Narinalaatikko: Hiking in Småland

Day 1

We started from Lund at 8.30 on 4th of June and drove to Gränna where we booked in to Strandterrassen. After some lunch we geared up for a hike towards Tranås on the Hålavedsleden. We would return back to Gränna for the night so we walked back the same path. Hålavedsleden was really nice, the scenery varied from forest to field and the path was in pretty good shape. There was a lot of elevation changes too, but nothing too bad. We hiked 10 kilometers towards Tranås and then returned the same way back to Gränna totaling 21 km for the day. Good start for our Småland trip.

Tegnértornet

Hålavedsleden passes Tegnértornet, which is a 27 meter high steel tower with 360 degree view around the area. Top of the tower is 262 meters above the lake Vättern and you need to take 144 steps to enjoy the magnificient view.

View from the Tegnértornet. Facing south.


Our hiking route from Gränna towards Tranås and back. Tegnértornet is marked with a blue hexagon.

Day 2

The second day was dedicated to John Bauerleden. Path that goes from Gränna to Huskvarna. Our plan was to hike 30 km on the second day and return for Gränna for the night. Right from the start John Bauerleden was a disappointment. The first 3,5 km was asphalt and the path ahead looked similar from the Jerusalem mill (with a nice waterfall) too. At that point we decided to leave the John Bauerleden for a while and took the east side of the Västanåleden. Västanåleden is a path that climbs up the hill and follows the coast of Vättern southward. Västanåleden was really nice, it was a bit challenging and the view towards the lake was beutiful.

Jerusalem mill and the waterfall

We continued the John Baueleden when the paths crossed again and for a few kilometers John Baueleden ran through fields showing us the beaty of summer in Sweden. One of the highlights was the mill and bridge that crossed the Röttleån at Sågen. We stopped for a lunch at the bridge watching jumping fish in the river below. As we continued John Baueleden swithed from forest and field to asphalt road. We turned around near Båget and walked on the road to Reaby and then back to Gränna. The fields between Reaby and Gränna were yellow from the growing canola and we could see the lake and Visingsö island behind the fields.

We hiked 29 km on the second day, but the hike was bit of a disappointment. There was too much walking on the road instead of walking in the smaller paths through the fields or in the forest.

Our hiking route on the John Bauerleden and Västanåleden

Day 3

Our last day was much lighter when it comes to hiking. After we checked our from the hostel we drove to Huskvarna to check the view over the city and the Vättern lake. From Huskvarna we continued to Aneby to see the highest waterfall in southern Sweden and a Fallosstenen (Fallos Stone), a gravestone from 6th century. We finished our sighseeing tour in Tranås, on the eastern cost of the beatiful lake Sommen and had a lunch in restaurant Sjökrogen in the harbour before heading home to Lund.