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Sydkoster
Sydkoster
Walk on Sydkoster!
Outside Strömstad are the beautiful Koster Islands. Complete your archipelago experience by visiting and exploring these islands. Sydkoster is the bigger of the two, with four colour-coded walking trails covering more or less the entire island. Walk through an area of natural beauty with everything from open fields and meadows to old broadleaf forests and wonderful viewpoints by the sea.
Walk and enjoy Kosterhavet National Park
Sydkoster has a lush landscape with broadleaf forests, coastal meadows covered in flowers, and long sandy beaches that are perfect for swimming. Choose between four colour-coded trails, each between 3 and 5 kilometres long. Combine all four trails to take in the whole island and cover a distance of around 14 kilometres. The trails will take you both across the inland area between the ports and along a significant portion of the coast. Stop at Valfjäll’s viewpoint, swim from the long sandy beach at Kilesand, or explore the world under the surface along Rörvik’s snorkelling trail.
You are surrounded by Kosterhavet National Park, Sweden’s most species-rich marine area, which is home to around 12,000 different plants and animals, half below the surface and half on land.
Difficulty
Walking on the Koster Islands is family-friendly and pleasant. The difficulty varies from easy to intermediate depending on how far you want to go.
Approximate duration
To walk all four paths on Sydkoster requires around the same number of hours on foot.
Markings
The combined length of the four walking trails on Sydkoster is around 15 kilometres. They are marked in blue, yellow, green, and red, respectively.
- Blå slinga: Långagärde – Ekenäs: 3,5km
- Gul slinga: Långagärde – Brevik 4km
- Gul slinga: Brevik – Ekenäs 3km
- Grön slinga: Kilesand – Långevik 5km
- Röd slinga: Ekenäs – Kilesand 3km
- Röd slinga: Kilesand – Brevik 4km
Sights on Sydkoster
Sydkoster is the larger island, with more buildings and nature experiences. There are a few things you really must not miss when hiking here. One example is Naturum Kosterhavet, the visitor centre for Kosterhavet National Park. Valfjäll is a viewpoint with amazing views over the islands and the perfect place to take a break.
Kosters Trädgårdar is a wonderful place with a restaurant, greenhouse, bakery and friendly farm shop. And if you need to cool down after a tough day on the trails, there are a number of places to swim. Rörvik also has an exciting snorkelling trail to explore.
- Blue route: Långagärde – Ekenäs: 3,5km
- Yellow route: Långagärde – Brevik 4km
- Yellow route: Brevik – Ekenäs 3km
- Green route: Kilesand – Långevik 5km
- Red route: Ekenäs – Kilesand 3km
- Red route: Kilesand – Brevik 4km
Bo vid Strömstads skärgård
På Lagunen bor du precis där havet och Strömstads skärgård börjar. Här finns alltid något att upptäcka. Blir det en heldag i Strömstad, en båttur på Kosterhavet eller en lugn dag med krabbfiske på mage från Malis brygga, alldeles intill Lagunens badstrand? På Lagunen vaknar du till ljudet av vågornas skvalpande, måsarnas skrik och Kosterhavets havsbris som letar sig in i viken året runt – det är bara du som bestämmer när.
Saltö
Saltö
Walk on Saltö
Saltö has a lot to offer for anyone who likes hiking! The island’s beautiful nature reserve includes both tall fir trees and surprisingly rugged terrain, with both hills and valleys. The island is criss-crossed by a network of well-worn paths, ready to be explored by curious feet.
The Nature Reserve
Saltö Nature Reserve covers almost as much water as land and is one of the entrances to Kosterhavet National Park. The area has more species than almost any other in Sweden: approximately 12,000 plant and animal species live above and below the surface. Please note: Saltö’s Nature Reserve has a number of rules and regulations, please see www.kosterhavet.se for further information.
Difficulty
The paths and trails on Saltö vary from easy to intermediate or difficult. The well-trodden paths are easy to walk, but if you go off the beaten track, the difficulty rises significantly.
