Hylte: Hiking Trails, Lakes and Cultural Heritage

Hylte has 18 nature reserves that you can visit for recreation, outdoor activities and birdwatching. There are also hiking trails of various lengths, lakes and places with their own cultural history. Whether you want to focus on forests, water or historic sites, the selection of described tours and destinations ranges from short walks to longer routes. Follow local rules when visiting nature reserves.

Hiking between forest, lake and cultural heritage

In Unnaryd, the Brunnsbackaleden starts at the local heritage park. It passes through the Ödegärdet Nature Reserve, runs alongside Kroksjön and continues to Brunnsbacka sågkvarn. You can choose between 4- and 8-kilometre versions of the hike. The restored sawmill, mill and stock planer from the 18th and 19th centuries are located beside Kroksjön and provide a specific cultural history destination along the route.

The lengths of other trails can also be compared directly. The Jälluntoftaleden is 12 kilometres long, marked in orange and signposted; it starts at Bygdegården/Chalanderska museet. There are five rest areas along the way, including one with a wind shelter, barbecue area and toilet. As facilities may change, check before your visit. A 12-kilometre yellow route and a 5.8-kilometre green route start at the car park by Skärshults camping. From the highest ridges, you can enjoy views of the lakes.

For shorter walks, Femsjö has the Gula spåret: the trail is about 4 kilometres long, with shorter red and blue alternatives nearby. Information boards explore natural and cultural history. Another hike is 5.7 kilometres long and passes through the home area of parish constable Anders Jönsson, along winding village roads and past old farms, legendary sites and peat ruins. It can start in Höljeryd or Ekhult. The Hallandsleden passes through the municipality from Simlångsdalen to Rydöbruk and continues north towards Kinnared.

Forests, nature reserves and cycling routes

In Mårås Nature Reserve, a 2.3-kilometre hiking trail leads through old, untouched beech forest, home to rare plants and animals. Skubbhult Nature Reserve lies beside Lake Mellan-Färgen; its old-growth forest has a rich variety of flora, especially mosses and lichens. The two places offer different highlights: Mårås combines a forest trail with beech woodland, while in Skubbhult the forest’s plant life takes centre stage.

For mountain biking, Hultagärdesbacken outside Torup has a 550-metre blue flow track for children and beginners, as well as a 320-metre red downhill trail for experienced mountain bikers. There are also marked trail routes of 5, 10 and 30 kilometres. Check the facility’s status before setting out. Another cycling option is the circular route around Färgensjöarna, which can be ridden in three versions of 18, 21 or 40 kilometres.

Lakes, fishing and paddling

Hylte is part of a land of a thousand lakes, with numerous bodies of water and many fish species. A fishing licence is always required to fish in the lakes, even when fishing from a jetty; check the regulations for the specific body of water. The Jällunden fishing area includes Lake Jällunden, which covers 870 hectares. Pike, perch and eel occur naturally there, while zander has been introduced.

A paddling route starts in Lake Unnen at Unnaryd and follows a river to Lake Bolmen. Continue south via Bolmån and the Lagan, which flows into the sea. Canoeing on a lake system with many smaller lakes, bays and islands is also a good option for a day trip. Selected swimming areas in Hylte have jetties, toilets and adapted accessibility; some also have designated bathing areas for dogs. Available facilities may vary from one swimming area to another.

Cultural history in the towns and villages

Near Torup, Bosgårdsfallet is an 11-metre-high waterfall. A larger sawmill and mill operated there until the early 1930s; there are hiking trails in the surrounding area. In Landeryd, you can visit the locomotive sheds and a railway history walking trail that is open year-round. The station is a state-listed historic building.

Unnaryd also brings together different cultural themes: the town is considered an old cultural centre in Hylte and has an arts and crafts tradition, a long-established market, small-scale shops and locally produced food. The Hylte Konst- och Hantverksrunda takes place every year over the Easter weekend; check the programme details before your trip. Churches in Hylte date back as far as the 12th century. QR-code guided tours at the cemeteries in Hyltebruk parish tell visitors about the people buried there and the churches.

A museum in the former infirmary of a company in the centre of Rydöbruk explores the development of the municipality and industry in this part of the Nissadalen over 250 years. Opening arrangements may vary.

Discover more destinations: Landeryd, Kinnared, Hallaböke, Löjenäs, Långaryd, Unnaryd, Hyltebruk, Drängsered, Torup, Jälluntofta.

For the overview of the wider region: Halland.