Nybro: Forests, Hiking Trails and Glass Culture

Nybro brings together diverse forest landscapes, hiking trails and a well-established glassmaking tradition. The Svartbäcksmåla Nature Reserve covers 345 hectares and surrounds the southern parts of the town. Deep mixed coniferous forests, grove-like deciduous woodlands, dry sandy areas and wet alder marshes shape the area. Walking and cycling paths lead there from Nybro town centre through the Pukeberg glassworks area; it can also be reached from Hanemåla.

Forests, Lakes and Trails

Anyone wishing to explore Svartbäcksmåla by bike will find six mountain bike trails in the activity area, covering a total of 27 kilometres. There is also a skills course, a pump track and a flow trail. The Upplevelseleden hiking trail runs for about 16.5 kilometres through the activity area. For a much longer excursion, the 84-kilometre Dackeleden runs through Svartbäcksmåla from Mosjön in the south to Aboda Klint in the north. It is the longest hiking trail in Nybro Municipality. The different trail lengths make it easier to tailor your hiking plans to the time you have available. Check the current route before setting out.

Svartbäcksmålabacken is also part of the activity offering: it has three downhill runs and a fun park with boxes and rails. Seasonal operation depends on conditions. At Rismåla göl, by contrast, the focus is on the lake and its walking path. The lake covers 4.4 hectares and lies in the Ljungbyån catchment area. From the swimming area in Rismåla Nature Reserve, an accessible path runs through the reserve and is suitable for most visitors. The swimming area also has a rest spot with a wind shelter and a fire pit.

Allgunnen Nature Reserve covers 2,300 hectares. Most of the lake, along with its larger and smaller islands, lies within the reserve; marked hiking trails lead through forests and wetlands. The observations made in the Grytsjön area reveal another side of nature: 600 species of larger moths have been recorded there. The traditionally managed meadow in Fjelebo, meanwhile, has significant cultural and historical value. Nature experiences and traces of earlier land use thus sit side by side, so an excursion need not be limited to just one kind of landscape.

The Bjällingsmålaleden gives you a shorter distance to plan for: the signposted hiking trail is 2.7 kilometres long and starts at Patron Trädgårdhs väg, by the car park for Bjällingsmåla Nature Reserve. The reserve also has a shallow sandy beach and a barbecue area. If you want to combine hiking with glass culture, nature and traces of the Ice Age, you can explore these themes on the Orrefors vandringsled. The Glasbruksleden passes through Flygsfors, one of the seven best-preserved glassworks environments in Nybro Municipality.

Glass, Design and History

Designarkivet is located in Pukeberg on the site of a former glassworks. The national archive collects knowledge about design processes in Sweden. Its collection includes around 120,000 archival objects by approximately 800 designers and companies. Seasonal exhibitions offer further insight; archive and research visitors are received by appointment. If you are interested in the exhibitions or a visit to the archive, take these different visitor arrangements into account when planning.

Målerås Glasbruk produces art and decorative glass, which is mainly cut, painted and engraved. Glass is also combined with metal there using its own iron foundry. Visitors can blow their own piece of glass and take their handmade work home; this activity is subject to booking and seasonal arrangements. Hyttsill is also served at the glassworks, possibly seasonally or by reservation. The Glassblower Café & Creperie at Orranäs Glasbruk serves crêpes for lunch or fika and is open seasonally.

In Orrefors, the Orrefors Museum preserves and displays the glassworks’ historical glass collection; the exhibition spans the past and the present. The glassworks was founded in 1898 and is associated with crystal glass, quality and great craftsmanship. For a different perspective on industrial history, visit the hammer forge: it is a living museum where the waterwheel and machinery are back in operation. Access is seasonal. In Madesjö, Kyrkstallarna is now Sweden’s second-longest wooden building. The local heritage museum there contains more than 7,000 objects in a range of historical settings, including displays of an old general store, forestry, agriculture, glass, textiles and a school. Nybro is also home to the only James Bond museum in the world.

Getting Here and Choosing a Hotel

Nybro railway station offers numerous departures every day, with direct train connections to destinations including Kalmar, Växjö, Gothenburg and Malmö. Kalmar länstrafik connects the towns in Nybro Municipality with one another and Nybro with the rest of Kalmar County. As timetables and connections may change, check the latest information before your trip. When choosing a hotel for your stay, you can consider whether nature trails, glassmaking history or rail connections are most important to your travel plans.

Discover more destinations

Kristvallabrunn, Kråksmåla, Orrefors, Örsjö, Nybro, Målerås, Kulla, Alsterbro, Gullaskruv

For the main travel overview: Kalmar.