Approximate duration
How long you spend walking is entirely up to you and your party, and the type of walk you want. A half-hour amble or a whole day in the wilderness; on Saltö you set the limits for both time and difficulty.
Markings
Saltö covers an area of around 400 hectares, which includes both the island itself and surrounding waters. It is approximately 1,5 kilometres long and almost as wide. Saltö is not a traditional walking destination and therefore not marked as such.
An archipelago with varied and breath-takingly beautiful nature
Around 10 kilometres south of Strömstad is Saltö, the westernmost point in the Tjärnö Archipelago. This part of Strömstad is one of the most popular hiking areas in the municipality. The reasons for this are many! Despite its modest size (193 hectares), the island offers plenty of natural variety. The type of ancient coastal pine forest that covers this island is only found in the northern parts of Bohuslän. Barren granite cliffs lead down to the water. Protected orchids flower here in the summer and wild chanterelles are plentiful in the autumn. Walking on Saltö offers opportunities to see both deer, elks and foxes. In places, the landscape is as magically beautiful as a John Bauer painting.
Family-friendly hiking
Despite the dense and hilly landscape, the area offers plenty of paths. This means that you can easily bring even the youngest members of your family on a daytrip among trees and moss-covered rocks. Or on a peaceful stroll on wide paths among the tall pine trees. Choose the type of walk that is most suitable for you and your family; the opportunities are almost endless. Saltö resembles a nature’s own amusement park, a summer paradise, but open all year round.
Great places to swim
After a few hours’ walk, why not take a break by the sea. This is easy on Saltö. Do you prefer to find a small, secluded bay or diving from the rocks? Or would you rather relax on a beach? The choice is yours. The Nature Reserve also has an exciting snorkelling trail: a nature path in shallow water with lots of fun stuff to discover.
Vandra på västkusten från Lagunen Camping & Stugor
Från Lagunen Camping & Stugor har du ett toppenläge när du vill vandra på västkusten! Ta med dig tältet, packa ner kängorna, fyll ryggsäcken med bra snacks och kom till Bohuslän när du vill vandra vid kusten. Vandra på saltstänkta Nordkoster och Sydkoster, prova på någon av etapperna längs Bohusleden och Kuststigen eller upptäck de lite mindre vandringsturerna på Saltö, Västra Rossö – Kockholmen och runt Lagunen Camping & Stugor. Att vandra i Bohuslän passar utmärkt oavsett om du är nybörjare, van entusiast eller rutinerat proffs. Välkommen att upptäcka vandring på västkusten.
Nordkoster
Nordkoster
Walking on Nordkoster!
The beautiful Koster Islands are located outside Strömstad. Complete your coastal experience by visiting and exploring these islands. Nordkoster has two signposted trails through a breath-takingly beautiful natural landscape. Experience undulating moorlands, vast shingle beaches and scrubland. Along the trails are plenty of opportunities to take a detour, so there is no need to plan the walk in great detail – just take the day as it comes. Spend some time on Nordkoster – it will be a truly rewarding experience.
Experience Kosterhavet National Park
Kosterhavet is Sweden’s first marine national park and opened in September 2009. Kosterhavet National Park is home to around 12,000 plant and animal species, half below the water and half on land. Common species share the space with rarer and entirely unique ones. Big parts of the two Koster Islands are protected. Work is underway to restore the Koster landscape to the way it used to look in times gone by. To safeguard the islands, there are a number of rules you must follow when you visit. Visit kosterhavet.se for further information.
Difficulty
Almost anyone can walk on Nordkoster, as the two trails are fairly easy to complete.
Approximate duration
At a normal walking pace, it takes around two hours to complete the trails.
Distance
The combined length of the trails on Nordkoster is just under eight kilometres. Both start and finish near the southern central parts.
Markings
The trail with white markings is four kilometres long and the three and a half kilometre long trail is marked in orange.
