Experience the Bohuslän coast by bicycle

In Bohuslän it follows the ”Cykelspåret” (”The Bike Path”) route, and is a 290 km marked bike path from Göteborg in the south to Svinesund by the Norwegian border. 2005 is the anniversary of the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden, and the new bridge over the border at Svinesund will be opened on June 10. At Järntorget Square in Göteborg the bike path links up to the one that continues south through Halland and northwestern Skåne to Helsingborg. The local tourist information offices have details including maps, as well as tips on what to see, places to eat and where to sleep.

The ”Cykelspåret” north from Göteborg passes through the town of Kungälv, with its charming small streets lined with wooden buildings. From here you follow the valley of the river Göta Älv, most of which is a nature reserve. Then the route takes you through the Svartedalen park, with a range of walking tracks, crystal-clear lakes and hilltop outlooks. After Stenungsund and the bridges to the island of Tjörn, you ride along the coast, past the undulating, sculptural rocky landscape so typical of Bohuslän, through charming little fishing villages and past coves and swimming spots. Many of the numerous coastal towns feature restaurants specialising in seafood served straight from the ocean.

The path takes you over a series of pretty islands such as Tjörn with the Nordic Watercolour Museum in Skärhamn, Orust with Café Emma, and Malö and Flatö. After Lysekil you pass the Nordens Ark animal park and coastal towns like Bovallstrand and Fjällbacka where Ingrid Bergman used to spend summers and where Camilla Läckberg writes her crime novels. It also runs by the Vitlycke rock carvings in Tanum, a Unesco World Heritage Site. Before you reach the Norwegian border at the impressive Svinesund Bridge, it’s worth checking in at Strömstad and heading offshore to the Koster islands - Sweden’s first marine national park and a popular destination for cyclists.