Smålandsstenar: Trails and a stone-built history

Smålandsstenar offers a variety of points of interest: local history, trails along the Nissan and outdoor activities. The town’s name refers to the Domarringarna stone circles. Nearby Villstad adds a local heritage museum and a protected cultural landscape to the regional picture. For planning, the places and routes vary in theme, length and activity.

Domarringarna and ancient trails

The Domarringarna gave Smålandsstenar its name. At Västbo hembygdsgård in the town, there is a burial ground with twenty upright stones, each about 2,500 years old. Compared with other parts of Småland, the area around Smålandsstenar is unusually rich in Stone Age finds.

At Skäppekullen, northeast of Smålandsstenar, the Domarringarna stone circles lie by the Nissan and the old Nissastigen route. You can walk among the stone burial structures there. Nissastigen is a very old road through Smålandsstenar and existed as a riding trail as early as pre-Christian times.

Villstad: Museum and cultural landscape

Villstads hembygdsgård is located northeast of Smålandsstenar and is one of Sweden’s oldest local heritage museums. The site includes seven relocated buildings. The Röshultsstugan on the grounds dates from 1778 and is furnished as a home and museum. The site thus features both several relocated buildings and a historic home.

Nearby Villstad kyrkby has a marked trail of 2–3 kilometres, a car park and a bus connection. From the bus stop, it is about a 350-metre walk to the church. The open agricultural landscape, old oaks and avenues in Villstad kyrkby have high nature conservation value.

Trails and activities

Nissanleden is an approximately 8-kilometre walking trail along the Nissan between Smålandsstenar and Skeppshult. It runs from the power station at Ågårdsfors in the north to Skeppshult’s illuminated exercise trail in the south. The approximate length and the two endpoints give you a clear guide for planning your route.

The red Mountainbikeled Smålandsstenar mountain biking trail is 1.6 kilometres long. It starts at the OK Vivill clubhouse by the illuminated exercise trail. The Motionsspår Smålandsstenar exercise trails are intended for running and walking; cycling and horseback riding are not permitted there. The designated options therefore differ by activity: Mountainbikeled is intended for mountain biking, while the exercise trails are for running and walking.

Paddling and seasonal outdoor swimming

For the Kanotled Nissan canoe trail, you can rent canoes and equipment at Hörsjöns camping in Smålandsstenar. The providers also offer pick-up or transport to the starting point or destination. As service details may change, check the current rental and transport details before your trip.

Hörsjöbadet is Smålandsstenar’s municipal outdoor swimming pool and operates seasonally. Check the current opening hours before planning a visit.

Discover more destinations: Bosebo, Anderstorp, Burseryd, Broaryd, Gislaved, Skeppshult, Hestra, Reftele

Back to the main travel overview: Gislaved.