- White route: 4km
- Orange route: 3,5km
Sights on Nordkoster
While walking on Nordkoster there are a few sights you really must see. The shingle beaches at Valnäsbukten are impressive with their traces of the Ice Age and clearly visible remains from when Koster rose from the sea during the post-glacial rebound. Valnäs is home to the rare buttercup Ranunculus cymbalaria: so unique it is only found on the Koster Islands. Basteviken, Norrvikarna and Hasslevikarna are three of the lovely bays where you can swim during the summer. And don’t forget to visit the lighthouses, the islands’ highest point, with unbeatable views of the Koster Archipelago.
- White route: 4km
- Orange route: 3,5km
Hike on the west coast from Lagunen Camping & Cottages
From Lagunen Camping & Cottages, you have a fantastic location for hiking on the west coast! Bring your tent, pack your hiking boots, fill your backpack with delicious snacks, and come to Bohuslän when you want to hike along the coast. Hike on the salt-sprayed Nordkoster and Sydkoster islands, try some of the stages along Bohusleden and Kuststigen trails, or explore the shorter hiking routes on Saltö, Västra Rossö – Kockholmen, and around Lagunen Camping & Cottages. Hiking in Bohuslän is suitable for beginners, experienced enthusiasts, or seasoned pros. Welcome to discover hiking on the west coast.
Kuststigen
Kuststigen
Walk the Kuststigen trail!
Kuststigen is a beautiful walking trail, close to the sea, which follows the coastline of Bohuslän, from Uddevalla and Tjörn in the south to Norwegian Moss in the north. Walking the Kuststigen trail is a unique experience, with nature and surroundings not available anywhere else. We feel that everyone should walk Kuststigen at least once in their lives because looking out over the archipelago of the Swedish west coast from a hilltop is something really quite remarkable.
Krokstrand - Ramberget
This stage is a more challenging walk which takes you along Iddefjord and offers amazing views of Norway. You start in Krokstrand and walk towards Björnerödspiggen, which is the highest point in Bohuslän and has a windbreak, wood, fireplace and viewing tower. From here, you head north towards Ramberget and Dragonkullen. You continue through hilly terrain in a varied landscape and eventually reach Ramberget, one of the highlights of this walk. From here, you have unbeatable views over the idyllic lake of Abborrtjärn, as well as the Svinesund Bridge and Norway.
Etapp Ramberget - Svinesund
This stage offers demanding walking conditions with plenty of climbs and rugged terrain. You start from Ramberget and Dragonkullen and follow paths and gravel roads through beautiful forests, cultural heritage areas and coastal parts. The walk is characterised by amazing views of both Norway and Sweden. This is the only place where you can experience this. The path continues towards Svinesund and the Svinesund Bridge, and the final stretch follows the water towards the old Svinesund Bridge, which is also the final destination.
This stage offers demanding walking conditions with plenty of climbs and rugged terrain. You start from Ramberget and Dragonkullen and follow paths and gravel roads through beautiful forests, cultural heritage areas and coastal parts. The walk is characterised by amazing views of both Norway and Sweden. This is the only place where you can experience this. The path continues towards Svinesund and the Svinesund Bridge, and the final stretch follows the water towards the old Svinesund Bridge, which is also the final destination.
Walks with plenty of history
Kuststigen runs through a glorious natural landscape, which bears witness of the rich history of Bohuslän. The area has medieval churches and country houses, as well as picturesque fishing villages and ancient remains. You walk across mountains and through valleys, through forests and alongside large meadows with grazing cows and horses. Choose between the solitude of the silent ancient forests and the salty sea breeze by the water. Kuststigen is simply an amazing experience!
Difficulty
Some stretches of Kuststigen are fairly demanding, so take this into account when planning. Once you are out in the wilderness, it will be well worth the effort.
Approximate duration
It takes quite a while to walk the ninety kilometres through varied terrain near Strömstad (not to mention the 700 kilometres in total!). If you prefer to complete the whole stretch within a reasonable distance from Strömstad – from Fjällbacka to Koster – you need to plan for at least two days of walking.
Distance
The Kuststigen trail consists of 23 stages with a combined distance of just under 700 kilometres. They are of varying character and suitable for everything from daytrips to trips spanning several days, or much longer periods.
