Nature reserves

Discover and admire!

Discover the natural beauty of Woods of Halland, where you can explore a number of diverse nature reserves. Whether you’re looking for easy access or a more rugged experience, there’s something for everyone. Some reserves are designed for accessibility, while others offer more challenging terrain, perfect for those in search of peace, quiet, and solitude. Each reserve boasts its own distinctive character, and in many places, you’ll encounter real wilderness.

Read more about the different nature reserves of Woods of Halland below.

Nature reserves

Ödegärdet

Ödegärdet, once used for farming over 2,000 years ago, is now a rich natural reserve. Over 600 stone cairns mark ancient cultivation sites, and the area is home to ancient beech trees, some over 250 years old. The forest floor is covered in mosses like fällmossa, and the area supports hole-nesting birds like woodpeckers and green woodpeckers. Visitors can explore a 2-kilometer nature trail that provides insight into the area’s rich cultural and natural history.

Gassbo

Visiting Gassbo offers you a rare glimpse into an undisturbed natural landscape, featuring ancient beech forests and diverse wildlife. The area is home to over fifty red-listed species, including unique mosses and lichens that thrive on the abundant dead wood accumulated over time. As you explore the northern parts of the reserve, you’ll come across remnants of past human activity, such as old crofts and charcoal pits, adding a historical layer to the natural beauty. This tranquil and ecologically rich environment provides the perfect setting for you to connect with both history and nature.

Hastaböke

Hastaböke is a forest of ancient spruce trees, some 250 years old, interspersed with older deciduous trees and towering pines, one of which is a remarkable 375 years old. This undisturbed forest is home to numerous rare species, many of which depend on dead wood for sustenance, with lichens, mosses, and fungi thriving in this rich environment. The forest's birds, including the smallest woodpecker species, are drawn to the decaying wood, where they create nesting sites later claimed by other animals.

Hägnen

Hägnen is a rugged peninsula on lake Södra Färgen, home to ancient beech forests and a mix of pine, birch, and oak, creating a rich and diverse natural habitat. The area is inhabited by rare species of lichens and mosses, and its tranquil forest serves as a haven for wildlife, including the crested tit, whose calls can be heard in spring. This blend of natural beauty and historical significance makes Hägnen a unique and captivating place to explore.

Tira Öar

Tira Öar is an archipelago in Lake Bolmen, known for its diverse nature. The islands feature old coniferous forests, flowering lindens, and rich birdlife. The area includes glacial till on Storö and a mix of pine, spruce, and lindens on Högaholm. The reserve is home to osprey, sparrowhawk, and common scoter. Certain areas are bird protection zones, closed from April 1 to July 15. Fallen trees support wildlife, and the beaches, including Storö’s, offer camping and outdoor activities.

Lintalund

Lintalund Nature Reserve offers a glimpse into Sweden's traditional cultural landscape, with its meadows and fields nestled within a cultivated forest of spruce. The old farmland, once surrounded by heathlands and juniper bushes, is now preserved through grazing animals, which prevent overgrowth and help maintain the habitat. The reserve is home to rich biodiversity, with species like orchids, wild grasses, and rare birds such as green woodpeckers and great spotted woodpeckers. The meadows are among the last remaining traditional hayfields in the region.

Lunnamossen

Lunnamossen Nature Reserve offers a wild, untouched landscape, perfect for those seeking a true wilderness experience. The reserve features expansive open peat bogs, interspersed with myrholmar (moss islands) covered in old-growth pine and mixed forests. Some of the trees here are over 400 years old. The area is home to rare plants like bog lily, cranberry, and several species of mosses. Birdlife is abundant, with capercaillie, black grouse, and cranes. The reserve also holds remnants of old homesteads, offering a glimpse into the past.

Skubbhult

Skubbhult, located by Lake Mellan-Färgen, features an ancient beech forest on a gently sloping hillside. The forest is rich in mosses and lichens, with old trees covered in species like coral lichen and lungwort, indicating a well-preserved ecosystem. The area is also home to rare bird species, including the honey buzzard and green warbler. Remnants of ancient stone heaps, known as field cairns, suggest past agricultural use, dating back to the Iron Age and Middle Ages.

