Västerlanda between pilgrimage trails, parish and Svartedalen

Västerlanda combines pilgrimage history, an unusually well-preserved and distinctive parish centre, and the forest landscape of Svartedalen. The 11-kilometre-long Pilgrim Västerlanda runs between Sankt Olofs källa in Källseröd near Torskogs slott and Västerlanda kyrka. Two of the 27 stages of the Bohusleden run from Hjärtum in the north through Västerlanda to Svartedalen in the south.

Culture

Västerlanda has an unusually well-preserved and distinctive parish centre. Västerlanda kyrka and its baptismal font date from the 13th century; at the same time, the church is considered to have a 1,000-year history. Visible medieval longitudinal walls extend from the chancel to the gallery. The church is located on County Road 625. Next to it stands the Sockenmagasinet, which was used to store grain until 1914.

Bohusstugan is considered one of the first local heritage museums in the Göta Älvdalen. Since it was established, its collection has been expanded with donated items from the surrounding area. The patron Eskil Larsson from Thorskog donated Bohusstugan to the municipality of Västerlanda in 1926. The cottage was moved from Thorskog Park to its present location on the Kyrkeby property.

Since 1988, Västerlanda has held a summer church every year. The summer church includes guided tours of the church, refreshments and the sale of handicrafts in the parish hall. Most of the Bronze Age and Iron Age ancient monuments in Lilla Edet municipality are concentrated on the western mountain plateaus of the river valley in Hjärtum and Västerlanda.

Trails

Pilgrim Västerlanda was completed in 2008. After 3.5 kilometres, it offers an optional 5-kilometre extension. The total length is then 16 kilometres. Bohusleden is a wilderness trail through a beautiful forest landscape rich in lakes; along the trail there are equipped shelters and barbecue areas.

For your own planning, the two types of trail and their different lengths can be considered separately. A letter from 1987 reported a medieval baptismal spring in Torskog.

Nature

The purpose of managing and administering the Svartedalen nature reserve is to preserve an area that is largely untouched and representative of western Swedish woodland nature. The Svartedalen area has viewpoints, bathing areas, canoe waters and good opportunities for catching game fish. Svartedalen has a rich variety of bird and animal life, including several species of owl, wolves, hazel dormice and smooth snakes. Sport fishing is possible in the Svartedalen area.

Surroundings

When approaching from Ström or Lilla Edet via Västergård, the Svartedalen nature reserve has a car park and an information board. Nearby is Bottenstugan on Ålevatten in Svartedalen; it is the starting point for several hiking trails and has a car park, an information board, a toilet and three shelters with barbecue areas.

There are two shelters for overnight stays along the route through Svartedalen. At Bottenstugan, two additional shelters, a barbecue area with firewood and a dry toilet are available.

For the overarching travel overview: Västra Götaland.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Mellerud, Tidaholm, Mariestad, Gråbo, Uddevalla, Karlsborg, Ulricehamn.