Markings
The trail is well signposted with blue markings and easy to follow. Kuststigen is a part of the Nordsjöleden trail and also connects to Bohusleden and Soteleden in different places. Together, these trails form a magnificent hiking system connecting areas with varied coastal and woodland landscapes.
Kuststigen: an extraordinary collaboration
Kuststigen was opened in 2007 as part of a collaboration between Norway and Sweden within the project ‘Kustnära vandringsleder’ (Coastal Walking Trails). The coastal areas of Bohuslän, like the ones in Norwegian Ostfold and Akershus, have been inhabited since the glaciers withdrew and offer perfect conditions for hiking. The Kuststigen trail offers continuous walking, except for a few stages where there are breaks in the trail. You can also follow circular routes near Uddevalla, Stenungsund, Tjörn, Orust, Lysekil, Sotenäs, Tanum or Strömstad.
Kuststigen around Strömstad
In the area around Strömstad, you can walk south from Koster, along Seläters Havsbad, via Svinesund and Tanumstrand to Fjällbacka, a distance of approximately 90 kilometres. If you follow Kuststigen in ‘number order’, stages 16 to 23 take you from Fjällbacka to Strömstad and Koster near the Norwegian border. For anyone wishing to stay the night along the way, Lagunen Campground & Cottages in Strömstad is an excellent choice.
Vandra på västkusten från Lagunen Camping & Stugor
Från Lagunen Camping & Stugor har du ett toppenläge när du vill vandra på västkusten! Ta med dig tältet, packa ner kängorna, fyll ryggsäcken med bra snacks och kom till Bohuslän när du vill vandra vid kusten. Vandra på saltstänkta Nordkoster och Sydkoster, prova på någon av etapperna längs Bohusleden och Kuststigen eller upptäck de lite mindre vandringsturerna på Saltö, Västra Rossö – Kockholmen och runt Lagunen Camping & Stugor. Att vandra i Bohuslän passar utmärkt oavsett om du är nybörjare, van entusiast eller rutinerat proffs. Välkommen att upptäcka vandring på västkusten.
Hittaut
Hittaut
Discover the natural landscape around you!
A free activity, which keeps you moving as you explore new places.
For 10 years, ‘hittaut’ has tempted thousands of participants to go outside in search of checkpoints. Bring a map on your walk, cycling trip or jog to activate both body and brain, and perhaps discover some new places. Each checkpoint has a code that you can record on your account for the chance to win great prizes. Anyone can take part at their own pace, 24 hours a day during the season, which usually lasts from May until October. Hittaut is also used as a health promotion initiative by companies and schools.
Take part on your own terms
You can take part in hittaut on your own or with others. Choose whether to walk, cycle, run, skateboard, roller-skate or something else. Accessible checkpoints can be reached on wheels and are marked with a wheel symbol. They are positioned along sealed or tightly packed gravel roads, which makes them accessible for anyone using for example a pram, wheelchair, motorised wheelchair, walking aid or bicycle.
Challenge your neighbour, friend or colleague and monitor your statistics for recorded checkpoints on the website. You can use hittaut whenever you like, as it is available 24 hours a day during the season.
What is hittaut?
The aim of hittaut is to search for checkpoints in urban areas and forests. This is one of Sweden’s biggest health promotion projects. It is owned by the Swedish Orienteering Association and run by local orienteering clubs. By 2020, hittaut was available at more than 50 locations and had attracted around 80,000 participants. The focus is on maps and digital technology and the aim is to help people to become more active and to explore the natural landscape around them.
How does hittaut work?
Each circle on the map represents a checkpoint, which is marked with a checkpoint post in real life. Each checkpoint has its own code, which you record on your account. Create an account on orientering.se/hittaut or download the hittaut app. The map for hittaut is available from Lagunen’s reception.
