Klintkustleden

**The Klintkustleden is one of Sweden's finest coastal trails. Along the trail you have views from high, mighty cliffs. You will experience old forests and wetlands, picturesque old fishing villages, ancient castles and other ancient remains. Perhaps you will see a sea eagle flying at the height of the path up on the cliff!

The Klintkust Trail stretches from Björkume Nature Reserve in the south to Hallshuk in the north. Currently, the trail is 30 km long and marked with orange ribbons or tiles. The trail connects six nature reserves. Along the trail there are overnight accommodation and places to eat. There are also several fixed barbecue areas along the route.

Along the trail you can experience wide views and learn more about the nature of Gotland. Hiking is also a good form of exercise that suits both individuals and groups.

The Klintkust Trail was built in 2018-2019 in a collaborative project between the Swedish Forest Agency, the County Administrative Board and Region Gotland. The County Administrative Board manages the trail and is working to extend the trail all the way to Kappelshamn.

Björkume - Lickershamn

The Klintkustleden trail starts in Björkume nature reserve in Lummelunda. The reserve covers almost 240 hectares of forest and marshland. From the road, the trail takes you through the sparse and herb-rich pine forest via wetlands down to Rönnklint by the sea. The cliff rises 30 m from the beach and from the trail you have a magnificent view of the sea.

The sea is ever-present as you walk north towards Stenkyrkehuk. In the northern part of the reserve, you walk almost down the beach to a summer cottage area. At the lighthouse, the trail turns off onto the cliff again and you will once again enter the forest on top of the cliff until the next nature reserve - Törrvesklint. The height of the cliff varies here between 20 and 30 meters and reaches its highest level just at Törrvesklint, a distinctive protruding "cliff nose", from which you have a magnificent view. The reserve is largely covered with old coniferous forest dominated by pine. Many of the pines are between 150 and 200 years old. There are many dead trees where birds and insects live.

The trail continues up the cliff to the Jungfrun nature reserve and on down to Lickershamn. Rauken Jungfrun is Gotland's highest rauk. Its top reaches 12 meters above the plateau it stands on and 26 meters above sea level. According to legend, the rauk is named after a tragic love affair that took place here at Lickershamn almost 1000 years ago.

Lickershamn - Ireviken

Lickershamn is a well-known tourist destination with bathing, guest harbor, restaurant, kiosk and toilets. Here you will also find a camping and cottage village.

From Lickershamn you follow the Klintkustleden trail along the beach northwards. Out at sea along the beach there are plenty of seabirds that you can watch.

After a few kilometers after Lickershamn, the Klintkustleden trail turns steeply up the cliff. The climb up the cliff can be demanding. Keep in mind that it can be slippery if it is wet. Once up on the cliff, you continue hiking in old pine forest. You can make a detour to the Grausne källmyr nature reserve where you can get acquainted with most of the plants typical of this type of wetland.

Halfway to Ireviken, you can again make a detour straight into the forest to the remains of an Iron Age farm - Höglundar. People lived here more than 1500 years ago.

Just before the trail goes down to Ireviken, there is a large ancient castle with views of Ireviken and north. Down in Ireviken there is a restaurant and hostel. There is also a hostel up by the main road, a few kilometers from the trail. From Ireviken there is a bus connection north and south.

Ireviken beach is a popular swimming spot. The Klintkustleden trail follows the beach and after a few kilometers you pass over Ireån. A walk along the river can offer both sea trout and common sturgeon at certain times of the year. The watercourse meanders naturally and has created rapids, nipas, basket lakes, meander arches and meander nests. By walking the Ireåslingan trail, you can familiarize yourself with the jungle-like terrain along the river and the surroundings with views from the cliff and an ancient castle.

Ireviken - Harudden

Ireviken beach is a popular swimming spot. The Klintkustleden trail follows the beach and after a few kilometers you pass over Ireån. A walk along the river can offer both sea trout and common sturgeon at certain times of the year. The watercourse meanders naturally and has created rapids, nipas, basket lakes, meander arches and meander nests. By walking the Ireåslingan trail, you can familiarize yourself with the jungle-like terrain along the river and the surroundings with views from the cliff and an ancient castle.

When you follow the Klintkustleden trail north from Ireviken, you enter Gotland's largest nature reserve in the country, Hall-Hangvar, an almost 30 square kilometer nature reserve that stretches from Ireviken in the south to Kappelshamnsviken in the northeast.

After the steep stairs up the mighty cliff at Svarthäll, you come across and down to Sigsarve beach where an old fishing village is located. From Sigsarve, the trail then goes up the cliff again and stretches through old forest with views of the sea to the west. If you are lucky, you will see a sea eagle soaring over the sea at the same height as the trail.

After another fishing village at Häftings, the Klintkustleden trail goes back up to one of the highest points along the trail - Häftings klint. Here you have a magnificent view, from Lickershamn in the south, out over the sea in the west and north along the cliff coast. From the ancient castle located here, you could once see approaching dangers and warn in time.

The trail then goes down through the forest to a small resting hut, Sigges Kurru. You now walk on the embankments just down by the sea. After Norstad fishing village, you walk on a wide pebble beach with the sea to the west and gnarled old windswept pines to the east. Once you reach Harudden, you can watch birds. Many migratory birds pass through during the spring and on the beach meadows south of the headland you can find a lot of waders.