The Österlen Way
- Discover hidden Sweden in the idyllic Österlen region.
- Enjoy walking along the sandy beaches of the Baltic Sea shores.
- Visit Ale Stenar, a stone ship erected during the Nordic Iron Age.
- Sample local delicacies in this food Mecca of Sweden.
- Explore Ystad, home to Henning Mankell’s ‘Wallander’ detective stories.
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive YstadYour trip begins in Ystad, a medieval city that is the home of Henning Mankell’s Wallander detective stories. The half-timbered houses of Ystad are evidence of its Danish history and add character and charm. In spite of its size, Ystad is bustling with life and is home to many restaurants.
Ystad is easily accessible by train from Copenhagen Airport (1 h) and nearby cities.
Built in the 18th century, this charming boutique hotel has been appointed 'Most Romantic Hotel in Sweden'. Hotell Sekelgården is located in central Ystad and has a nice restaurant next door.
Feel the calm in this historic hotel environment in the middle of Ystad's medieval centre. A family-run hotel with 20 cosy rooms and apartments.
After breakfast you start your walk along the sea shore, crossing the Nybroån stream. The walk starts off in open landscapes, but as you get further ahead, you can see the hills of Hammar. This is a popular spot for humans and wildlife alike and you might spot kites, sea gulls and para-gliders. Your walk continues along the beach until you reach Kåseberga, where you can either dine in the village (June-August) or at your bed & breakfast.
Nearby Ale Stenar (‘Ale’s Stones’) is a megalithic monument in the shape of a ship, not dissimilar from Stonehenge. It is believed to have been erected during the Nordic Iron Age and is situated on a hill top overlooking the sea.
Walk Ystad to Kåseberga: 20-22 km, 118 m. ascent, 123 m. descent, 6 hours.
Ejagården B&B is located 26km from Tomelilla Golfklubb and is close to the Baltic Sea and Ale's Stone. It offers access to a shared lounge, garden, a shared kitchen and a patio. There is also free private parking and free wifi. Ejagården B&B does not serve dinner, however, there are places to dine in Kaeberga Harbor.
This B&B is located by the Skaneleden hiking trail, about 0.6 miles from Ales Stenar and Kaseberga. It offers an organic breakfast, a shared kitchen and rooms with garden views.
If you haven’t already visited Ale Stenar, there is time to do so this morning. You start today’s walk at the beach and follow well-trodden footpaths until you reach Löderup. Here you’ll be taken through a nature reserve featuring pine, oak and birch trees with lilies of the valley covering the ground. At Sandhammaren you return to the shore and walk along pristine beaches and sand dunes until you reach the fishing village of Skillinge. From here its a 1km walk to your accommodation for the night, a traditional Skåne farming estate.
Walk Kåseberga to Skillinge: 22 km, 167 m ascent, 154 m Descent, 7 hours.
Alternative: If you want to spend the morning visiting Ale Stenar, we can arrange for a pick up in Sandhammaren, in which case your walk is only 9 km (must be booked in advance).
Sjobacka Gard is a traditional farming estate that is over 200 years old. It has been coverted into a guesthouse with 10 rooms. The guest house has a library where guests can borrow books and relax in front of the open fireplace in the lounge.
After yesterday’s long day, you are treated to a gentler walk, passing meadows, rocks and fishing villages. There is time to stop for a swim or enjoy a longer lunch break in the idyllic village of Brantevik. The overnight stop today is in Simrishamn, the pretty regional capital with cobble-stoned streets and pastel-coloured houses. Enjoy a nice dinner and a stroll along the harbour before tucking yourself into bed.
Walk Skillinge to Simrishamn: 13 km, 57 m. ascent, 68 m. descent, 3 hours
Maritim Krog & Hotell is located in the harbor of Simrishamn and houses a popular restaurant. Some of the rooms are located in the historic Customs House, 100 meters from the main building.
A traditional, family hotel located in the middle of picturesque Simrishamn, with its unique small shops and its bustling artist life & a stone's throw from the train station. In Restaurant Piraten you can enjoy seasonal & locally produced ingredients in a well-thought-out menu created by our fantastic chefs.
Today offers varied terrain taking you through sandy beaches, orchid meadows and beech forests. Eventually you will reach the national park of Stenshuvud and its distinct hill top. This marks the end of your journey and you will soon reach Kivik, ‘The Apple Kingdom of Sweden’. Walking along beautiful apple orchards, you can stop for a non-alcoholic cider, the regional choice of drink. If your visit coincides with the yearly apple festival, you can enjoy eye-catching ‘apple art’ as well as the popular ‘biggest apple’ competition.
Walk Simrishamn to Kivik: 20 km, 120 m. ascent, 122 m. descent, 5 hours.
Housed in a converted apple orchard, Agda Lund is the essance of idyllic Österlen. The atmosphere is relaxing and homely and you can enjoy your breakfast in the garden during summer.
