Welcome to the East Coast Lowland Trail
The trail is about 160 km long and is divided into 8 sections. It goes in a wide circle within Oskarshamn’s municipality, and it is possible to start and stop at any point.
Map with the route can be found here: Map Select Kultut och fritid, Vandringsleder. Naturkartan
Overnighting
At the end of every section there is a cabin where you can spend the night. These are not owned by Döderhult’s Nature Conservancy Association, but are rented from each respective owner. The cabins may only be used by hikers and a small fee is asked for spending each night. Groups of more than 10 persons should give advance notice to avoid overcrowding. Call 0491-18075 or e-mail, see bottom of page.
Trailmarking
The trail is marked with yellow-orange paint. Bridges and stiles are in place to help you over natural barriers and barbed wire fences.
Food provisioning
Unfortunately, the opportunities for buying food near the trail are limited. There is, however, a store in Figeholm (middle of section 7). In Mörtfors (end of section 4), there is Mörtfors boarding-house, with telephone, summer coffee service 9am-20pm, and dinners upon reservation (0490-71000). The boarding-house can even help with provisioning.
Places to swim
There are fine places to swim on every section of the trail.
#1 Lake Hummeln
#2 Half way to Saxtorp and right before Lönhult Mill.
#3 Lake at Krokstorp cabin
#4 The rapids at Mörtfors
#5 At Hålvik, or walk 1 more km to Tjustgölen on section 6
#6 At Kärrsvik or Ekerum (near the end of the section 6)
#7 At Fårbo Lake (1.5 km before end of section 7)
#8 Nybo göl (a small forest pool, a few kilometres before coming to the end at Lilla Hycklinge)
GOOD TO KNOW ABOUT EACH SECTION
Section 1, about 17 km
Starting at Lilla Hycklinge, the trail follows Lake Eckern. 5 km to the village Högatorp, then 12 km to the village Lämmedal. The cabin for overnighting is at Nynäs, near the lake Hummeln, in a nature reserve. There are 15 beds. There is a wood stove but no electricity, so take a flashlight. There is water in a well that can dry up in late summer. In that case, lake water can be used, but it should be boiled first.
Section 2, about 22 km
The trail goes past Hummeln (60 meters deep), on old roads to Smisserum, with its very wide and long stonewall, sometimes called Småland’s “Chinese Wall.” After 19 km, Lönhult Mill (good for a swim below the falls if weather allows). The cabin at Lönhult has electricity, summer water (at the corner of the house), and outhouse (dry toilet) behind the barn.
Section 3, about 21 km
The trail follows part of the old road between Kristdala and Hultsfred. After 7 km a beautiful farming landscape at Sjöändemåla. At 11 km a chance to swim in the lake Tvingen. Then pass the old mill at Karlsfors, before arriving at the cabin at Krokstorp. Here there are two electric cooking plates and basic kitchen utensils, 4 bunks, and at least 10 mattresses. There is brownish colored water– usable but not appetizing– in the outside well. Lake water must be boiled. The cabin is locked, but the key is in a box by the entrance to the big white house, just up the hill.
Section 4, about 18 km
After 3 km, Skälshult’s old mill. After 7 km, village of Ölvedal. Thereafter come stretches of great natural beauty along Marströmmen. After 16 km, the trail goes along a high ridge with lovely views over the lake Lilla Ram and the village Ramnebo. The day’s goal is Mörtfors. In the summertime, Mörtfors boarding-house is open. The cabin for overnighting is in the old bathhouse. There are 5 upstairs bedrooms, electricity and toilet. From Mörtfors, it is 1 km to the highway, E22, with bus connections to Norrköping and Oskarshamn-Kalmar.
Section 5, about 19 km
The trail follows Marströmmen to E22, from where it is about 10 km to the Baltic Sea. Here there are many traces from bygone rock-quarrying days, both the harbor where stone was shipped out (Hålviken, also a good swimming place) and the quarry itself, Kallsebo. Stones arranged as ships, and ancient piles of stones marking graves, are among 37 ancient monuments at Snäckedal. The day’s hike ends at the cabin, Stjärneberg, which has electricity, cooking plates, and beds in one room and an outlying cabin. Water in a well, which even here can go dry in the summer. Toilet and woodpile outside.
