Plan your bike trip

1. Helsingborg (Central train/bus station) – Höganäs (guest harbour), 22 km
See the elevation profile below.

This part of Kattegattleden offers a lovely coastal tour all the way from Helsingborg to Höganäs, with staggering views of Öresund and out to Danish Zealand.
Start in Helsingborg, an urban setting with historic sites like the Kärnan tower and Sofiero Castle and garden, renowned for having over 10,000 rhododendron bushes that bloom throughout the park from May-June. By contrast, you will also discover a modern and continental setting in Norra Hamnen and Gröningen, with areas for swimming and relaxing, and dining with outdoor seating.

The path is lined with picturesque little fishing villages and small marinas, such as Domsten and Viken. Just outside Viken is the Military Defence Museum, the only museum of its kind in Sweden.

The path continues up towards Höganäs and out to the gorgeous, rocky landscape of Kullahalvön. This unique setting has been attracting artists and tourists ready for a swim for centuries.
On the furthest tip of Kullahalvön is the Kullaberg Nature Reserve. If you have time for a detour from the path, it’s well worth a visit, or even an overnight stay in Mölle. The area offers a variety of activities, such as hiking and rock climbing on cliffs with peaks soaring up to 187 metres above the ocean.

Farm shops and tasty food are distinguishing features around Höganäs, as farming is an important part of this region. Some of Skåne’s finest vineyards are also located here. A visit to the market is a must in Höganäs: shop for local produce and products, or enjoy a plate of early vegetables.

Practical information
The Kattegattleden starts and/or ends in Helsingborg at the public transport hub called Knutpunkten, where the railway station and ferry port are located.

Remember to check the opening times of the destinations and sights you intend to visit and ideally book your accommodation in advance!

Sweden’s right of public access is a unique opportunity for everyone to roam freely in the countryside. But you also need to take responsibility for animal and plant life and show consideration for land owners and other visitors. Don’t disturb – don’t destroy, in other words. The right of public access is limited in national parks and nature reserves. It is always you as the person visiting the countryside who bears responsibility for being aware of the rules that apply in the area that you are visiting.

Also remember to keep the cycle path free of litter – take your rubbish with you to the nearest bin!

Click on the picture to make it larger.

2. Höganäs (Guest harbour) – Ängelholm (Central station), 39 km
See the elevation profile below.

The tour continues around the beautiful, dramatic Kullahalvön peninsula, towards the 500-year-old town of Ängelholm. On this stretch, you’ll pass lots of pretty beaches and picturesque harbours. Numerous vineyards and little farm shops offer all you need for dinner – on Kullahalvön, food and pleasure are front and centre. Once here, have a look at the art and ceramics. Loads of artists and craftspeople welcome visitors to their studios here.

Don’t miss the beautiful mountain Kullaberg, awarded three stars in the Michelin Guide. Chances are high that you’ll spot seals and porpoises on your ride around Kullahalvön. Once you’ve passed the Vege River, a fishing paradise, take a detour to the beautiful Vegeholm manor.

Practical information
Remember to check the opening times of the destinations and sights you intend to visit and ideally book your accommodation in advance!

Sweden’s right of public access is a unique opportunity for everyone to roam freely in the countryside. But you also need to take responsibility for animal and plant life and show consideration for land owners and other visitors. Don’t disturb – don’t destroy, in other words. The right of public access is limited in national parks and nature reserves. It is always you as the person visiting the countryside who bears responsibility for being aware of the rules that apply in the area that you are visiting.

Also remember to keep the cycle path free of litter – take your rubbish with you to the nearest bin!

Plans for this partial stretch Höganäs – Ängelholm, section 2
Partial stretch: Lv 111 Krapperupsvägen/Lyckerisvägen/Lv 1446, Kullahalvön, Höganäs
Planning is in progress for traffic speed control measures along this stretch. Separate cycle track along Norra Kustvägen route 1451. Construction start planned for 2017 – along Norra Kustvägen route 1451, 0242 km. Construction start planned for 2017.

Read more about the Swedish Transport Administration’s plans for this section here.

3. Ängelholm (Railway Station) – Båstad (Guest harbour), 57 km
See the elevation profile below.

