Holiday apartment in Örnsköldsvik: Hiking on the High Coast

Örnsköldsvik combines a distinctive coastal landscape with trails, viewpoints, culture and sports. A notable example is Gula leden on Åsberget: The circular trail is six kilometres long and offers sweeping views over the land, city and sea. Along the way, large erratic boulders, fields of scree, steep slopes and ice-polished rock surfaces shape the landscape.

Hiking and panoramic views

The accessible hiking trail Fyra Berg, close to the city, leads over Åsberget, Mycklingsberget, Svedjeberget and Varvsberget. It is signposted from the south side of Örnsköldsvik Travel Centre. Along the trail, QR-linked content provides information about nature, culture and historical events. From Varvsberget, the view extends far across Örnsköldsvik both by day and at night; across the sea, you can see as far as Balesudden and Skags udde. Halfway up the mountain near Hörnsjön, there is a floodlit training track, an outdoor gym, a wind shelter and barbecue areas.

Nature and coast

Part of the High Coast World Heritage Site lies in the coastal area of Örnsköldsvik Municipality. It is classified as a World Heritage Site because of the world's largest land uplift. The Alneskogen Nature Reserve is also located within the municipality and can be reached by car or bus. There, nature has reclaimed a former industrial area; remains of the Alne steam sawmill, the quays and the workers' housing are preserved in the forest.

The Vändåtberget Nature Reserve protects taiga, including northern coniferous forest that has been partly shaped by earlier forest fires. The Urskogsleden hiking trail runs through the reserve. There is a cabin with a stove where you can stay overnight. In Örnsköldsvik, fishing is permitted in most lakes and larger rivers and streams, as well as in bays along the flatter coastal sections.

High Coast trails

The High Coast Trail is divided into nine sections of varying lengths and difficulty levels. Örnsköldsvik is one of two starting points for the trail; the Örnsköldsvik starting point is in Stadsträdgården. The ninth section runs from the Balesudden Nature Reserve to Örnsköldsvik and is 18.8 kilometres long. The trail therefore connects different scales: individual sections vary in length and difficulty, while the ninth section forms a clearly defined route between Balesudden and Örnsköldsvik.

Culture in the city and surrounding area

At Örnsköldsvik Museum and the art gallery, the permanent Arkiv Ö exhibition tells the history of Örnsköldsvik for children and adults. Exhibitions at Örnsköldsvik Museum and its art gallery change several times a year. The programme includes craft activities, weekly Kulturlab sessions, open guided tours, discussion evenings, lunchtime lectures and readings. Bror Marklund's workshop is located next to Örnsköldsvik Museum and the art gallery. Also permanent is Nolavonda, an exhibition produced by Örnsköldsvik Museum and the art gallery.

Örnsköldsvik Church is located in the centre of the city. In the municipality, about one Swedish mile outside Örnsköldsvik, lies Brynge cultural area. The open-air museum focuses on hydropower and flax processing.

Sports and active days

At Skyttis, the ski trails are groomed for both freestyle and classical skiing. The snowmaking system allows an earlier start and an extended ski season there. Paradiset is an aquatic centre and spa offering a comprehensive range of activities and experiences in sports, swimming and wellness.

There is also a notable facility for cycling: CK Örnen Downhill Park is located in central Örnsköldsvik, west of the ski jumps at Varvsberget, and has seven marked downhill trails.

Other places

Other places in the area include Örnsköldsvik, Husum, Själevad, Ulvöhamn, Skorped, Solberg, Bjästa, Domsjö, Mellansel, Kantsjö, Norum.

To the higher-level travel overview: Västernorrland.