Holiday apartment in Mark – forests, lakes and textile culture

Mark is characterised by deep forests, glistening lakes and winding gravel roads. The landscape ranges from quiet lakeside paths to historic textile communities and long routes through southern Västsverige.

Nature

A three-kilometre hiking trail begins at Hyltenäs kulle and follows the Öresjön through a leafy mixed forest. Along the way, there are wind shelters and an opportunity to swim. From the summit of Hyltenäs kulle, there are expansive views over the surrounding landscape. Hyltenäs kulle is signposted from Road 41 at Sundholmen and can be reached from Kinna or Skene via Örby and Torestorp.

Ramsholmens kulturreservat offers walks through a varied cultural landscape with oak pastures and grazing land, as well as views over the Öresjön. Another natural attraction is Ramhultafallet Nature Reserve, which stretches for just over 1.2 kilometres along the north-western shore of Lake Lygnern. The Ramhultafallet waterfall is over 50 metres high and is considered one of Sweden’s highest waterfalls. Gravel paths, platforms near the waterfall and an accessible viewpoint are also part of the area.

Ramhultafallet can be reached from Sätila by driving about four kilometres towards Fjärås and then following the signs from Fjäråsvägen. At the lower section, there is also a car park for people with disabilities and families with prams.

Rydal has a nature area with several hiking trails and opportunities for swimming, fishing and canoeing. The hiking trail around Mjögasjön in Rydal is 8 kilometres long and leads around the lake. Along the trail, there is soft moss, views of the lake and sturdy tree trunks.

Culture

Rydals museum is located in Sweden’s best-preserved spinning mill complex and offers exhibitions in a historic industrial setting. Rydal also has a 750-metre-long, signposted historical walking tour about the history of the people and buildings in the area; the route is partially adapted for accessibility.

Rydal’s industrial character is considered to be of national interest. Workers’ housing, the schoolhouse, the directors’ residence, the power station and the spinning mill have been preserved, with some buildings also protected as listed monuments. The permanent TEXTIL MARK exhibition conveys the history of Rydal and the textile district in Mark through projections, animation, sound and lighting design, and interactive elements.

Some paths also connect the landscape and the past directly. Viskastigen is an 18-kilometre hiking trail between Agnbäck in the south and Öresten just before Skene in the north. It partly follows a medieval road that led from Halland through Västergötland onwards to the capital. The name Kurirleden originates from a route that may have existed 600 to 700 years ago, along which couriers rode with mail between the two fortresses.

Hiking

Hyssnaleden is a 40-kilometre hiking trail through Mark Municipality in southern Västsverige and passes through beech forests in Stomsås Nature Reserve. Kurirleden itself is 50 kilometres long and runs from Örestens fästning fortress outside Örby to Kinnahus in Östra Frölunda. The Flohult hiking trail is shorter: it is 6.6 kilometres long, suitable for prams and starts at Lygnevi sports field.

Hittaut in Mark is a free outdoor activity in which you search for checkpoints using a paper map or the app. It can be done on foot, running, by bicycle or in a wheelchair, and is open around the clock.

Cycling

Förläggargårdsturen is a cultural and historical cycle tour through the textile cultural landscape of Sjuhärad. Hyssnaturen is an approximately 38-kilometre cycle route through a varied landscape with open plains and deep forests around Kinna, Rydal and Hyssna. Along Ekleden, around twenty information boards provide information about nature, culture, people and the history of the area.

A 41-kilometre cycle loop runs through Torestorp, Älekulla and Öxabäck and offers beautiful views, tranquil landscapes and a rich cultural history along the way.

Food and drink

Mark’s regional character also includes farm shops and bakeries. Farm shops offer regional products such as eggs, honey, meat, potatoes, mushrooms and seasonal vegetables. Bakeries in Mark sell fresh sourdough bread and freshly baked cinnamon buns.

Places

Other places: Istorp, Björketorp, Horred, Hyssna, Kinna, Sätila, Torestorp, Älekulla, Öxabäck, Fritsla, Tostared, Hajom, Fotskäl, Skephult.

To the overarching travel overview: Västra Götaland.