From Ängelholm, the Kattegattleden continues along the coast and you pass the river Rönne and small villages such as Skepparkrogen and Björkhagen before you reach Vejbystrand. You will ride through open shoreline meadows, a few little coastal communities and small stretches of forest.

At Killebäckstorp the path goes west towards Torekov and you cycle into the heart of Bjäre. You are proceeding into a modern agricultural setting, with big consecutive fields, and will gradually reach the small-scale agricultural countryside that has been based on livestock since prehistoric times and is typical of Bjärehalvön.

The Kattegattleden continues to Torekov and you reach the harbour – the heart of Torekov. From here you can take the boat to the island Hallands Väderö for a daytrip. From Torekov you cycle along the coast before you go back into the heart of Bjäre. You reach Svenstad and Boarp and from here you have a thrilling ride down the ridge and from the top you have a great view over the sea and you see Halmstad in the north. When you reach the Kattvik road be care when you pass the road into the nice stretch which take you into the habour of Båstad, the metropolis of Båstad.

Practical information
Remember to check the opening times of the destinations and sights you intend to visit and ideally book your accommodation in advance!

Sweden’s right of public access is a unique opportunity for everyone to roam freely in the countryside. But you also need to take responsibility for animal and plant life and show consideration for land owners and other visitors. Don’t disturb – don’t destroy, in other words. The right of public access is limited in national parks and nature reserves. It is always you as the person visiting the countryside who bears responsibility for being aware of the rules that apply in the area that you are visiting.

Also remember to keep the cycle path free of litter – take your rubbish with you to the nearest bin!

Click on the elevation profil to see it.

4. Båstad (Guest harbour) – Laholm (Mellbystrand) – Halmstad (the Castle), 41 km
See the elevation profile below.

After the adventure-packed ride across the ridge and a visit to Båstad, it’s time for the journey to continue. The Kattegattleden carries on with a beautiful, easy stretch toward Hemmeslöv. Stop off here and look back at the Hallandsås ridge! Finish the Skåne stretch of the path with a ride through Hemmeslöv’s urban area before the Halland countryside stretches out in front of you.

Visit Skottorp Castle and enjoy the beautiful surroundings and a coffee in the castle café. Buy cheese for your evening meal from the farm’s dairy before you ride back out towards the coast. The path will take you by beautiful natural scenery and the long sand dune beaches that characterise this stretch. Dip away from the path for a ride into downtown Laholm, which is well worth a visit, with its narrow cobblestone streets and cosy atmosphere.

After crossing into Halland, you will travel further along one of Sweden’s longest sandy beaches and through the Skummeslövstrand and Mellbystrand swimming areas. Once you’ve biked through the Hökafältet pine forest, you’ll reach a lovely place to rest with a view of Lagaoset, where the Lagan River meets the ocean. The sunsets here are fantastic. The Kattegattleden continues inland toward Gullbranna, and at Laxvik you can take a detour to Påarps unique shingle field, an Iron Age burial ground with 220 graves.

The path continues through Trönninge, and the Battle of Halmstad took place by the Fylleån river in August 1676. It was a turning point in the struggle for Skåne and Halland. Next the path will turn towards Östra Stranden and Halmstad city centre; the stretch concludes at Halmstad Castle. If your thirst for adventure has yet to be quenched, Halmstad has plenty of activities, along with calmer options like sunshine and swimming.

Practical information
Remember to check the opening times of the destinations and sights you intend to visit and ideally book your accommodation in advance!

Sweden’s right of public access is a unique opportunity for everyone to roam freely in the countryside. But you also need to take responsibility for animal and plant life and show consideration for land owners and other visitors. Don’t disturb – don’t destroy, in other words. The right of public access is limited in national parks and nature reserves. It is always you as the person visiting the countryside who bears responsibility for being aware of the rules that apply in the area that you are visiting.

Also remember to keep the cycle path free of litter – take your rubbish with you to the nearest bin!

Welcome to Kattegattleden!

Plans for this partial stretch Båstad – Laholm – Halmstad, section 4
Trönninge-Snapparp (bridge over Genevadsån)

A new bridge across Genevadsån is planned. Once the bridge is built, this section of the route will be moved closer to the sea via Laxvik and Påarp. Construction of the new bridge is expected to start in spring 2017 and the new section will open during the summer.

Read more about the plans for the bridge over Genevadsån.

