Signature trail southern Bohuslän
The Kuststigen is a coastal and varied hiking trail through Bohuslän. Our Signature Trail Bohuskusten takes you through charming fishing villages, across vast granite cliffs, magnificent beech forests, and high vantage points. It’s a sometimes challenging coastal hike where you can enjoy good food, comfortable accommodations, and perhaps take a few refreshing dips in the salty sea along the way.
Signature Trail Bohuskusten is one of STF’s signature trails.
Signature Trail Bohuskusten in short
Map of Signature Trail Bohuskusten
This map is a planning tool and should not replace a physical map and compass. The service “Naturkartan” is operated by a company called “Outdoor map”. Please note that trail information is owned and updated by the respective trail administrator (e.g. municipality or county administrative board).
Discover Signature trail Bohuskusten
The Kuststigen is a trail of contrasts. Rugged cliffs and magnificent archipelago landscapes alternate with picturesque villages and historical remnants. Stretching from Tjörn in the south, along the West Coast, all the way up to Oslo, Kuststigen offers a diverse hiking experience.
Kuststigen is somewhat like Sweden’s answer to the classic “Cinque Terre” trail in Italy. The contrasts along the hike are striking, with everything from quaint boathouses to deciduous forests to high vantage points. But the trail is also a journey through time. For those who look closely, traces of ancient culture and natural phenomena can be found throughout the various stages. In the municipality of Sotenäs, Kuststigen largely coincides with the Soteleden trail.
Learn more about Kuststigen and all its stages at Kuststigen.se.
See and do along the trail
The opportunities to enjoy a shrimp sandwich or take a refreshing dip in the sea are plentiful along the hike. Be sure to also visit Nordens Ark, a wildlife park dedicated to preserving endangered species—it’s well worth a visit.
Transport to the trail
Take a bus with Västtrafik to Brodalen, and on the last day, return from the bus stop Västra Rörvik at the end of the stage. Several stages have bus stops near the start and end points.
Trail markers
The trail is marked with blue markers on signs and posts.
Sections of the trail
Below, the different stages of the Signature Trail Bohuskusten are described with distances, accommodations, and other relevant hiking information. We recommend booking accommodations in advance.
Of course, it is also possible to hike in the opposite direction from how the stages are presented.
Section 1: Brodalen–Nordens ark
16 kilometers, 4–6 hours of hiking.
Accomodation: STF Nordens Ark. Tip! Spend a night before your hike at STF Villa Bro.
The start of the stage is on the north-east side of lake Stensjön. When you have crossed national road 40, you enter Delsjön Nature Reserve. The trail follows the shore of the lake Stora Delsjön for a couple of kilometres before it heads north towards the end of the stage in Skatås. There are several places to swim during the hike. There is no water or food available along this section. The accommodation Torpet Mon is a few hundred metres west of the trail when you get close to Skatås. There are restaurants within 1.5 kilometres of the accommodation.
Day 2: Nordens Ark-Anneröd
Approximately 10 kilometers, 3–5 hours of hiking.
Accomodation: Bottna Inn (Not STF accommodation, which means your membership discount does not apply and you cannot book via STF).
The hike takes you through an old agricultural landscape, and at times, you are surrounded by mountainous terrain. You will also pass through Anneröds bokskog, one of Sweden’s northernmost spontaneously occurring beech forests. When you reach the end of the stage at Anneröd, follow the gravel road to your accommodation. The last part of the route to the accommodation is not marked, but the road is easy to follow.
Section 3: Anneröd-Hunnebostrand
20 kilometers, 5–7 hours of hiking.
Accomodation: Hunnebo Hostel or Hotel Kaprifolen (Not STF accommodation, which means your membership discount does not apply and you cannot book via STF)
Reconnect with the trail at Anneröd via the gravel road from your accommodation. You will hike through Anneröd’s forests along paths and pass beautiful viewpoints on your way to Bovallstrand, a picturesque coastal village known for its popular bathing islets. This is a great spot for a coffee break or lunch before continuing the hike to the stage destination, Hunnebostrand, another 14 km. The hike takes you through agricultural landscapes, forested areas, and past farm shops. You will walk through the village of Ulebergshamn along the coast and continue along the shipping lane to Hästedalen, then through Udden’s sculpture park, and on to Hunnebostrand. The stage destination, Hunnebostrand, is one of Bohuslän’s oldest coastal communities, with roots dating back to the 13th century and is considered the main center of the stonemasonry industry. Here, you can enjoy good food and comfortable accommodations.
Section 4: Hunnebostrand-Ramsvik Övergård
6 kilometers, 2–3 hours of hiking
Accomodation: Ramsviks Övergård or Ramsvik Stugby & Camping (Not STF accommodation, which means your membership discount does not apply and you cannot book via STF)
From the southern part of Hunnebostrand, you’ll hike via a pontoon bridge at Hunnebo Lera, continuing through the farms at Ödby Ö, and finally reach the Sotekanalen and the bridge at Ramsvik. Sotekanalen is almost 5 km long and was built in the early 1900s to protect sailors. It stretches from Kungshamn to Hunnebostrand. Just north of the bridge on the mainland side is “Mor Lenas stuga,” a small stone cottage that’s hard to miss—be sure to take a look inside. After crossing the bridge, keep right and follow the trail for another 2 km along easy paths to the stage destination, Ramsviks Övergård, a small-scale farm that offers self-catering accommodations.
Section 5: Ramsvik Loop
14 kilometers, 4–6 hours of hiking
This day, you’ll hike around Ramsvik, also known as the Kingdom of Cliffs. The day begins by crossing pastures and forests along easy trails. After a couple of kilometers, you’ll pass Ramsvik Camping, where a kiosk and restaurant are available during the season. Beyond the camping area, you’ll encounter a magnificent landscape where the red-tinged Bohus granite stretches out right next to the sea. This part of the hike is challenging in places as you navigate the cliffs. The best swimming spots are around Haby Bay. Nearby, you can also visit King Tryggve’s grave, a large cairn believed to date back to the early Bronze Age. After circling Ramsvik, you’ll return to Sotekanalen. Follow the gravel road to the right along the canal to the bus stop Västra Rörvik, which marks the end of this stage.
Learn more about all the stages of the Kuststigen at Kuststigen.
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Mountain safety
Learn about avalanches, find out how to best prevent injuries, or read about how to safely ford rivers during your hike.
Mountain hiking
The Swedish mountain range stretches from Treriksröset in the north to Dalarna in the south. Here, breathtaking landscapes and hundreds of miles of marked hiking trails await.