A transfer to Simrishamn railway station is included, and from there you can easily travel onwards in Sweden or to Copenhagen Airport. Want to stay longer? We suggest additional nights in Ystad or Copenhagen. Just ask and we will happily arrange that for you.
This trip has a carbon score of 17kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 17kg is equivalent to 100 cans of coke. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information about how we've carbon counted our trips.
Other Information
Is it for me?If you are interested in food and culture and prefer a gentler walk on flat ground, The Österlen Way is the trip for you. A mixture of historic small towns and peaceful walks along the Baltic Sea shores, you will see a side of Sweden that few international visitors know about.
Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way in Scotland, the world renown Tour Du Mont Blanc and Germany's Moselle Cycle Path, to name but a few!
Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.
Solo Travellers, Families with Teens
The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years
This walk is graded easy to moderate as it includes some longer walks (up to 22km, though this can be shortened). The terrain is generally flat and easy to walk. Most of the walks follow foot paths and coastal paths.
5 nights' accommodation is included in your trip. You will be staying at carefully selected B&B’s, guesthouses and small hotels, all of which offer en-suite rooms.
You can add extra nights at any point during your stay, and we particularly recommend extending your stay in Ystad - please contact us for details.
Solo Walkers & Single Rooms
Single rooms are available and a supplement is payable. This trip is also available to solo walkers.
Accommodation Location
We will always try and accommodate you at the locations detailed in the itinerary, but because of limited availability we may have to accommodate you at an alternative location. Alternative details will be noted on your accommodation sheet.
Meals
5 breakfasts are included. Packed lunches are available from your accommodation (order the night before) or you can stop on the way. Most of the accommodation offer dinners as long as this is pre-ordered or you can dine in nearby restaurants.
Much of the walk is way-marked as this is a national trail. You will be supplied route notes and detailed maps so you will have no problem following the route each day.
- 5 Nights in handpicked B&Bs, guest houses and small hotels with en-suite rooms
- 5 Breakfasts
- Door-to-door luggage transfers
- Transfer from Kivik to Simrishamn Railway Station
- 1:50000 map and detailed information pack with route notes
- 24/7 support from our local partner and UK office.
- Travel insurance (required)
- Travel to Ystad and from Simrishamn
- Lunches and dinners
- Local transfers if not part of the itinerary
- Drinks and snacks
- Personal equipment
- Extra nights before, during and after your walk.
This trip is available to start on any day from the beginning of April to the end of October.
Time of Year
Österlen has a distinct tourist season that lasts between the end of June (Midsummer) and mid-August. The area will still be beautiful in the spring and autumn, but fewer shops and restaurants stay open.
Extra Nights
As this is a 5 night stay, we highly recommend turning it into a 7 day trip by adding extra night before, during or after your walk. We particularly recommend additional nights in beautiful Ystad, or by staying in Copenhagen to experience this unique Scandinavian city. Just ask us for more information and we'll be happy to book that for you.
Single Rooms & Solo Walkers
If you require single rooms within your party we would be happy to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable. Solo walkers can take this trip, also at a supplement.
By Air: Copenhagen is the best airport for both the start and the finish.
To get to Ystad, take the train from the airport to Malmö Central Station (20 mins) where you can connect to Ystad (50 mins). Trains are frequent and run until midnight.
To get to the airport from Simrishamn, take the train to Malmö Central Station (1h 30 mins) and connect to Copenhagen Airport (20 mins). Trains are frequent and run from 6am.
Copenhagen Airport is served by many major airlines including British Airways, SAS, EasyJet, and Lufthansa.
By Bus/Rail: Skånetrafiken services the Skåne region and there are many options if arriving by train or bus. If you are coming from a different region, SJ can help you with travel information and tickets.
By Road: If coming from Denmark, take the E65 from Malmö. If arriving by ferry in Trelleborg, head north on route 108 before connecting with the E65.
Parking: Let us know if you are arriving by car and we can help you arrange parking.
Daily door to door baggage transfer is included in the price of your trip (up to 20 kg).
The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.
Baggage transfers are included on this tour as per the itinerary, so you only need to walk with a small back-pack.
You will need good walking shoes/boots (ideally waterproof), comfortable walking clothes, waterproof jacket and trousers, a daypack and hats/gloves etc. Our info packs have a list of all equipment to bring on your walk.
June to August is when most shops and restaurants are open, however, Österlen is beautiful all year round and does not experience particularly cold temperatures.
The dates change each year and in 2019 it was held on the 28th & 29th of September. You can find the dates on their website (in Swedish only).
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Why Macs
The Biggest Choice
Founded in 2003
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Positive Impact
At Macs, we don’t do tour buses, groups, or guides. Instead, we give you the freedom and confidence to have your own self-guided hiking or biking adventure.
This is active travel led by you.
You choose your departure date and who you travel with, we do the rest.
We sort accommodation and luggage transfers and provide your route in an easy-to-use app.
We give you everything you need to travel independently but we're here 24/7 if you need us.
Getting from A to B under your own steam is intensely rewarding. With Macs, you'll see the world, and yourself, differently.