5. Halmstad (the Castle) – Falkenberg (Tullbron bridge) ca 57 km
See the elevation profile below.

From Halmstad city the ride will continue west, toward one of the west coast’s most beloved beaches: Tylösand. You’ll be extra safe swimming here. The beach has professional life guards all summer long. Tylösand is followed by Frösakull, Ringenäs and Vilshärad’s beaches before the path turns east to connect to Kustvägen, the coast road.

Take a break and visit the windmill in Särdal, where you’ll find a café and a farm shop. You’ll pass several beautiful nature reserves with unique beach meadows both before and after the charming village of Steninge.

After Steninge, bike through a forest just before the barren, stony landscape (which poet and Steninge resident Alf Hambe calls Molom in his songs) turns into a lush agricultural setting that unfolds at Steninge beach.

Practical information
Remember to check the opening times of the destinations and sights you intend to visit and ideally book your accommodation in advance!

Sweden’s right of public access is a unique opportunity for everyone to roam freely in the countryside. But you also need to take responsibility for animal and plant life and show
consideration for land owners and other visitors. Don’t disturb – don’t destroy, in other words. The right of public access is limited in national parks and nature reserves. It is always you as the person visiting the countryside who bears responsibility for being aware of the rules that apply in the area that you are visiting.

Also remember to keep the cycle path free of litter – take your rubbish with you to the nearest bin!

Welcome to Kattegattleden!

Plans for this partial stretch Halmstad – Falkenberg, section 5
Steninge
A cycle path 3 kilometres long will be built along the coast road Kustvägen (road 610), between Gamla vägen/Hulabäcksvägen and Ejdervägen in Steninge. It is expected that the new cycle path will start to be built in autumn 2016 or early 2017. The hope is that it will be ready for the 2017 cycling season.

Read more about the Swedish Transport Administration’s plans for this section here.

6. Falkenberg (Tullbron bridge) – Varberg (Socitetsparken), 40 km
See the elevation profile below.

The bike path continues through the town of Falkenberg, which is among the oldest of Halland’s medieval towns, and along the water through the wide open scenery. For a break on the way to Varberg, you’ll find a nature reserve that birds flock to, a few picturesque fishing villages, sweet little farm shops and beaches in every size. As you near Varberg, the destination of this stretch, you’ll pass Apelviken, a beach that attracts tonnes of windsurfers from all over Europe. Before long, you’ll be riding on the boardwalk and Varberg Fortress will tower before you. Pause and have a look! How should you get to the fortress? The German Markus Meyer did it through the privy in the 1500s. Today you can bike the entire way up – if you’ve got it in you. Turn into Societetsparken instead and take a well-earned rest in the shade of the leafy trees.

Practical information
Remember to check the opening times of the destinations and sights you intend to visit and ideally book your accommodation in advance!

Sweden’s right of public access is a unique opportunity for everyone to roam freely in the countryside. But you also need to take responsibility for animal and plant life and show consideration for land owners and other visitors. Don’t disturb – don’t destroy, in other words. The right of public access is limited in national parks and nature reserves. It is always you as the person visiting the countryside who bears responsibility for being aware of the rules that apply in the area that you are visiting.

Also remember to keep the cycle path free of litter – take your rubbish with you to the nearest bin!

Click on the elevation profil to see it.

Plans for this partial stretch Falkenberg – Varberg, section 6
Morup-Ås
A cycle path 9 kilometres long will be built along road 768 between Morup and Ås. Due to the major planning work involved and to appeals, work on the cycle path is not expected to start before 2018 at the earliest, with the path being ready for use in 2018-19.

Until the cycle path is built, the speed limit for this section of road has been lowered during the cycling season (May to October) from 70 km/h to 60 km/h. The lanes for motorised traffic have also been made narrower, allowing more space for cyclists at the side of the road in both directions. Full painted lines with rumble strips have been added to clearly mark out the part of the road reserved for cyclists. Repeated warning signs stating that this section is temporarily part of the Kattegattleden cycle path have been set up.

Read more about the Swedish Transport Administration’s plans for this section here.

7. Varberg (Societetsparken) – Kungsbacka (the square), 76 km
See the elevation profile below.

North of Varberg, the scenery changes – sandy beaches become rocky cliffs and the first islands begin to appear, like Getterön, Balgö and Vendelsö, here you can stay over night in the youth hostel.

