Kringelvägen med Björkbodarna

From Hedby, the path both towards Björkbodarna and towards Kättjarbodarna has been newly marked in 2022. Now you can walk a round that takes you from Hedby to Björkbodarna, on to Kättjarbodarna and back along Kringelvägen to Hedby again. The part of the round that goes in Gagnef municipality, between Björkbodarna and Kättjarbodarna is well-trodden and nice path, otherwise the quality varies but if you pay attention to the marking, it is good to find!

The hike starts with an uphill and after just over 500 meters you can choose turns, clockwise or counterclockwise. Regardless of the choice, it continues uphill. The clockwise turn leads up towards Björkbodberget. Through forests and over small bogs until you reach the Björkbodarna shepherd's hut. Here you have now come to Gagnef's well-trodden shepherd's huts and it is easy to walk to Kättjarbodarna. Back towards Hedby, you follow Kringelvägen through forest and along marshes. Down Hissberget there are some stunning views of Djurabygden.

What is Kringelvägen?

In the 1890s, Nygårds Brita Olsdotter (1839-1928) walked from Hedby to Mockfjärd to sell her homemade pretzels and wheat buns on the church rampart in connection with the church service. She carried the bread in a basket along the nearly 1.5 mile long road over the steep slope of Hissberget, further over Kättjarboberget and Uvens berg. Three shepherd's huts were passed on the way to Mockfjärd: Kättjarbodarna, Gråbodarna and Nordbäcksbodarna. Her sister Lindpers Karin Olsdotter (1837-1914), who was married to Västdjura, also baked and sold wheat bread on the Djura church rampart. Ollas Karin Andersdotter (1840-1929) or Liss-mor as she was called, walked all the way from Djura church village to Floda and sold pretzels. She may be the one portrayed in Olof Arborelius' painting from 1885.

Wheat bread was unusual at that time. According to a record made by the teacher Anna Haag, wheat bread was rarely baked in older times "except by those who sold". It was only "sô mittji ä happen" (once in a while). There were certainly many who were tempted to buy and therefore worth the effort for the baker to walk so far. The Kringelvägen from Hedby to Kättjarbodarna was re-routed and marked again in 2022.