Discover Degerhamn: Hiking Trails and Industrial History

Degerhamn combines hiking trails with traces of the limestone and shale industries: quarries, factory ruins, field kilns and former transport routes shape the landscape. Lakes rich in birdlife, a viewpoint and a bathing area also offer a variety of experiences. If you choose Degerhamn as your destination, you can tailor your stay around activities such as hiking, exploring industrial history or observing nature.

Hiking trails and different types of routes

The Bergstigen is about 5 kilometres long and divided into three stages marked with red arrows. The trail leads into a shale quarry with abandoned shelters and dynamite stores. This means the route combines clearly defined stages with tangible traces of former quarrying.

The Kalkbrottsleden offers a different kind of route: it crosses the Stora alvaret to limestone quarries, where several circular trails are available. For the Bergstigen, the approximate length and number of stages serve as guideposts; for the Kalkbrottsleden, the route across the alvar and the circular trails at the quarries are the main features. This distinction can help you choose a hike based on the type of route described.

Quarries, kilns and industrial history

Degerhamn’s hiking landscape includes quarries and several factory ruins from 300 years of industrial history. The Degerhamns kalkbruk offers a clear example of how these places are connected: Fågelsjön is a lake formed in an old shale quarry belonging to the lime works. In the Fältugnsområde, 20 field kilns for burning lime stand in a long row. In the past, limestone and shale were transported by rail along the Kalkgata from the quarries to these field kilns. Together, these places tell the story of different stages in lime processing.

Ölands alunbruk is another prominent trace of the area’s industry. A tall chimney marks the ruins of the works, which were founded in 1804. On the site of the former manor house, artists Christer Jansson and Elisabeth Sivard created a work in stone. It is a tribute to art and to the people who work and have worked with stone. Hamneberget, with the Lovers skifferbrott, offers further historical connections: Carl von Linné visited the place in 1741.

Lakes, birdlife and views across the alvar

Stensjön was a limestone quarry that filled with water in the 1950s; today it is known for its rich variety of birdlife. The viewpoint at Kalkbrottssjön offers a different perspective. From there, you can see across the alvar and the large, disused limestone quarry belonging to Cementa, which is slowly filling with water. The two places therefore offer different landscape experiences: birdlife at Stensjön and wide views of the alvar and quarry at Kalkbrottssjön.

At Adolfshamn, there is a bathing area as well as a beach of rounded stones. These destinations offer another way to experience Degerhamn beyond its industrial history and hiking trails.

Museum and geological art

The Degerhamns hembygdsmuseum displays objects and photographs relating to Degerhamn’s industry, trade and shipping. The museum lighthouse Ingrunden has a lantern from the Utgrunden lighthouse in the Kalmar Strait. The two places have different focuses: the museum covers several aspects of local history, while the lighthouse features a specific piece of maritime heritage.

At Navet, there is a pavilion with information about Degerhamn’s industrial history, a range of stone materials to explore and a car park. Konstens geologiska trädgård presents geological art in an inspiring setting. The options range from hiking trails and former production sites to local history, a lighthouse and geological art.

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