Vandra på västkusten från Lagunen Camping & Stugor
Från Lagunen Camping & Stugor har du ett toppenläge när du vill vandra på västkusten! Ta med dig tältet, packa ner kängorna, fyll ryggsäcken med bra snacks och kom till Bohuslän när du vill vandra vid kusten. Vandra på saltstänkta Nordkoster och Sydkoster, prova på någon av etapperna längs Bohusleden och Kuststigen eller upptäck de lite mindre vandringsturerna på Saltö, Västra Rossö – Kockholmen och runt Lagunen Camping & Stugor. Att vandra i Bohuslän passar utmärkt oavsett om du är nybörjare, van entusiast eller rutinerat proffs. Välkommen att upptäcka vandring på västkusten.
Hälsans stig
A healthy path!
A historic walk in Strömstad
Hälsans stig (the path of health) are walking trails created by the Swedish Heart and Lung Society in collaboration with some municipalities, to promote healthy living in Sweden. There are currently around 130 of these paths in different parts of the country, one of which is located in Strömstad. Hälsans stig in Strömstad offers easy walking and covers a distance of around 7 kilometres. The idea behind the path is to make it easier for everyone to fit in at least 30 minutes of exercise per day, to meet the public health goals.
What you get to see
During your walk, you pass historic sites and buildings, including the Town Hall, Lejonkällan, the swimming baths, the Fiskartorpet outdoor museum, Skagerack Cultural Centre and the Giant’s Cauldron. How far you walk is up to you, each kilometre is marked with a sign to help you keep track of the distance you have covered. The trail has no set start or finish, so you can join or leave it wherever you like.
- The walking trail has no set start or finish.
- The trail can be followed in either direction.
- Signs mark each kilometre.
- The trail is suitable for everyone, irrespective of age and fitness level.
- The full length of the trail is approximately 7 kilometres.
- The trail passes a number of historic sites and buildings, including the Town Hall, Lejonkällan, the swimming baths, the Fiskartorpet outdoor museum, Skagerack Cultural Centre and the Giant’s Cauldron.
Vandra på västkusten från Lagunen Camping & Stugor
Från Lagunen Camping & Stugor har du ett toppenläge när du vill vandra på västkusten! Ta med dig tältet, packa ner kängorna, fyll ryggsäcken med bra snacks och kom till Bohuslän när du vill vandra vid kusten. Vandra på saltstänkta Nordkoster och Sydkoster, prova på någon av etapperna längs Bohusleden och Kuststigen eller upptäck de lite mindre vandringsturerna på Saltö, Västra Rossö – Kockholmen och runt Lagunen Camping & Stugor. Att vandra i Bohuslän passar utmärkt oavsett om du är nybörjare, van entusiast eller rutinerat proffs. Välkommen att upptäcka vandring på västkusten.
Bohusleden
Bohusleden
Walk the Bohusleden trail
Bohusleden is one of the best known and most popular walking trails in the south of Sweden. It consists of 27 stages and covers a distance of 370 kilometres, from Lindome in the south to Strömstad in the north. The final four stages – from Vassbotten near the Norwegian border to Strömstad – offer varied walking conditions along forest paths and smaller roads through the beautiful Bohuslän landscape.
Stage 26 Nedre Högstad – Krokstrand
The 26th stage of the Bohusleden is a challenging and demanding walk. The trail passes woodlands and barren hillsides, forest roads and farms and runs through an area of natural beauty and with amazing views. The trail reaches great heights, including the highest point in Bohuslän, Björnerödspiggen 222 metres above sea level, which has a viewing tower, BBQ areas and a windbreak. This stage also takes in historic sites, including rock carvings from the Bronze Age and a 5000-year old grave.
Stage 27 Strömstad – Högstad
Stage 27 is the first or last leg of the Bohusleden trail, depending on your starting point. This stretch offers beautiful unspoilt nature and peaceful forest paths. There are also a few exciting detours along the route. One of these takes you first to a Bronze Age grave, then a couple of kilometres further on, to an impressive cave with magical views. More historic sites are available further along the trail, including Blomsholm Country Estate, which was founded in the 17th century and is home to Sweden’s largest stone ship, measuring just over 40 metres in length.
