Högsby: Forests, Water and Culture

Forests, wetlands and water shape the landscape of Högsby Municipality, while trails also lead to places of cultural and historical interest. Nature areas, hikes and glimpses into local history give your trip a variety of focal points.

Landscape and bird habitats

Högsby Municipality is predominantly forested. Lakes and waterways connect the landscape, which also includes farmland. At Kyllen Nature Reserve, forests meet wetlands. Past fires have encouraged biodiversity there and created deadwood. The reserve is about six kilometres northeast of Högsby; an information board and a car park are located on site.

Allgunnen is one of the few large unregulated lakes in southern Sweden. Together with the Alsterån, it forms species-rich aquatic habitats. Ospreys, white-tailed eagles and black-throated divers breed at the lake; the surrounding area also provides habitat for capercaillies. The municipality is also home to Ryningen, a wetland of around 300 hectares that is considered one of the most bird-rich areas in southern Sweden. Two birdwatching towers and an observation platform are among the local landmarks. To help plan visits to other nature destinations, Naturguide Högsby presents 20 selected areas with photos and maps.

Hiking trails with different highlights

Högsbyleden is a longer, easy-to-walk hiking trail. It passes through the entire Ekopark Hornsö and by many scenic spots. Another route option is Jonas Stolts kyrkväg: the ten-kilometre trail follows the historic route from Stenkullen in Basebo to Högsby kyrka. Several information boards line the route; Torp Persdal is noted as a particularly good picnic spot.

In Högsby, Trollbergsrundan is located by the scout hut at Trollberget. The two-kilometre activity trail has twelve boards with exercises for children and adults. The one-kilometre Harmonirunda, also with twelve boards, runs along the Emån through the Lanhagen area. This makes it easy to compare the stated trail lengths; Trollbergsrundan also pairs its boards with exercises.

Church, school and local history

Högsby kyrka is centrally located in town beside the Emån. Its nave and sacristy reflect ecclesiastical architecture from the Middle Ages to the late 18th century. The church houses two late-medieval altarpieces and a runestone dated to the 1050s.

Skälsbäck School Museum preserves two fully furnished classrooms, with school desks spanning an entire century. Exhibition information is available in English and German. Parts of the Högsby Sockens Hembygdsförening collections are on display at Hornsberg. Archival material for genealogical and local history research is also available there.

On the water and at scenic viewpoints

The Emån offers peaceful, nature-rich stretches as well as wild rapids; its paddling opportunities suit beginners and experienced paddlers alike. In Högsby, you can rent canoes or kayaks to paddle on the Emån, a lake or the sea. With a tourist fishing permit, you can fish for one or two weeks in 27 lakes and flowing waters.

Aboda Klint combines a viewpoint with far-reaching views and opportunities for hiking and swimming in Lake Kleven. There are also two clearly marked hiking trails. This means that sightseeing, exercise and swimming are all available as different activities at the same location.

Local produce and guided experiences

Höjdens Mejeri & Gårdsbutik makes handmade cow’s and goat’s cheese as well as sourdough bread, and runs its own farm shop. Kickis Matvandring combines a guided walk through the countryside with locally grown and prepared food served during the experience. Both offer a focus on regional produce, but in different ways: one as products in a farm shop, the other as part of a guided tour.

Getting here and finding your way around the centre

Värdshuset Emågården is in central Högsby, about 100 metres from the travel centre. Direct train services run from the travel centre to destinations including Kalmar and Stockholm. This location provides a useful reference point for travelling to and finding your way around town.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Fågelfors, Grönskåra, Högsby, Ruda, Fagerhult, Berga, Fågelfors, Västervik.

To the main travel overview: Kalmar.