Section 6, about 19 km
The trail comes quickly to Tjustgölen, a fine swimming lake, but if you prefer the Baltic Sea, you will have to wait until Bussvik, still 5 km. From there, the trail follows the sea and provides fine opportunities to enjoy and ponder over this landscape, formed by sea and mankind working together. The cabin at Lilla Laxemar has 10 beds, also electricity, cooking plate, and kitchen utensils. Water in the summer water pipe outside, as well as wood and outhouse toilet.
Section 7, about 20 km
The first part of the trail goes through old meadows and soon passes one of many power-line corridors emanating from the nuclear power plant at Simpevarp. The trail veers off towards Uthammar, right before the farming village of Uthammar, and heads towards the rock quarry and harbor in Uthammar. From there, the trail follows the road out of the village, past Uthammar’s swimming place, and goes rather near the sea up to Fornborgen, just east of Figeholm’s Camping Village (with adjoining golf course). After passing the coastal road for a second time, the trail comes to a steep incline at Bredviken, with an outstanding view over the Baltic Sea to Blå Jungfrun and Öland. From here, you may either follow the trail, or veer off to the grocery store in Figeholm. After visiting Figeholm and its shops, continue 1 km on the road towards Oskarshamn to where the trail crosses the road. From there, you can again follow the trail markings. The trail crosses E22 and after a while comes to Fårbo Lake with fine swimming beaches. Then you are almost at the final stop, Hälveberg, with its wood stove, simple kitchen equipment, water, and about 10 sleeping places. There is no electricity, so a flashlight is recommended.
Section 8, about 18 km
From Hälveberg, the trail follows a pretty stretch around Virån up to Stensjöby. This village has been owned since 1960 by the Royal Swedish Academy of Letters and is an unusually lovely village, with many kilometers of stake-fencing, old-fashioned but well-kept buildings, and a means of cultivation that is meant to preserve the old landscape. Stensjöby preserves the picture of Sweden that we have in our hearts, the way it looked at the beginning of last century. (It is also possible to reach Stensjöby via E22, going north from Oskarshamn, if you would like to visit without hiking the trail.) From Stensjöby, the trail follows the road towards Skrikebo for 2 km. From there, pass through a lovely meadow area, Björkelund, and then to the fields around Hycklinge village. After Nybo göl, go through the pine forest to Lilla Hycklinge and the trail comes to its end. Here also there is a cabin for overnighting.
Welcome to hike our trail, but please think of the following:
Right of Common Access
Sweden’s ancient right of common access allows us all to move freely through forest and countryside, and to pick berries and mushrooms without asking permission. But there are also important unwritten responsibilities. One may not break off branches, remove rocks, nor collect nuts. Also the following points must be observed:
Private property
Private property is that area nearest a house and does not need to be fenced in. One may not be on someone’s private property without their permission.
Cultivated fields
Do not walk on ground that can be damaged, nor take shortcuts over fields of growing crops.
Gates
Close all gates after opening them to pass through.
Tenting
It is allowed to tent for 24 hours on another’s land without asking permission (though it does not hurt to ask anyway). It is self-evident that one must clean up afterwards. Dig a latrine for toilet needs, and close it well after final use. Strive to leave no trace.
The trail is made for you
The East Coast Lowland Trail and all its cabins are open year round. The trail is maintained on a non-profit basis by Döderhult’s Nature Conservancy with financial support from Oskarshamn’s municipality. When you pay for the nights you spend, or if you would simply like to contribute to the trail’s care and maintenance, just deposit money into our postal checking account:
Bg 5111-7471. IBAN SE64 8000 0816 9597 3844 9223, BIC SWEDSESS Be sure to note what your deposit is for. Each overnight in a cabin is 70 kronor per person. Deposit forms are available in each cabin, but it is best to compile the sum of all your nights onto one form. Please use the available cleaning things in each cabin to tidy up after yourself. See that there is chopped wood in the cabin for the next visitor. Show consideration to Nature, whose guest you are.
Welcome into the woodlands of Småland.
Döderhult’s Nature Conservancy Association (Döderhults Naturskyddsförening)