Flötenmarksen

Between Cultural Landscape, Forest, and Water

Flötemarksön and the surrounding cultural landscape are of national interest for cultural heritage conservation under Chapter 3, Section 6 of the Swedish Environmental Code. Anyone who wants to consider not only a hiking trail but also historical traces and a distinctive water landscape when planning their trip will find several different perspectives on the same surroundings here.

Hällekasleden through Forests and Marshes

Hällekasleden runs through deep spruce forests and across remote marshes. Some sections follow the Kynne älv, allowing the character of the trail to shift between dense forest, open marshland, and river landscape. A hiking trail connects to the Bohusleden in the north at Flötemarken. In addition, a section of the Bohusleden begins in the heart of Kynnefjäll and is considered a wilderness hike.

The water system also shapes orientation in the landscape. Flötemarksön belongs to Flötemarken and is surrounded by Kornsjön as well as several rivers and waterways, including Kynne älv. South of Flötemarksön, the outflow from the Kornsjöarna lake system runs partly through the Kynne älv, while north of Flötemarksön it also runs through a smaller watercourse. The southern and northern drainage routes form two distinct directions within the system. The outflow from the large Kornsjöarna lake system creates beautiful rapids.

Historical Traces in the Cultural Landscape

The history of the area goes back a long way. Flötemarken was already an established farm in the 16th century. As early as 1658, there were two sawmills and a mill in the waterways around Flötemarksön. The present-day landscape is therefore associated not only with forest and water, but also with earlier agricultural and craft activities. The expansion of torp settlements in the 19th century thus belongs to a later phase of development than the farm, which was already established in the 16th century.

The small-scale cultural landscape around the torp sites is kept open through mowing and grazing. The torp sites near Flötemarksön are an example of the expansion of torp settlements in forest and mountain areas during the 19th century. The preserved buildings include an older barn on Gräsön as well as an older dwelling house and outbuildings near Holmen.

Hiking Sections with Different Navigation Requirements

The level of trail marking is important when choosing a suitable hike. The section between Flötemarksön and Porsås is not marked throughout. On the section between Holmen Bridge and National Road 164, hikers must navigate with the help of a map and compass. The stage endpoint borders a public road; there are a few parking spaces at the bridge about 300 metres to the east. These details clearly distinguish the individual trail sections and are part of the specific description of the landscape.

For further location options at the same level, you can also consider Rabbalshede, Resö, Hamburgsund, Tänum, Grebbestad, Kleva Västra, Tanumshede and Havstenssund respectively.

For the higher-level travel overview: Tanum.