Happy couple on Österlen Signature Trail

Start Trails Signature trail Österlen

Signature trail Österlen

Skåneleden has six sub-trails and more than 1,300 kilometers of hiking paths. The trails pass through diverse landscapes with a rich cultural offering nearby. One sub-trail is Skåneleden Österlen. Here, we describe the section that mostly follows the coast, from Nybrostrand to Andrarum, which we refer to as Signature Trail Österlen.

Signature Trail Österlen is one of STF’s signature trails.

Signature Trail Österlen in short

Length: 93 kilometres
Number of stages/hiking days: 5-7
Length of stages: 5-19 km (1-8 hours of hiking per day)
Water/food along the trail: During the high season, there are plenty of grocery stores, cafés, and restaurants. Reliable spots for food are Simrishamn, Ystad, Skillinge (closed on Sundays), and Kivik. Be sure to bring your own lunch and drinks.
Accommodation during the hike: Hostels, hotels, and campsites.
Suitable season: Parts of the trail are heavily visited during the holiday weeks. The trail is also beautiful to hike in the spring or early autumn.
Dogs: The trail passes through many pastures with grazing animals, where it is not suitable to bring a dog along on the hike.

Map of Signature trail Österlen

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 the Skåneleden trail and Österlen

During a hike between Nybrostrand and Andrarum, you will experience both fascinating cultural history and breathtaking nature at the same time. The trail passes over Kåseberga Ridge, which was created by the ice sheet 15,000 years ago. On the ridge, you’ll find Sweden’s largest stone ship setting, Ale’s Stones—a beautiful, mythical, and exciting place. The hike alternates between open landscapes and dense broadleaf forests. The terrain ranges from flat to rolling, and sometimes steep. You’ll walk across pink-tinged heather moors, white beaches, and sloping rocky outcrops. Almost every step of the hike is accompanied by a refreshing sea breeze.

See and do along the trail

The range of galleries is extensive as Österlen has long attracted artists of all kinds. There are also many apple orchards offering sales of both apples and apple products.

Don’t miss

Bring swimwear! The hiking trail passes by and through several beautiful beaches.

Transport to the trail

The start is in Nybrostrand, 10 kilometers east of Ystad. Both trains and buses go to Ystad. From Ystad, take a bus with Skånetrafiken to Nybrostrand. If you are driving, there are parking garages and long-term parking available in Ystad. For transport back to Ystad after completing the hike, it is recommended to take a bus, which takes about one to two hours depending on the time of day. The trail ends in Andrarum, but bus connections there are limited. For easier transport back, the hike can be finished in Brösarp, which has good bus connections.

Trail Markers

The trail is marked with orange paint. Markings are usually painted on trees or posts. Sometimes, there is an orange ribbon.

Sections the Signature trail Österlen

Below are descriptions of the different sections of the Signature trail Österlen, including distances, nearby accommodation tips, and other relevant hiking information. More information about each section can be found on Skåneleden.se.

Of course, you can hike in the opposite direction from how the sections are presented.

Tip! Spend the first or last night at Andrarum/Kuskahusen hostel (Not STF accommodation).

Section 1: Nybrostrand–Backåkra

19 km, 6-8 hours of hiking
Accommodation: STF Backåkra Hostel

The route begins in the town of Nybrostrand, just outside Ystad, and initially follows a sandy promenade along the beach. You then turn north and walk along the road Östra Kustvägen on asphalt to Hammar. From here, the trail continues along the coastline. After ten kilometers, you pass Sweden’s largest stone ship setting, Ale’s Stones. In charming Kåseberga, you can refill water and food, and there are cafés and restaurants. Continue past Löderups beach on Skåneleden and head up at the signs to Dag Hammarskjöld’s Backåkra. Proceed straight north past the museum and across the moorlands to STF Backåkra Hostel, which offers a self-catering kitchen and serves breakfast during peak season.

