A pleasant and gentle cycleway that takes you through the Smålandic landscape and close to water. The tour passes several historical sites – the stone arch bridge over River Mörrumsån is a classic photospot! About half of the trail is on a car-free cycleway and the other half on small paved roads; a short stretch of the trail is on a gravel road. The bike ride is 12 km and signposted.
Start your trip from Norraryd’s camping and you can take the opportunity to treat yourself with a Swedish fika after the trip!
This is where the tour starts! Cross road 120, follow the cycle path south towards the center of Ryd. Some parts of the route are the so-called Holländarevägen, which in the 17th century was a transport road between Huseby Bruk at the northern end of Åsnen and down to the coast and Bodekull (Karlshamn).
Take the opportunity to buy coffee from the café for the tour!
You are now cycling on a part of the Banvallsleden that is car-free. Hönshylte skans (medieval fortress) that you pass is worth a stop and a little wonderment! What we see today are the remains of a medieval guard fort.
When you have passed the remnant of the old fort, you will soon see the famous ”Shark” sticking its gap out of the lake to the left of the bike path!
Ryd and the THE WELL AREA
Continue south to the center of Ryd and turn left at Västergatan, and continue on Brunnsgatan. At the end of the street you can see Almundsryd’s church from 1830. Visit Hembygdsgården – the local homestead museum with several interesting environments. The well area dates from the 1890s. Here you find remains from an old mineral spring, a health well where people, mainly from the middle class, came and drank from the well while visiting ”Ryd’s well and health resort” developed into one of the country’s most visited health resorts. Today you find i.a. a boarding school here in the area.
Follow the bridges via the island to the opposite side of the lake.
Stay on the small road through the forest for about 1 km, then turn left and follow the road through the villages Brosmåla och Vrångaböke. North of Brorsmåla is an old dolerite quarry. Shortly before road 120 turn left onto the bicycle path on the old railway embankment. Two beautiful railway bridges are leading you over the river Mörrumsån.
The stone bride at Blidingsholm
After the bridge you can take a detour to Blidingsholm. Follow the sign to the right through the forest and then right again. Here you are passing Brotorpets kanal, a little rarity. Cross road 120 until you reach the beautiful stone bridge with its eight arches. Turn back to the bicycle path on the railway embankment and continue your way back to Norraryd’s camping. During excavations on the peninsula, artifacts from the sone age have been discovered.
