Nordanstig between Coast, Forests and Cultural Heritage

Nordanstig stretches from a coastline with long sandy beaches to vast inland forests that convey a sense of wilderness. At the same time, the destination combines coastal and upland landscapes with fishing villages, boat tours, summer farmsteads, viewpoints, forests and rural valleys.

Coast and Trails

Kustleden is a 62-kilometre hiking trail that leads to Nordanstig from Kalkungsviken north of Oxsand and extends southwards to Sågtäkten south of Strömsbruk. Along the trail are sandy beaches, cliffs, forests, fishing villages, industrial environments and ancient monuments.

Vallstigen passes eleven summer farmsteads and rises from sea level to 330 metres at Västansjökullen. Along the route there are shelters, basic rest areas, swimming spots and places to pitch a tent. The trail runs for approximately 63 kilometres, from the outdoor swimming pool in Hassela to the harbour at Norrfjärden.

In Nordanstig, sailing, hiking, climbing, cycling, downhill skiing, golf, fishing, horse riding and swimming are listed as recreational activities. The interactive walk in Trolska Skogen is approximately 1.5 kilometres long. In Sörfjärden, the approximately three-kilometre-long Kulturstigen trail, with 21 information stations, traces the area's industrial, fishing, agricultural and settlement history.

Culture and History

Trolska Skogen is a theatrical experience for the whole family. Visitors walk through the forest at their own pace and encounter various forest creatures along the way.

The Gränsfors Axe Museum displays more than 2,000 axes. The exhibits include a stone axe approximately 3,500 years old, as well as models made in Gränsfors before and after the founding of the forge.

Ersk-Matsgården is a living farm in a 19th-century setting, with livestock, guided tours and themed days. The farm consists of 15 buildings, each with its own function, including a water-powered facility with a saw and shingle planer, as well as a mill with a flax-processing workshop powered by a large waterwheel. During the summer season, visitors can visit the farm in Hassela and sample traditional, old-fashioned dishes, including an oat porridge dish, pancakes with pork, blood bread with white sauce and fried bread.

Nordanstig has several art halls and galleries, including venues in historically interesting buildings and premises. At Sindra, a nature trail follows the power station canal and includes remnants of the former log driving operations. There is also a power station dam and a bridge to a natural area on the eastern shore of Lake Storsjön, offering views across the entire lake.

Getting There and Locality Pages

Nordanstig can be reached by car, boat, train or bus. Gnarp has a railway station where regional trains from Gävle/Hudiksvall and Sundsvall stop; there are also numerous local bus connections. For arriving boats, Nordanstig has two guest harbours, one in Stocka and one in Mellanfjärden.

Other places at this destination level are Gnarp, Bergsjö, Strömsbruk, Hassela, Jättendal, Harmånger and Ilsbo.

Nature

Vattingsmalarna Nature Reserve is characterised by coastal shingle fields, beach terraces, storm beach ridges and pine heathland. The coast provides habitats for seabirds and wading birds.

Vitörarna Nature Reserve consists of two larger islands and several smaller skerries, with forests, shingle fields, beach meadows, rocky shores and sea.

Dry forest, swamp forest, wooded and open wetlands, forest streams and pools come together in Dammtjärn Nature Reserve. It includes a spruce swamp forest approximately 150 years old, with hanging lichens.

Gnarpskaten Nature Reserve is a coastal landscape with extensive shingle fields, pronounced storm beach ridges, a sandy beach and wind-blown sand dunes. There are burial mounds and grave fields from the Stone Age and Iron Age. A larger Stone Age burial mound lies in the central part; on Tosskär there are several Iron Age grave fields, including a larger field with around 30 graves.

To the overarching travel overview: Gävleborg.

More Destinations

Other places within the same destination:

Gävle.