A nice day roundtrip from Torne, starting from, for example, the sports ground, where there is parking. Cycle south along Banvallsleden (railway embankment trail) towards the national park. Then continue towards Ålshult, through the beautiful Hackekvarn Reserve and Dunshult to Urshult. From here, cycle along Sirkövägen road north towards the national park entrance Sunnabron. From Sunnabron, continue north through Vrankunge, before turning off back towards Torne. This round is about 60 km. It’s not signposted but easy to follow using the map, which is available to download.
Along the way you’ll pass several places that are perfect for a coffee stop or to visit a farm shop. Read more to be inspired!
In Torne you’ll find café in the old country store and food truck right next door. Homemade cookies, sandwiches and light lunches in the café. In the food truck, street food is served exactly as it should be, straight from the grill, hearty and familiar. With an unbeatable view. Here you can easily pause for a long time both indoors and outdoors! Open every day except Mondays during the summer. Check opening hours on their Fb-page, link below!
Fill your picnic basket with wonderfully tasty, locally produced delicacies. Artisan food for a Swedish ‘fika’ with self-service, more substantial barbecue adventures or quick coffee breaks with ice cream. The waffle and ice cream food truck in the garden offers ice cream, hearty waffles with various toppings during summer season. They offer take-away coffee and tea.
Trollberget offers a wonderful mosaic of nature. The exposed primary rock with its cracks and crannies is said to hide the trolls’ treasure. The dragonflies hover over calm bays, and the legends that surround the area are many. The wide, accessible paths, and narrow forest tracks awaken the inner child and wanderlust in most. Shelter from the weather, barbecue areas and toilets make for comfortable visits! There are cycle racks where you can park your bike and explore the tracks in the national park on foot.
Ulvö
Ulvö is an old station community through which the railway once passed. Today it’s a cycleway, Banvallsleden, on which you’re travelling. A nice place to swim, rest and have a picnic. There’s also a basic toilet by the car park.
THE WATER SPRITE’S BATH
The Water Sprite’s Bath, the Christening Stone – the names vary! But it’s easy to imagine the water sprite taking a relaxing bath here between engagements in darker waters!
Rest area with a view
Rest area with a magical view of one of the most pristine areas in Åsnen. On early spring mornings, if you’re in luck, you may hear the black-throated diver call between the islands. There is a barbecue area and a basic toilet here. Remember to bring your own firewood and good judgment if you’re going to light a fire. This barbecue area is basic and must not be used when there is a general prohibition for lighting fires.
The cosy and friendly shop Ålshults Handelsbod sells coffee, lunch and even offers take-away if you want to ensure you have some extra energy in your backpack. Ålshults Handelsbod is also a tourist centre that provides tourist information.
In Hackekvarn Reserve you’ll cross a nice old bridge – a wonderful photo opportunity along the bike trip! From here you can also glimpse the small island of Kungsholmen. On Kungsholmen, also called Slottsholmen, there are remains of the 14th-century ‘Hacke Castle’, which is believed to have belonged to the Bishop of Växjö.
Sorores Café
Lovely café in the centre of Urshult community that serves biscuits, cake and pastries, and German classics such as authentic Black Forest gateau and the speciality ‘Lauge’. Sorores Café is also one of Tingsryd Municipality’s InfoPoints, which provides tourist information.
At Urshult campsite’s café you can buy coffee, sandwiches, drinks, ice cream, sweets, etc. There’s a sandy beach and swimming jetty, so you can also take a refreshing dip, before continuing north.
Åsnenrökeriet is a small-scale quality smokehouse, with an adjacent farm shop. The smokehouse smokes eel, whitefish, pike-perch, pike, herring and other fish species, as well as game meat such as moose, wild boar, reindeer and bear. All the products are made at Åsnenrökeriet, through warm smoking, cold smoking, sauna smoking, pickling, preserving, boiling, oven baking, etc. Buy food here to take with you to guarantee your dinner!
From here, there are captivating views of parts of Åsnen archipelago. The view from Lunnabacken is one of Åsnen’s must-sees! The community centre organises various activities during the year, including real traditional Midsummer celebrations.
Kurrebo
Kurrebo is a colourful place with cultivations and a breathtaking view of Åsnen’s island world. It has a café and vegetarian restaurant, exhibitions, a shop with plants, local products and art. Accommodation available in youth hostel and B&B.
Malva Gård grow, produce and sell! Juice, snacks, marmalades, gift boxes and juice tasting kits. At Malva you can also buy ‘single juice’, i.e. juice based on one single apple variety. Award winning and KRAV-certified!
Amy’s Kafé is located at Mjölknabben’s Camping on Sirkön. Homemade sandwiches, crumbles, curd cakes and more. Amy’s farm shop, approx. 300 m north of the café, is always open for self-service. Opens for the season in April.
The main entrance to Åsnen National Park, Sunnabron, is located in the heart of fantastic deciduous forest that has been made easily accessible on foot. Put your cycle by the car park and discover this part of the national park on foot! A short path leads you to weather buildings, barbecue areas and a platform out onto the water. If you continue along the path, you’ll reach Bjurkärr where there is another weather building and barbecue areas. In Bjurkärr you can breathe in the clean air and look for rare, red-listed lichens and mosses, insects and more that show the great richness of species here. Look at the trees, the sensitive lung lichen, which requires exactly that – clean air – grows on several of them!
Vrankunge Garden and Café
Instead of turning left towards Torne bridge, you can continue 200 metres straight ahead to Vrankunge Garden with a café and food. Flowers, locally produced and, not least, homemade waffles, filling sandwiches and Småland coffee. Berries and green produce according to the season. After your visit, turn back, cross Åsnen via the bridge and you’re back in Torne again!
