Hässleholm: Hovdala, Nature and Trails

Hovdala on Lake Finjasjön is one of the natural sites in Hässleholm. The area is protected both as a nature reserve and as a Natura 2000 site; it is also home to 18 of Sweden’s 19 bat species. Hovdala Castle adds historic grounds to this landscape: the outdoor area with its park and garden is open and accessible around the clock, and admission is free. Visitors enter the main floor as part of a guided tour, while the castle gatehouse was built in 1600.

Nature

Deciduous woodland dominates the Göingeåsen nature reserve. From the Spraglerödshall viewpoint in the Göingeåsen area, there are views of Lake Finjasjön and the fields of Hovdala. Tykarpsgrottan is also located nearby. Its mine is open to visitors only as part of guided tours; at the same time, Tykarpsgrottan is of great geological interest because stalactites and stalagmites are slowly forming there.

Hiking

The Vieåleden circular hiking trail is 11 kilometres long and runs through the northern part of Hässleholm Municipality. In the south, it connects the unique Skeingeborg castle ruins with the Hörlinge ängar open-air museum and the Skåneleden in the north. On the Vieåleden, hikers cross the Helge å during the summer season, depending on weather conditions, from May to October, using a hand-operated cable ferry.

The Hovdala Hiking Centre offers suggestions for hiking tours lasting from one to four overnight stays. The hike Finjasjön runt starts at the Hässleholm Hassellundsvägen stop and leads into the Hovdala nature area on the lakeshore; Dallerödskogen lies ahead of the route. Another hiking stage from Hässleholm C station to the Göingeåsen campsite is 12 kilometres long.

Hässleholmsgården has several training routes with lengths of 2.5, 5.5 and 10 kilometres. This provides routes of different lengths side by side, while the multi-day suggestions from the Hovdala Hiking Centre have a different time frame.

Cycling

The Göingerundan cycle route starts in the centre of Hässleholm and is 25 kilometres long. The Norra Skogsrundan cycle route is 45 kilometres long, runs through flat terrain and leads north from Hässleholm into the area around Hästveda.

Culture

The Hässleholms Museum houses Sweden’s largest exhibition of Swedish tracked and wheeled vehicles. The museum also includes a fire museum with fire engines and equipment, as well as a carriage museum with horse-drawn vehicles, including some from Hovdala Castle. The museum also contains a large wallpaper painted by the local artist Olof Nilsson in the mid-19th century.

The historic buildings of Hässleholmsgården date from the late 18th to the mid-19th century. Nearby, a winery offers picnics featuring local flavours; guided tours of a winery are available there for groups.

Places in the local association

The local association of Hässleholm includes Västra Torup, Bjärnum, Hässleholm, Hästveda, Sösdala, Tyringe, Vittsjö, Emmaljunga, Finja, Häglinge, Röke, Ballingslöv, Vinslöv, Visseltofta, Horröd and Tullstorp.

To the higher-level travel overview: Skåne.