Holiday apartment in Stenungsund: Nature, Coast and Culture

Stenungsund combines protected nature, waterside paths, and a surprisingly diverse range of cultural sites. In the Södra Stenungsön Nature Reserve, a nature trail leads through a mixed coniferous forest. In addition to Hawaii Beach, the reserve includes several other bathing coves; in places, a species-rich flora grows there, particularly along shallow shores and on nutrient-rich rocks influenced by seepage water. Parts of the nature reserve belong to the Natura 2000 area.

Nature

The nature trails on Stenungsön combine deep forests with views of the coast. The longer nature trail is 3.3 kilometres long and passes the Stora Huvudet viewpoint above the road tunnel leading to the Tjörn Bridge. The coastal landscape also includes Hawaii havsbad, with sandy beaches, rocks, and a jetty with a diving tower. A large lawn there is used for sunbathing and picnicking; there are also barbecue areas and a playground.

Gårdsjön is a clear-water lake covering approximately 32 hectares. A circular trail around the lake is about 6 kilometres long. Unusual species occur in the area around Gårdsjön, including osprey and capercaillie. Svartedalen forms a larger natural area and is one of the largest contiguous coniferous forest areas in western Sweden. Several owl species have territories there; hazel grouse can also be observed in the area.

Bottenstugan is a starting point for several hiking trails and offers parking, an information board, a toilet, and three wind shelters with barbecue areas. Bohusleden stages 8 and 9 begin or end at Bottenstugan, while parts of stages 9 and 10 run through Stenungsund Municipality.

Landscape

The varied landscapes include Börs Flåg, with a 150-metre-high mountain, steep slopes, coniferous forest, and farmland. Ramsön has a unique, historic cultural landscape maintained through grazing by sheep and cattle. Together with Keholmen, Ramsön is home to breeding woodland and coastal birds, including a colony of up to 500 pairs of herring gulls. There are no regular boat services to the Ramsön with Keholmen Nature Reserve.

Culture

Stenunge by comprises the remains of a medieval village with two half-timbered houses from the 18th century: Mariagården and Västergården. Mariagården was built towards the end of the 18th century, is designated as a listed building, and has been restored using traditional craft techniques. The building is approximately a 12-minute walk from Stenungsund railway station; there is parking beside the building.

Stenungsund’s guest harbour allows for short or extended stays close to shops, services, and entertainment. The Stenungsunds konststråk, a 1.5-kilometre art walk, also runs along the waterfront. On Stenungsön, a cultural walk follows in the footsteps of the artist group Göteborgskoloristerna. A brochure is available for self-guided tours; information signs can be found at the Stenungsöns parkering car park and at Stenungsögård.

A legal wall for free street art and graffiti is located in a pedestrian tunnel in the centre of Stenungsund. Anyone can express themselves artistically there, regardless of age or experience. The graffiti wall is a ten-minute walk from the Stenungsund vårdcentral bus stop and a 15-minute walk from Stenungsund railway station.

More local pages: Jörlanda, Stenungsund, Stora Höga, Svenshögen, Ucklum, Ödsmål, Spekeröd and Karlsborg.

To the overarching travel overview: Västra Götaland.