Stenungsund: Coast, Nature and Culture by the Water

In the Södra Stenungsön Nature Reserve, a nature trail leads through a coniferous mixed forest; alongside Hawaii Beach, there are other swimming coves. In places, a species-rich flora grows, particularly along shallow shores and on nutrient-rich rocks influenced by seepage water. Parts of the nature reserve belong to the Natura 2000 area.

Nature

The nature trails on Stenungsön connect deep forests with views of the coast. The longer nature trail is 3.3 kilometres long and passes the Stora Huvudet viewpoint above the road tunnel leading to the Tjörn Bridge. Hawaii havsbad offers sandy beaches, rocks and a jetty with a diving tower. There is also a large lawn for sunbathing and picnicking, barbecue areas and a playground.

Trails

Gårdsjön is a clear-water lake covering approximately 32 hectares. A circular trail around the lake is about 6 kilometres long. Unusual species can be found in the area around Gårdsjön, including osprey and capercaillie. Svartedalen is one of the largest contiguous coniferous forest areas in western Sweden. Several owl species have territories there; hazel grouse can also be observed.

Bottenstugan is a starting point for several hiking trails and offers parking spaces, an information board, a toilet and three wind shelters with barbecue areas. Bohusleden stages 8 and 9 begin or end at Bottenstugan; parts of stages 9 and 10 run through Stenungsund Municipality.

Landscape

Börs Flåg includes a 150-metre-high mountain with steep slopes, coniferous forest and farmland. Ramsön has a unique, old cultural landscape maintained through grazing by sheep and cattle. Ramsön with Keholmen is home to breeding forest and coastal birds, including a colony of up to 500 pairs of herring gulls. There are no regular boat connections to the Ramsön with Keholmen Nature Reserve.

Culture

Stenunge by comprises the remains of a medieval village with two half-timbered houses from the 18th century: Mariagården and Västergården. Mariagården was built towards the end of the 18th century, is designated as a listed building and has been restored using traditional craft techniques. Mariagården is about a 12-minute walk from Stenungsund railway station and has parking spaces next to the building.

Stenungsund guest harbour allows for short or longer stays close to shops, services and entertainment. Stenungsunds konststråk is a 1.5-kilometre art walk along the water.

On Stenungsön, a cultural walk follows in the footsteps of the artists’ group Göteborgskoloristerna. A brochure is available for self-guided walks; information signs are located at the Stenungsöns parkering car park and at Stenungsögård.

A legal wall for free street art and graffiti is located in a pedestrian tunnel in central Stenungsund. At the graffiti wall, anyone can express themselves artistically regardless of age or experience. It is a ten-minute walk from the Stenungsund vårdcentral bus stop and a 15-minute walk from Stenungsund railway station.

The different route lengths and thematic formats can be considered separately: nature trails, the circular lake trail, the art walk and the cultural walk each have their own focus.

For regional orientation, you will find the places Stenungsund, Stora Höga, Svenshögen, Ucklum, Ödsmål, Spekeröd and Jörlanda.

For the broader travel overview: Västra Götaland.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Mariestad.