Hiking in the Austrian Alps

This was the reason given by the Swedish Tourist Association when the Österlen Trail was recently named one of Sweden's twelve signature hiking trails, which, in addition to being beautiful and typical of the landscape, must include spectacular nature experiences.

Not surprising for us Österlen residents and probably something that everyone who has ever walked along this trail can sign. Regardless of weather and season, a hike along the Österlen Trail is something very special.

The Österlen Trail is actually part of the Skåne Trail, and stretches from Ystad to Andrarum via Haväng and Andrarum further south down to Ystad again. The trail is just over 19 miles long, consists of 14 stages and also includes the smaller round trail Österlencirkeln, which starts and ends at Torparebron outside Brösarp.

The Österlen Trail is not the only Österlen trail, however. Around Brösarp there are several other trails, such as Gula leden, and the newly opened Blåvingeleden up by Drakamöllan. At Smedstorp you have the local Gårdlösaleden trail that goes past several exciting places and stretches through Listarum nature reserve.

For those who want to walk on empty paths, through deep forests and past isolated villages. You start north of Brösarp, walk over purple heaths past Drakamöllan and Äskebjär before continuing into the forest through Hörröd, Rebbetuaröd and Agusa. At Andrarum you follow Verkeån back.

If you want to take a beach tour along chalk-white sandy beaches, for example, you start at Kåseberga and walk north past Löderup's lido, Hagestad and Sandhammar nature reserves, Mälarhusen and Borrby lido. There are many opportunities for swimming, while many ships have been wrecked among the moving sandbanks.

If you feel like a more cultural-historical tour, start at Stenshuvud and walk north towards Haväng. Here you pass the ancient castle up on the mountain, Kiviksgraven and Ängakåsen, the Pirate Statue and the market field, the site of the mythical Iron Age village of Maletofta, and finish at Havängsdösen at the mouth of the Verkeån river.