Ramnäs: Industrial heritage and paths through nature

Ramnäs combines traces of its industrial history with walking paths, hikes and nature experiences. The old Kättingsmedjan is preserved in the Ramnäs bruksområde; elsewhere in the town, historic buildings tell of their former uses. There are also opportunities to explore the surrounding area on foot or on the water. You can tailor your stay to whether you would rather discover cultural history, hike or paddle.

Industrial history and historic buildings

One striking building is Järnboden: this 100-metre-long wooden building was used to store bar iron, which was transported from there throughout Sweden and around the world. Hembygdsgården Söderhammar tells a different story. Built in 1897, it is the only one of three similar buildings in the area to have survived. Anyone interested in architectural styles and former working lives will find different ways to explore Ramnäs’s past in these details.

Ramnäs kyrka also has a long history. Farmers from Ramnäs built it in the early 15th century as a small, single-nave stone church without a choir, sacristy or side aisles. Its original form makes it a destination in its own right for visitors interested in historic churches and their architecture. Café Kusken is also located in the Ramnäs bruksområde.

Walks through history

The Skyltvandringen in Ramnäs is a walk where visitors can learn about the history of various places through pictures and easy-to-understand Swedish texts. If you enjoy combining cultural discoveries with exercise, you can include this kind of walking tour in your travel plans.

Spången is a distinctive boardwalk. It is about 160 metres long and runs between the industrial area and the workers’ dwelling Kungshammar on Bergslagsvägen. Spången is also an important area for wintering dippers. This brings industrial history and nature watching together in one place; the dippers are a seasonal feature to keep in mind when planning your visit.

Nature reserves and hiking trails

Ramnässkogen Nature Reserve is within walking distance of Ramnäs. It is a destination in its own right for visitors who want to include nature as well as historic sites in their plans. Gnien Nature Reserve is on section 6, shortly after the trail leaves Ramnäs, and is considered a popular birdwatching spot. These areas offer different ways to experience the surroundings, with a focus on nature and birds.

Bruksleden also offers an option for planning a hike: section 8 leads to Ramnäs along its final stretch. These details refer to different sections; when planning a hike, you can use them to decide whether Ramnäs should be your destination or your starting point.

Paddling between Ramnäs and Surahammar

On section 6 of the Strömsholms kanal, a paddling route runs from Ramnäs to Surahammar. The route starts and ends in towns with train and bus connections. This is useful guidance for anyone planning a trip between two places and wanting to take the connections at both ends into account. Travelling along the canal offers a different focus from walking and hiking around Ramnäs.

When choosing holiday accommodation, you can consider which of these interests you want your trip to centre on: historic buildings and industrial history, walks and hiking trails, or the paddling route on the Strömsholms kanal. Ramnäs offers specific points of interest for all of these, without requiring you to limit your stay to just one way of exploring.

Back to the main travel overview: Surahammar.