Tomelilla: Nature, Hiking Trails and Cultural History

The Municipality of Tomelilla has 15 nature reserves. Hiking trails lead through the cultural landscape of Österlen, through deciduous forests and along waterways. For planning, it is worth considering the different distances: alongside a village loop of about two kilometres, there are trails up to twelve kilometres long, wetlands with birdwatching opportunities and striking reminders of industrial history.

Hiking trails through varied landscapes

A white-marked hiking loop, about three kilometres long, leads through the central part of Drakamöllan Nature Reserve. The area includes a rare sandy steppe landscape on calcareous sandy soil. The nine-kilometre Blåvingeleden trail passes through Drakamöllan and continues through the Lillehem, Maglehem and Kumlan nature reserves. This makes it possible to take a longer loop connecting several named protected areas.

The twelve-kilometre Gårdlösaleden trail runs through farmland, grazed meadows and beech forests. In Skåne Tranås, the Byarundan is about two kilometres long. Twelve illustrated information boards provide a brief history of each place. The trail has a paved surface and is also accessible to visitors with physical disabilities. The routes mentioned vary considerably in length: from the short Byarundan, via the loop in Drakamöllan, to the Gårdlösaleden.

Wetlands and nature watching

Over the 20 kilometres of Fyledalen, the Fyleån river winds through a flat grazing landscape. Seventeen of the 19 bat species found in Sweden have been recorded there. In the centre of Fyledalen, at the former brickworks, there are three hiking trails, as well as parking, information boards and a barbecue and picnic area.

The Borstakärr wetlands offer a different kind of nature experience: a boardwalk crosses the marsh, and you can stop on a small island to watch birds. The Borstakärrs våtmarker hiking trail is 2.7 kilometres long. Surveys have recorded about 320 different plant species there. Grass frogs, moor frogs, tree frogs and common toads have also settled there; black storks, white-tailed eagles and ospreys have been observed.

Mills, industrial history and culture

At Hallamölla, waterfalls and milling history come together: five rapids have a combined drop of 23 metres, making the waterfall one of the highest in Skåne. The mill’s history dates back to the 15th century, while the present mill building dates from the 1850s. During the annual opening days, visitors are shown around the mill.

Andrarums Alunbruk was founded by Jochum Beck in 1637. At the height of its development in the mid-18th century, it was the largest industrial enterprise in Northern Europe. Tomelilla also offers culture at Kulturhuset, which houses a library, an art gallery, a cultural school and a jazz archive. The archive contains about 18,000 items, including around 8,000 vinyl records. The cultural programme includes lectures, theatre performances and music evenings. At Smakbruket, you can sample lamb sausage and locally pressed juice.

Getting around Kronoskogen

Roads 11 and 19 pass by the Kronoskogen area; cycle paths lead there from Tomelilla. Buses on Skåneexpressen routes 4 and 5 stop at Svampakorset at least once an hour. As bus frequency may change, it is advisable to check the current timetable before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Tomelilla, Brösarp, Staffanstorp, Farhult, Eslöv, Vellinge, Falsterbo, Klippan.

Return to the main travel overview: Skåne.