Olofström amid lake landscapes, canoe routes and literary heritage

The Halen Nature Reserve lies within walking distance of the densely populated towns of Olofström and Jämshög and is a wilderness characterized by forests and lakes. Halen is the largest lake in Blekinge; approximately half of its surface area lies within the nature reserve. The reserve covers 809 hectares of land and water. The protected area has hiking trails, running routes, bridle paths, picnic areas and shelters. Halen also provides a habitat for many bird species, including ospreys and black-throated divers.

The municipal tourist information office in Olofström Town Hall provides information about attractions, events, hiking trails and other activities; free Wi-Fi is also available there. Other places: Kyrkhult, Olofström, Vilshult and Jämshög.

Nature

For the Holje Nature Reserve, Odasjöslätt on Route 15 is the nearest bus stop; it is located approximately 800 metres north of the reserve. Halen has natural connections to Raslången, Gillesjön, Filkesjön and Immeln, offering a wide range of opportunities for canoeing.

Water and trails

The Halen canoe route system offers opportunities for both experienced paddlers and beginners. An approximately 900-metre-long walking and cycling path leads to the canoe centre and is marked as Blekingeleden-Skåneleden all the way to the canoe centre. Stand-up paddleboarding is one way to explore Halen while swimming and training.

A special connection across the water is the 83-metre-long Frickabron suspension bridge. It spans Halen, connects two nature reserves and is crossed by three hiking loops. The Blekingeleden runs through Olofström Municipality and connects with the Skåneleden near Jämshög and Boafall. Another hiking trail leads from Tulseboda Brunnspark to Kulturbrunn Forneboda and then around Fornebodasjön.

Harasjömåla is a nature-oriented sport fishing area. This nature-oriented sport fishing area lies in northwestern Blekinge, approximately 10 kilometres northwest of Olofström, and comprises 23 lakes and one flowing watercourse. In Harasjömåla, spinning, bait fishing and fly fishing are possible for both beginners and experienced anglers.

Culture

Aniaraparken is located along the Holjeån and features flower beds, a pond and several sculptures by the artist Carl Eldh. Ebbamåla Bruk is now an industrial museum and an almost completely preserved industrial complex with buildings dating from the late 19th century to the 1920s.

The Författarmuseet in Jämshög includes workrooms, collections and a school museum. The Stenmuseet in Vilshult offers guided tours and displays tools and works of art by local stone craftsmen. Olofström’s literary heritage is associated with Harry Martinson, Sven Edvin Salje and Pehr Thomasson; their traces can be followed through museums, literary walking tours and preserved historic environments.

The cultural calendar includes Nässelfrossa, with more than 100 events over eight days; the festival always takes place in the week after Midsummer. At Röshult Vedugnsbageri, visitors can bake and cook together as people did at the beginning of the 20th century. As part of the cultural environment experiences in Kyrkhult, taste walks and a walking loop were offered.

Cycling

At Brännaregården, a former ski slope offers downhill trails through hilly, technically demanding terrain with jumps, bridges and forest sections. A 29-kilometre cycling route runs along a former railway line and passes through pastureland, valleys, lakes and streams.

To the main travel overview: Blekinge.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Karlskrona, Karlshamn, Ronneby, Sölvesborg.