Section 2: Backåkra–Borrby Beach

11.2 km, 3-4 hours of hiking
Accommodation: Borrbystrand Camping (Not STF accommodation)

From the hostel, take Bjeringsborgsvägen south and rejoin Skåneleden. From here, the trail first crosses heathland and oak forests. You then pass the sand dunes of Sandhammaren, which can be a bit tricky to hike. Food and water are available at Sandhammaren. The rest of the stretch continues along sand dunes right by the sea. No food or water is available along the way. At the end of the section at Borrbystrand Camping, there is a small grocery store.

Section 3: Borrby Beach–Brantevik

13 km, 4-5 hours of hiking
Accommodation: STF Brantevik Hostel or STF Sköllengården B&B

This section follows coastal and cycling paths past the towns of Örnahusen, Norrekås, and Skillinge. A detour to the picturesque fishing village of Gislövshammar is recommended. This limestone headland is one of Österlen’s hidden gems, where you can see remnants of millstones that were once quarried. You’ll pass grazed beach meadows and open grasslands. Brantevik, the endpoint of the section, is a charming fishing village. The hostel is located in the center of the village. Food stores and cafés can be found along the way, including in Skillinge, about halfway along the route.

Section 4: Brantevik–Baskemölla

13 km, 4-5 hours of hiking
Accommodation: STF Baskemölla Hostel

The section between Brantevik and Simrishamn runs right along the coast, through sandy beaches and boulder-rich meadows. Once you reach the village of Baskemölla, take Tjörnedalavägen north for just under a kilometer to reach the hostel. When passing through Simrishamn, it may be a good opportunity to eat and refill water.

Section 5: Baskemölla–Kivik

15 km, 5-6 hours of hiking
Accommodation: STF Kivikstrand Hotel

Retrace your steps from the previous day to reconnect with the Österlen Trail. From here, the trail follows the coast to the old fishing village of Vik. North of Vik, you’ll enter the highlight of the section, Stenshuvud National Park, where a climb to the mountain with the same name awaits. The final stretch to Kivik follows a road. STF Kivikstrand Hotel is located in the center of the town. Cafés, summer restaurants, and Kivik’s musteri are along the way.

Section 6: Kivik–Haväng

5 km, 1-2 hours of hiking
Accommodation: STF Haväng Hostel

Continue your hike northward, with the trail closely following Hanö Bay for the entire section. Since it is a short day, there’s time for sun and swimming if the weather allows. After leaving STF Kivikstrand Hotel, follow the beach and walk through the Vitemölla nature area. Here you hike on sand steppe, a rare natural habitat. Toward the end of the section, the trail veers inland. After 300 meters, you reach STF Haväng Hostel, a genuine half-timbered farmstead dating back to the 1800s. Before reaching Haväng, you’ll pass a Neolithic burial site, Havängsdösen. No food or water is available after leaving Kivik. The section is easy.

Section 7: STF Haväng–Kuskahusen

18 km, 5-6 hours of hiking
Accommodation: Andrarum Kuskahusen (Not STF accommodation)

On the last day, the trail leaves the coast and heads inland to the west. You first hike among grazing animals over Ravlunda’s beautiful moors. After crossing Route 19, the trail meanders up and down the famous rolling hills of Österlen, Brösarp’s Hills, in the Verkeån Nature Reserve. This magical and beautiful landscape, shaped by the Ice Age, has served as a backdrop for both the film “The Brothers Lionheart” and Arla’s “Bregottfabriken” advertising campaign. The day ends in a broadleaf forest along Verkeån River. You’ll pass Hallamölla, Skåne’s highest waterfall. To reach the endpoint at STF Kuskahusen, continue northward on Skåneleden for just under a kilometer after passing Alunbruket. Then leave Skåneleden and walk the last 600 meters to Kuskahusen. Toilets are available at Vantalängan (during the second half of the section). Cafés, restaurants, and grocery stores are found in Brösarp. The section is of moderate difficulty.