Kuststigen Bovallstrand – Hunnebostrand
Sotenäs
This stage of the Kuststigen, from Bovallstrand to Hunnebostrand (Soteleden stage 3) takes you through idyllic seaside villages to places rich in history and has stunning views of the archipelago.
Quick facts
Length: 14 km
Timing: around 4-5 hours
Difficulty: moderate
Terrain: coastal villages and forests
From fishing and stone cutting to seaside resort
The hike starts in the charming village of Bovallstrand, on the Bohuslän coastline, right where the Bottna fjord opens out into the North Sea. Stroll along streets and alleyways nestled between beautiful turn of the century houses decorated in the fashion typical of that time, with ornamental features in wood and stone. That there have been people living in this area since the Stone Age is evidenced by the wealth of remains such as petroglyphs, burial sites and a stone circle just outside the town.
Up to the middle of the 1900s the town relied on fishing, freighting and stone cutting to get by. When the herring disappeared Bovallstrand became a popular seaside resort instead, but unlike many of the other resorts on this coast at this time it was working class families or white collar workers it appealed to. At the edge of the shoreline lie Bovallstrand’s well known swimming spots, little islands connected by bridges that can be reached from land. You’ll find everything from sandy beaches and smooth rocks to swimming jetties and diving platforms here.
An idyll that put granite on the map
The hike takes you on through farmland and forests as well as by farm shops. You’ll walk through the village of Ulebergshamn by the sea and continue following the coast to Hästedalen, then through the sculpture park at Udden and on to Hunnebostrand. A stone sculpture exhibition is held every year at the Udden Sculpture Park featuring artists from all over the world.
Hunnebostrand is the oldest coastal settlement in Bohuslän, dating back to the 1200s. Many claim that Hunnebostrand was at the centre of the stone cutting industry and there are still reminders of the importance of this industry to the community. Nowadays you can get a feel of what it was like to be a stone cutter during that time at the Stenhuggeri Museum. Not far from the museum there’s an impressive erosion cleft in the rocks, and other exciting rock formations in an enchantingly pretty forest.
Fact about the trail
Length:
This stage is a total of 13.6 kilometres.
Approximate times:
This stage takes about 4-5 hours.
Marking:
This stretch is part of both the Kuststigen and the Soteleden. The Kuststigen is waymarked by name and in blue. The Soteleden is waymarked with blue/white marks on posts and trees and cairns in some places. There are good maps of the path (see more under Maps).
Level of difficulty:
This stage is classed as moderate and is boggy and steep in parts. The trail goes through both coastal villages and forested terrain.
Start and end:
This stage starts by the exercise tracks at Ragårdsgatan not far from the centre of Bovallstrand. The Finntorp bus stop is nearby ( the trail is signposted from there).
How to get here:
Get there easily by car in around 90 minutes from Gothenburg. By bus from Uddevalla takes around 1 hour, changing in Hallinden.
Map:
A digital map of the trail can be found on Google Maps and the Sotenäs website. Map brochures can be purchased in, amongst other places, Tourist Information Centres in the area, and be downloaded from the Sotenäs website.
Sotenäs Turistinformation
Kommunhuset, Parkgatan 46 (sommartid: Ångbåtspiren)
45631 Kungshamn
Phone: +46523 665550
E-mail: info@sotenasturism.se
Website: To homepage