Mårås

Mårås Nature Reserve features ancient, untouched beech forests, with some trees over 300 years old. The reserve's landscape is rich in biodiversity, offering a tranquil hiking experience along a 2.3-kilometer trail through dense foliage. In the spring, the hills bloom with wood anemones and squirrelberries. The highest point, a rocky hill, offers views over the surrounding forest and the 100-year-old beech stands. Dead wood in the forest provides habitat for rare insects, and visitors may spot the uncommon lesser spotted woodpecker. The southern part of the reserve offers a scenic spot by Jansbergssjön, perfect for swimming or fishing.

Femsjö Church Reserve

In the years around 1810 the young Elias Fries frequently botanised in the area. Also other mycologists and botanists have made this an important reference area. It is easiest to reach the area from Femsjö school.

Sikön

Sikön is an island and two small islets in Lake Jällunden, a clear, nutrient-poor lake, known for its rich biodiversity. The lake supports various fish species and is surrounded by coniferous forests. Sikön, a 3.5-hectare nature reserve established in 1957, provides vital nesting habitats for birds and is home to diverse plant and animal life. Access is prohibited from March 1 to August 31 to protect wildlife during the breeding season.

Mogölsmyren

Mogölsmyren offers an untouched wilderness, where silence prevails over the vast peat bog. This typical west Swedish high bog features a central elevated area, surrounded by wetland edges known as "lagg," which are wetter than the bog itself. The landscape is rich with vibrant mosses that shift in shades of red and green, along with plants like sundew, cranberries, cloudberries, and bog myrtle. In summer, the bright yellow blooms of bog lilies appear, followed by the pink bells of heather. The reserve is also home to rare birds such as the woodcock.

Kloö

Kloö Nature Reserve is a tranquil island in Kloömosse, surrounded by rich forests of pine, spruce, and birch. The area is part of a 400-hectare wetland, home to diverse plant species like marsh lily, bog cotton, and sundew. The reserve’s unique habitat supports a variety of wildlife, including woodcock, black grouse, and other rare birds. The vast marshlands, with their quiet, wild atmosphere, offer a haven for nature enthusiasts seeking to experience the beauty of southern Sweden's wetlands and natural biodiversity.

Yamossen

Yamossen is a wetland and forest area by Lake Jällunden, known for its peaceful, untouched environment. The area features open spaces with marsh lilies, swamp forests, and old beech and pine forests, including impressive ancient pine trees aged between 230-300 years. The land was once used for various activities like haying, grazing, and peat cutting. Today, visitors can enjoy the area’s wilderness feel, though there are no parking spaces or marked trails.

Hinnakullsberg

Hinnakullsberg is a forested mountain with stunning views, bordered by marshes and the Vimplabäcken stream. It features old oak and beech forests with rich biodiversity, including mosses, lichens, and wood-living beetles. Dead wood, tree hollows, and clearings create valuable habitats. The area also includes young spruce forests and a forested marsh. The reserve is currently inaccessible by car and can only be reached on foot through the northern forest.

Älmö

Älmö is a beech forest reserve with diverse trees like oak, birch, pine, and aspen. Small streams and wetlands enhance the landscape. Recognized in a 1994 biotope survey, it hosts rare mosses and lichens, including red-listed species. The area has been forested since the 1600s, with conifers appearing later. Old beeches are rich in lung lichen, and large oaks and aspens grow in the north. A circular stone monument, about five meters wide, lies in the northern part of the reserve.

Sjö

Sjö Nature Reserve, by Lake Unnern, features diverse landscapes, including beech, oak, and mixed forests. It’s home to rich birdlife like green woodpeckers, larks, and sometimes osprey and herons. The reserve includes terraced, stone-piled fields, remnants of early farming. Meadows bloom with wildflowers like buttercup and meadow vetchling, while the forest floor hosts lily of the valley, wood anemone, and wild thyme.

Hint!

Visit naturkartan.se Länk till annan webbplats, öppnas i nytt fönster. (or download the app) for a map of the nature reserves. You can also find more information at lansstyrelsen.se/halland.

Nature reserves are one of the main ways of protecting our precious countryside. Each reserve is unique and therefore has its own rules for looking after its natural features. The purpose of the nature reserve determines what restrictions apply. When you visit a nature reserve, signs will tell you what rules you have to follow are.

Click here for more information about how Sweden protect natural areas Länk till annan webbplats, öppnas i nytt fönster.