like a Scanian roller coaster . Here lies a deep valley with so many shades of green that they are impossible to count, and there are also reddish cliffs that offer beautiful views of Skäralidsdalen. When we reach the entrance at Skäralid, the summer heat hits us with full force, but soon the greenery inside the national park cools down. We choose between the 4 km long Kopparhattsrundan or the 7.7 km long Hjortsprångsrundan, and finally decide to pick the raisins in the cake. We do this by walking the Kopparhattsrundan, but also by climbing the steep ascent to Hjortsprånget.
Kopparhattsrundan offers a fantastic hiking trail and at times we walk on paths along rippling water, surrounded by steep cliffs of boulders and stones. Time and time again, the leaves rustle, and we see forest mice scurrying away faster than we can blink. The broadleaf forest here (which has been restored to its original spruce forest splendor) is one of northern Europe's largest, and is home to exciting flora and rich wildlife. At times it feels as if time has stood still, and as if we are in the middle of an eternal cycle here in the southern Swedish jungle.
#2. Enjoyable trail riding with Söderåsens Turridning
If you find hiking in Söderåsen National Park enjoyable, you will find a horseback ride through the park even better. better. At Söderåsens Turridning you will find one of the most well-kept stables I have ever seen. The owner of the stable, Anna Lewijn, has through hard work and great passion created a fantastic riding business that offers tours through Söderåsen National Park.
Most of the horses in the stable (including the ones we ride) are of the "Haflinger" breed, which has its origins in small mountain horses with oriental features. The name comes from the village of Hafling in the South Tyrolean Alps (now Italy), and was mainly used in agriculture, for forestry and as pack horses. In the stable there are also some stable North Swedes.
Our ride on soft paths surrounded by shimmering green trees is both meditative and enjoyable, not only for me as a beginner but also for my friend Louise who is an experienced rider. Especially fun is that we get to ride on Western saddles with a small "knob" to rest one hand on, which is a cool experience to try. After our ride through the national park together with Anna, we are lyrical, both me and Louise. Experiencing the national park from horseback gives an extra dimension worth recommending to anyone who likes nature and horses - this combination is hard to beat.
#3. Canoeing on the Rönne River: for a sense of adventure
One of the activities during our stay at Söderåsen is a combined canoe and dressage tour that starts from Rönneådalen Sport & Fritids canoe center in Ljungbyhed (it is also possible to just rent a canoe without combining with dressage).
