National Geographic Traveller - UK (2019-09)

BEST OF THE WEST

West Sweden has a wealth of activities for the adventurous, from island cycling to coastal hiking

Hit the slopes

From December through

to late April, West Sweden

transforms into a winter

wonderland for skiers.

The town of Ulricehamn

is particularly popular for

cross-country skiing, and

has hosted the FIS Cross-

Country World Cup twice.

Mösseberg mountain’s ski

centre, Falköping Alpin,

is located just 90 minutes

from Gothenburg and is

one of the most snow-

sure spots in Sweden.

Then, Skövde’s Billingen

mountain is a versatile

option for experts and

beginners alike.

Art on the go

Combine outdoor activity

with some culture

on an ‘art adventure’.

Kayak from the Nordic

Watercolour Museum

in Skärhamn, then hike

or cycle to world-class

outdoor park Pilane

and enjoy an art tour

that takes in sculptures

such as a gigantic horn

that can capture sonic

waves from above the

planet. ‘The World’s

Sweatiest Art Trail’ is well

mapped-out and can be

experienced in various

sized segments.

pilane.org/en

Make a run for it

West Sweden’s Meet the

Locals initiative offers

visitors the chance

to explore the region

with the people who

know it best. You can

trail-run through the

Änggårdsbergen nature

reserve with adventurer

Johan, or meet up with

Lars and his dog Fanny

for a ramble through

the countryside around

Alingsås. Many of the

tours are free, and you

can even arrange to stay

at the homes of some of

the locals.

meetthelocals.com

Take action

Running from 3 August-

September, West

Sweden Action Weeks

bring together a series

of running, canoeing,

cycling, swimming and

roller-skiing races across

the region. Highlights

include the Island Race

in Gothenburg’s southern

archipelago — the

world’s biggest swim-run

event. Then there’s the

Icebug Xperience, an

exciting trail-running

race through the

Bohuslän landscape.

westsweden.com/

westswedenactionweeks

Scenic cycling
West Sweden is a cyclist’s
paradise, with deep
forests, open fields,
narrow winding lanes,
and a dramatic coastline
ready to be explored on
two wheels. Mountain
biking in northern
Bohuslän is a highlight,
using Lagunen Camping
& Cabins as a base from
which to explore the
granite rocks of the
Kosterhavet National
Park. Lagunen has also
opened a new bike
park — a playground
for cyclists. lagunen.se
westsweden.com/cycling

WORDS: BABETTE-SCARLETT SCHOSSAU

HIGHLIGHTS

West Sweden 2019 9