Adventure hiking along ridges and an old stone quarry

The Skrylle Nature and Recreation Area east of Lund offers splendid views over Vombsänkan, a flat landscape nestled between the Romeleåsen and Linderödsåsen ridges, and a variety of woodland environments. Hike along forest-covered ridges and through a troll forest of very old, very rare, very gnarled beeches. Take a break at Skryllegården Naturum Visitor Centre’s restaurant or go for a swim in the old, water-filled stone quarry at Knivsåsen nature reserve.

Vresbokarna i Trollskogen är en muterad form av bokträdet Photo: Michael Tannus

Where? Torna Hällestad-Skyllegården-Knivsåsen. Length: 12 km. Difficulty: Moderate

This hike follows Skåneleden Trail’s sub-trail SL2, Nord-sydleden Trail, in central west Skåne, ten kilometres east of the university city of Lund.

The starting point at the village of Torna Hällestad is easily reached by bus. But consider that you might need to pre-order a taxi or bus home from Dalby if you’re hiking on the weekend. Check out the church and don’t miss the three 11th century Hällestad Runestones incorporated into the church walls. You may also want to get some supplies in the local grocery store before setting out.

Follow Skåneleden Trail west along the old railway embankment. In the heydays of rail travel, trains used to roll through here carrying passengers to and from Dalby and Bjärsjölagård Slott Castle. Transport of tanks to the Revingehed Swedish military regiment kept the railway alive until the early 1980s. But today, only hikers travel this route.

In a little while, it’s time to leave the railway embankment and head north on Skåneleden Trail section 13A towards Skryllegården. This will lead you into Prästaskogen Nature Reserve and up a prominent boulder ridge, or esker. The view out over the Revingefältet military exercise area to the east is impressive. Follow the path down into a dense deciduous forest.

Soon you enter Trollskogen, the ancient troll forest known for the rare Twisted Beeches (also called Dwarf Beeches) that grow here. There are less than 1,500 older specimens in Europe and this stand is likely the largest. Twisted beeches are true to their name: they’re wide-spreading with twisted and contorted trunks and gnarled branches that reach for you as you pass by. Up ahead, next to the shooting range, there is a toilet.

As you get closer to Skryllegården, spruce becomes more common and the path doubles as a jogging trail, and you are more likely to meet or be overtaken by joggers on this stretch. Once you get to Skryllegården, you will find an outdoor exercise area, a restaurant and the Skryllegården Naturum Visitor Centre and exhibition.

A few kilometres later you leave the forest and the jogging track as your footsteps carry you through the remnants of old pasturelands. Junipers are spreading in this area and bear witness to the type of vegetation that would have once characterised large portions of the Romeleåsen Ridge. Cattle still graze here - just not enough to keep the landscape open. Be respectful of the animals grazing here as you pass through. Be especially respectful if your hiking companion is a dog.

The orange trail markers guide you along through a tall beech forest. Your footsteps bring you to the enchanting, old stone quarry at Knivsåsen Ridge, an especially seductive place on a hot, sunny summer day. Why not take off your hiking boots and hop in? But you don’t have to be a dare-devil cliff diver to enjoy the water here. There is also a small sandy beach where getting in and out is easy. When you’re ready and you’ve taken in your last view out over Vombsänkan, you can cross the asphalt road and continue following the Skåneleden Trail south. Soon you arrive at the Knivsåsen bus stop, serviced by Skånetrafiken, the regional public transportation provider, with good coverage on weekdays and weekends.