Holmsveden: Swimming, Trails and Cultural Heritage

Holmsveden brings together swimming spots on Härnebosjön with activities in the Holmsvedenbygden and traces of culture along the Helgonleden pilgrimage route. The different features may help you choose a hotel: decide whether time by the water, outdoor trails, or crafts and cultural heritage should shape your stay.

Swimming at Härnebosjön

Holmsveden is an agricultural area on Härnebosjön, with the lake at the center of the village. There is a boat ramp for easy boat launching and plenty of parking. Holmsvedens badplats has a bathing jetty, a diving tower, a sandy beach, a barbecue area, changing rooms, toilets and picnic tables. The facilities combine swimming amenities with places to take a break by the shore.

For Holmsveden, Härnebobadet, the 2025 water quality classification rated the quality as “excellent” for the 2026 swimming season. Official checks monitor water quality and possible algal blooms. The rating applies to the 2026 swimming season; check the latest official results before swimming, and check the current status for later seasons.

Near Holmsveden is Långbobadet, a swimming spot with a sandy beach. Small children can also wade a long way into the water over the sandy bottom. Water and beach conditions can vary by season; take this into account when planning your visit.

Getting there and finding your way

Holmsveden has a station on the Norra Stambanan, where trains run between Gävle and Ljusdal. Public transport stops 100 meters from the Holmsvedens badplats swimming area; X-trafik train services and bus 64a stop there. As transport services may change, check the current timetables for your specific journey.

Trails, fishing and winter

The Holmsvedenbygden has hiking trails and cycling opportunities; the area also offers good fishing. This gives you a choice of outdoor activities, from spending time by fishing waters to getting active on foot or by bike.

The Tönnånger-Älgnäs fishing area includes Tönnångerssjön as a fishing lake. As regulations may change, check the current rules before fishing. Ice forms early on Tönnångerssjön, drawing visitors for long-distance ice skating.

Art and cultural heritage

Kurbits och hantverksgården in Holmsveden sells hand-painted kurbits art and folk-art-painted furniture. It also hosts rotating guest exhibitions in summer. If you are interested in the exhibitions, summer is the right time to visit, as they are seasonal.

The Helgonleden pilgrimage route runs between Uppsala and Trondheim and passes through the Holmsvedenbygden. Near Holmsveden, it passes the church ruin on Kyrkudden in Lake Bergviken. This connects a regional pilgrimage route with a specific historic site in the area.

Landscape landmarks

At 357 meters above sea level, Storberget is the highest point in Söderhamn Municipality. Near Holmsveden, Sagberg has a boulder field from the Ice Age, described as one of the largest in Norrland.

Discover more destinations: Söderala, Söderhamn, Ljusne, Stråtjära, Mo, Marmaverken, Skog, Norrala.

Go to the main travel overview: Söderhamn.