Within walking distance in Harge

Really nice experiences await within walking and cycling distance: a beer by the beach, dramatic views of the lake, beautiful summer fields, a cozy swimming bay, lovely trails for hiking or running…

When we were children, the nickname “Närkes Riviera” was used and in the summer, bathers would flock here every sunny day; sometimes there were so many visitors from all over the county that the parking lots overflowed and the road to our cottage was lined with cars. Nowadays, there is a more balanced mix of people and it is quite nice. The restaurant on the beach has new owners and you can go here in fifteen minutes for a day at the beach, a bite to eat or just something nice to drink in the evening sun. Children usually like the sandy beach, the ice cream kiosk and the pool area with the water slide. Here you can also rent a kayak and paddle home…

If you walk or cycle out towards the main road (National Highway 50) and go under the viaduct, you will come to the small community of Sänna, where Hammar’s brewery has factory sales and a coffee shop. Here you can buy their soft drinks and water or have a hot sandwich, an ice cream and a cup of coffee in the garden.

A lovely little swimming bay that you can reach by walking through the meadows south of the cottage. Just walk up Kalvabacken (the one you drove down just before you parked in front of the cottage). After the barn level, turn right and pedal south on the gravel road. Use the map links to find your way along the small roads. On foot it takes 25 minutes, half the time by bike.

Once there, depending on the weather and time of day, you have a bay that shimmers in different shades of green and blue, with a sandy bottom that sometimes offers surprises in the form of a wonderfully smooth, light gray mud. Pick up a lump and make a work of art!

If you have made it to Vänneviken, it can also be the starting point for a slightly longer and more hilly walk. Continue out onto the headland a little further, and you can follow a 2.5 km long hiking trail through a dramatic landscape on the shores of Lake Vättern. Hilly rocky beaches and old pine forests take you towards high cliffs, with fine views of Lake Vättern and Vänneviken. Many small headlands are completely open to the winds and waves of Lake Vättern. The bare cliffs create a feeling of being by the sea. Some passages may be a bit rocky for those with unsteady legs.

At Korpaberget there is a wind shelter built into the mountain. Here you can make a campfire and spend the night with just your sleeping bag (and mosquito repellent…).

You will probably see a lot of seabirds, and you can see even more at Klåvudden on the west side of Vänneviken, where the birdlife can make you think you are on the west or east coast.

Askersund

Askersund is the municipality’s capital and is 14 km away. A charming small town with two ICA stores, a Coop, pharmacy, restaurants, cafes, bakeries, various shops and a library/cultural center. There are also some slightly faster charging points for electric cars here, although they do not reach supercharger status.

In the harbor, near the southern entrance to Askersund, there are ice cream and food stalls on the east side of the Bronaån River. Here you will find, among other things, Ante’s Harbour Stall, which serves salmon pita and other delicious dishes based on herring, or hot and cold smoked fish. We always come here at least once every visit.

During the holidays, a mini train departs from the sheds and takes visitors up to the Town Park, a leafy area with a local history museum (old houses that have been preserved by being moved here), sheep, goats, chickens, ducks and rabbits. Just right for an easy family trip, almost regardless of the weather.

Here, ice cream is made artisanally and with unique flavor combinations. Browned butter and rosemary is a personal favorite. You can find it by walking from the square past ICA down Höökagatan.

Also worth a visit

• The Licorice Shop on Hööksgatan (most likely open Friday – Saturday)
• Johan’s Toy Shop on Hospitalsgatan
• Café Tutingen at the Square

Tiveden

Tiveden is a magnificent natural area, Sweden’s southernmost wilderness. It is not exactly delimited and where it begins and ends depends on who you ask. It is simply so famously beautiful that many want to be part of it. The adventurous like to hike and camp here, and the most adventurous cycle here to do so. But just traveling through Tiveden is an experience. If you take the bus from the train station in Laxå to Askersund, for example, you will get a wonderful dose through the forests, along the shores of Lake Vättern and the ponds along the winding country road.

In Tiveden you will find three of our favorite spots:

It’s actually called Tiveden’s Food, but we’ve never heard anyone say that. In a barn, in the middle of nature, it is located and offers unexpectedly good food in the French-Swedish tradition. It takes 45 minutes to get here by car, but it’s worth it. Here, it will be nice to sit for a longer time in the evening sun.

Hiking in Tiveden is a classic and the beautiful small lakes and ponds are sometimes close together. If you only have mosquito repellent, several of them can be a good place to camp. You can get to perhaps the most famous and well-visited pond by car, and then – if you want – walk the almost 3 kilometers around the water. Of course, you do like everyone else and look out for the area’s famous red water lilies. The odds are good that you will see them, but they often grow quite a distance from the shore, so binoculars are recommended.

Another easily accessible body of water is the beautiful Vitsand swimming area at Lake Stora Trehörningen. Shallow, with a toilet, barbecue area and primeval forest right next door.

If you are also looking for a shorter (but not so child-friendly) hike, you can walk the Tärnekullsrundan trail in about an hour. The longer Trehörningsrundan trail goes around the entire lake in about 10, quite hilly kilometers.

Omberg

This is a slightly longer excursion, about 1 hour by car one way, as you will be going to the eastern side of Lake Vättern, past Motala and Vadstena (which are also worth a visit).

Omberg is a long, narrow mountain that reaches 175 meters above Lake Vättern at its highest. It is 1 mile long and up to 3 km wide. There are plenty of hiking and cycling trails and other outdoor activities here.

The entire Omberg area is full of beautiful nature experiences and we actually recommend that you choose one of the trails and hike or cycle around. But you can also get to the view at the Western Walls in Ekopark Omberg by car. If you choose a car, you can get the southern and northern parts of Omberg for free, since you have to drive the coastal trail clockwise. Then take the opportunity to start from the south, where you can also make a stop at the author Ellen Key’s villa Strand.

In a beautiful beech forest you can climb on high-altitude courses or whizz along on cable cars. You can feel safe with a harness, helmet and safety ropes, but for those afraid of heights it can still be quite scary. For everyone from 7 years old (age determines how high the course you can go).

Also nearby

A 35-minute drive towards Närkesberg, east of Askersund (or a few more minutes if you choose to drive over Zinkgruvan for fun) is another restaurant in an unexpected place and with a strange name. Because it certainly exists, at least sometimes. It serves fine three-course menus with local ingredients and good drinks to go with it.

Links

Visit Askersund

Tiveden

Visit Ödeshög: Upptäck Omberg

Upplev Vadstena: Upplev Omberg

The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency: The right of public access