Skåneleden SL4 from Brösarp to Borrby Strandbad via Simrishamn and Kivik can now be added to the list of completed hikes in Sweden. Click the links to go to the maps. This stretch of Skåneleden offers many different environments from dense leaf forrest to long sandy beaches. Sometimes it feels like you’re not even in Sweden anymore, especially when the weather is so nice and sunny like when we were there.
The main goal with this trip was to test out all the gear before our trip to Iceland here in late July. We were hoping for some wind and maybe even some rain, but we got nothing of that… Rather the complete opposite.
We started our hike in Brösarp near the bus station on Friday around 7pm and walked towards Kivik. It was a warm summers evening around 20 degrees Celsius, might even be called the first proper one so far this year.
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- Nature is interesting at times.
After a few kilometers of easy walking it was time to take a quick break and have a look at the stream that we’d been following for some time. And would be following all they way down to the ocean.
A quick splash of water on hands and face to cool down.
During a snack break on a beautiful meadow we got some unexpected company. We were standing in the middle of nowhere and when I looked around I couldn’t see a soul. Then just out of a sudden these three showed up behind a low stone fence.
Jon picked up his pack as they looked hungry for Cuben Fiber. You never know how many square feet of Cuben these guys can eat per minute.
Orchards and many of them.
Scouting rabbits as they run all over the fields.
After a few more kilometers we finally reached the ocean, and what a view!
Jon is down by the water to cool his feet and head.
After a quick stop we pushed on towards Kivik. At this point we didn’t really have a plan for when and where to stop. And because we were inside a nature reserve our options were limited. However many non-hikers didn’t really respect this and we saw open fires, pitched tents and loose dogs on the beach.
We reached the outskirts of Kivik just as the sun was about to set and after have walked circa 12 kilometers. It was a very nice sunset and during this we pitched the tent and made some last minute adjustments to the Bearpawwd inner that really made it even better than before.
We even found a new technique for pitching the tent. To make sure the ground is as flat as possible we lay our walking poles on the ground to see if things are uneven. This was really helpful!
The moon is rising in the horizon.
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- Preparing dinner…
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- …in the dark
The next day we woke up to singing birds and the sun that was heating up the tent.
We walked into Kivik to get some more water before we headed of to Stenshuvud to see the views from there.
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- Kivik harbour
On our way to Stenshuvud we passed by Kivik Musteri, an apple farm. Unfortunately we were there too early and the shop had yet to open, but at least we got ourselves a quick break after about 5 kilometers. Even this early, 9am, the sun was burning us, about 25 degrees Celsius.
Trying to keep in the shade but that was way more difficult than one might think…
Reaching the foot of Stenshuvud, finally shade!
Hiking to the top gaining some much wanted elevation.
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- Stairs are way more exhausting than just a normal climb.
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- Finally at the top!
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- Trying to sit in the shade but keeping the shirt and socks in the sun to dry.
Enjoying the view. Also getting to know where we’re going and how far it actually is.
After reaching the top it is always the same story… You have to go down again, and we did. At this point I think that not one worn piece of clothing was dry and not because of any rain… We picked up the pace and set our goal to reach the beach and have a swim to cool down. I guess that now the temperature had reached close to 30 degrees Celsius.
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- Beach camp.
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- Baywatch moves!
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- Exiting the water.
This doesn’t really look like Sweden to me.
After a cooling swim we kept on walking in a nice pace. Not many people had come to the beach yet but just 10 minutes later it was crawling with sunbathers.
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- Taking a well needed break
As it got later in the day the temperature reached the completely nuts temperature of about 35 degrees Celsius. It’s no fun hiking in this temperature when you’re expecting something else.
Hiking through some idyllic places along the way.
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- Town
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- There’s something wrong here…
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- Bridge over calm waters.
** ENTER PICTURES HERE ** – Due to the heat we just pushed on for several hours not taking a single picture and then finally we took this one.
Personal record, passing 42km in one day.
We stopped hiking just a few kilometers after this picture was taken and at that point we’d reached just south of the small town called Skillinge and we set up camp.
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- Getting things organized.
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- WATER!
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- Stretching and recovering.
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- The view.
Our camp for the night.
On the next day we got up early, even though we had some crazy runners(!?) going past our tent all night with headlamps and laughter. And some people think that we’re crazy going hiking 🙂
Heading down to the beach again for the final stretch.
Lovely hiking by the water with a slight breeze.
Our goal of the day was to walk a few kilometers to one of the bus stops that Jon previously had picked out on the map. We also wanted to find a good spot for a quick swim before we had to leave Österlen.
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- The shore isn’t always nice…
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- The smell!
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- Crazy tractor guy. Drove down in to the water and took a picture of his racer.
Reaching Borrby Strandbad. Short last day, about 5 kilometers.
Drying in the sun after a swim.
We took the bus from Borrbystrands Camping to Ystad and then back to Brösarp where our car was waiting.
Ystad train/bus station.
Lighter Packs 
This has to be one of my favourite areas in southern Sweden, lovely beaches and beautiful forests. Which is also why it is a popular area. I recognise the area you camped in the first night, I had not considered camping there, and its a pity that camping is not allowed in the Nature Reserve as there are plenty of beautiful spots. As for temperatures I remember that weekend and it was pretty warm here as well certainly not ideal hiking weather. I am intending to return to this area, winter or summer it is an easily accessible relaxing and refreshing hiking area.
Yes it’s a great place to visit and hike. I hadn’t been there before so it was all new to me.
Looks like a beautiful trip. We are thinking about doing the Haväng – Stenshuvud part next weekend. The campspot you used looks really nice. Is it close to the Kivik Church? Or is it actually north of Vitemölla?
https://goo.gl/maps/ofNwsRxVkN32
Yes that’s more or less exactly the spot.
We just got home from a beautiful trip. But camping is not allowed on that spot any more. Didn’t feel right to pitch our huge, red, 3p tent there. I actually don’t think there is a single pice of grass between Haväng and Stenshuvud on which they haven’t put a no camping sign.. Quite annoying they build nice parking places, even especially for camping cars, but no tent spots.
Yes we found that to be a problem too. However there were loads of people stealth camping within the reserv when we were there. “Hidden” in the dunes just a few meters in to the tree line.