Just after Åskloster at Limabacka, the path turns off towards Bua harbour, one of Halland’s biggest fishing villages. At Bua’s INFOPOINT you can get tourist information and, via a QR code, information and directions to many pleasant sights and visitor destinations in Bua and its surroundings. There is also good food and drink to be had in Bua harbour, including at Bodarna i Bua, which offers the mixed seafood Bualåda; Asian food at Restaurang Marina; or why not buy some fresh scampi and prawns from Fiskehuset, sit down on the bathing jetty and enjoy the harbour atmosphere?

The path has mixed traffic through Frillesås and then continues on the old railway embankment, where you can enjoy a car-free stretch along the coast. Pause at one of the swimming beaches in Åsa for an ice cream at the café or coffee and a treat at the bakery.

Take a detour to Tjolöholm Castle – Sweden’s only Tudor castle – and then carry on to Fjärås Bräcka. Take a well-deserved break to absorb the history among the 100 standing stones at the Li grave field! Fill up with water and energy at the Fjärås Bräcka visitors’ centre. With Fjärås Bräcka behind you, you’ll ride on small roads and the bike path beside fields, horse pastures and through towns. Take a break in Hanhals at Rolfsbron, a beautiful arched stone bridge from the 1600s.
In Kungsbacka, this stretch is on bike paths through the town, which is one of the biggest trade centres in western Sweden.

Practical information
Remember to check the opening times of the destinations and sights you intend to visit and ideally book your accommodation in advance!

Sweden’s right of public access is a unique opportunity for everyone to roam freely in the countryside. But you also need to take responsibility for animal and plant life and show consideration for land owners and other visitors. Don’t disturb – don’t destroy, in other words. The right of public access is limited in national parks and nature reserves. It is always you as the person visiting the countryside who bears responsibility for being aware of the rules that apply in the area that you are visiting.

Also remember to keep the cycle path free of litter – take your rubbish with you to the nearest bin!

Welcome to Kattegattleden!

Plans for this partial stretch Varberg – Kungsbacka, section 7
Torpa-Torkelstorp
A cycle path 2.5 kilometres long will be built along road 939, between Torpavägen and Torkeltorpsvägen. It is expected that the new cycle path will start to be built in late autumn 2016 but it may take until 2017. The hope is that the cycle path will be ready for the 2017 cycling season.

Read more about the Swedish Transport Administration’s plans for this section here.

Click on the elevation profil to see it.

8. Kungsbacka (the square) – Göteborg (the Central station), 64 km
See the elevation profile below.

The Kattegattleden runs along bike paths beside the Kungsbacka fjord. The Onsalahalvön peninsula, which is where you are, has exciting maritime history. The king’s privateer, Lars Gathenhielm, is buried at Onsala Church. At the Båt- och Sjöfartsmuseet, the boat and maritime museum just below the church, they know everything about “Lasse in the Street”, who was born in Onsala in 1689. Don’t forget to stop off in Gottskär at the furthest point on the peninsula.

Royalty and Gothenburg’s high society came to Särö for amusement in the early twentieth century. Take an oceanside stroll in the Särö Västerskog nature reserve; once you’ve left the seaside town behind, you’ll reach the railway embankment on the old Säröbanan track that runs along the water.

Cliffs, lush forests, bays and little harbours line the trail and there are plenty of places to swim. As you approach central Gothenburg, the trail will take you past Nya Varvet and the Klippan Culture Reserve. Your journey continues along Göta älv, before you reach your Drottningtorget a the Central station of Gothenburg.

Welcome to Gothenburg!

Practical information
Remember to check the opening times of the destinations and sights you intend to visit and ideally book your accommodation in advance!

Sweden’s right of public access is a unique opportunity for everyone to roam freely in the countryside. But you also need to take responsibility for animal and plant life and show consideration for land owners and other visitors. Don’t disturb – don’t destroy, in other words. The right of public access is limited in national parks and nature reserves. It is always you as the person visiting the countryside who bears responsibility for being aware of the rules that apply in the area that you are visiting.

Also remember to keep the cycle path free of litter – take your rubbish with you to the nearest bin!

Click on the elevation profile to see it.