Explore Strömstad Municipality
The part of Bohusleden that crosses Strömstad Municipality is around 60 kilometres long. Along the route are many natural treasures to discover. Take the opportunity to climb Bohuslän’s highest mountain, Björnerödspiggen, which stretches 222 metres above sea level. At the top, the views are magical and far-reaching. See exciting rock carvings and other ancient remains. In some places it doesn’t feel like Bohuslän at all, as the trail mainly runs inland. These parts are more similar to the mountainous parts of Norrland, which makes the wilderness feel even more peaceful and gives a sense of really being at one with nature.
Difficulty
Depending on your choice of stages to complete, the difficulty varies from easy to intermediate. If you are planning a really long hike, the difficulty is intermediate.
Approximate duration
You can complete all four stages within the Strömstad Municipality in a day if you are prepared to walk from morning until nightfall.
Markings
The full length of the Bohusleden trail is 370 kilometres, and the portion in Strömstad is around 60 kilometres. Bohusleden is marked with orange paint on trees and posts.
Mixed walking
Most of the Bohusleden trail offers easy walking, however like any longer trail, some parts involce bigger height differences and are therefore more demanding. The stretch between Vassbotten and Håvedalen contains both steep hills and deep valleys. Here and there, you are treated to magnificent views of the forests of Bohuslän as well as the glittering ocean in the far west. From Krokstrand the trail climbs the majestic range of Löveråsfjället, of which Björnerödpiggen is a peak you really must experience.
Bo vid Strömstads skärgård
På Lagunen bor du precis där havet och Strömstads skärgård börjar. Här finns alltid något att upptäcka. Blir det en heldag i Strömstad, en båttur på Kosterhavet eller en lugn dag med krabbfiske på mage från Malis brygga, alldeles intill Lagunens badstrand? På Lagunen vaknar du till ljudet av vågornas skvalpande, måsarnas skrik och Kosterhavets havsbris som letar sig in i viken året runt – det är bara du som bestämmer när.
Hike around Lagunen
Walk around Lagunen
Walk around Lagunen Campground & Cottages
Lagunen has a circular path which is great for walking all year round. Enjoy the salty sea breeze and the view of Starekilen. This trail is suitable for all the family – whatever the weather. End the walk with a refreshing swim in the sea, or warm up in Lagunen’s hot tub.
Walk with wonderful views
The area around Lagunen has a number of walking trails of varying length, all in peaceful and beautiful natural surroundings, close to both the sea and woodlands. The trails offer easy walking and are suitable for all the family. The longest marked walking trail is Musslan on Daftö, the green trail on the map. This walk is around 5.5 km long and takes you around Lagunen and Daftö, where ocean and forest dominate. If you prefer a shorter walk, choose the shorter circular trail, marked in blue on the map. This is a short route of around 2 km on gravel roads through woodland. The yellow trail leads to Lagunen Bike Park, and the short trail goes to the viewpoint and shelter.
Difficulty
The walks around Lagunen are family-friendly and beautiful. All trails offer easy walking and are suitable for all the family, young and old.
Approximate duration
The time varies depending on the trail. The longest trail, Musslan, takes around 1 hour to complete and the shortest one, around Lagunen, takes around 20 minutes.
Markings
The Musslan trail is marked with pictures of a mussel. It starts at Lagunen, circles Daftö, then returns to the starting point. The other trails on the map above are unmarked.
Finish your walk with a sauna
Is there anything nicer than relaxing in a warm hot tub after a long walk? In particular during the winter months, our sauna and hot tub are available to book, so that you can warm up after a chilly walk around Lagunen.
Walk on the west coast, starting from Lagunen Campground & Cottages
Lagunen Campground & Cottages is the perfect starting point for hikes on the west coast of Sweden! Bring a tent, pack the walking boots, fill the backpack with healthy snacks and visit Bohuslän to hike along the shoreline. Walk on the windswept islands of Nordkoster and Sydkoster, try one of the stages of the Bohusleden or Kuststigen trails, or explore one of the smaller walking trails on Saltö, Västra Rossö – Kockholmen, or around Lagunen. Walking in Bohuslän is suitable for everyone, whether you are a novice, an experienced enthusiast, or a long-standing professional. Welcome to discover walking on the west coast.
