Biskopstorp, Naturreservat

Biskopstorp is one of southern Sweden's largest forest reserves. It is also one of Halland's most accessible. Accessible hiking trails, bench tables, toilets and good parking facilities have been built here. Take a trip to Biskopstorp and discover the unique environment with powerful rift valley terrain, rippling streams and lakes, old-growth forests and grazing cattle.

It is not only the cheese that has made Kvibille widely known. Biskopstorp has long been a popular destination for excursions thanks to its shimmering beech forests and hilly terrain. However, it was not until the early 1990s that people began to realize that a number of unusual species lived in the forests here. Today, we know that Biskopstorp is one of the country's most important areas for lichens that grow on beech, such as giant lichen, local lichen and lung lichen. The forests are also home to unusual beetles, as well as many mosses, fungi and birds. Today, more than 100 threatened species have been recorded in the area.

Cows grazing in the forest

The reserve is one of the largest forest reserve initiatives in southern Sweden. It is hoped that the area will develop into a "Noah's Ark" where many of the threatened species of western Sweden will have a chance to survive. Almost 300 hectares of the land have been fenced off to keep grazing animals in the woodlands. Cattle, sheep and sometimes horses graze here. The aim is to achieve sparse and light-open forests. Much of the planted spruce forests have been removed, a process that will continue in the future. These areas are being replaced by broadleaf forests or more or less open pastures.

Deviates from the pattern

Beech and oak forests are common in Halland's forest and midlands. However, there are often no really old trees or dead wood. This makes it difficult for the forests to support threatened and more demanding species. In Biskopstorp there are both really old trees, a lot of dead wood and large contiguous old-growth forests. This means that many animals and plants thrive here.

Many hiking trails and signs

If you want to discover the large reserve, you can start from the old Kronotorpet, next to Kroksjön. The area has a total of nine hiking trails and two accessible trails. The trails are between 1 kilometer and 4 kilometers. The trails are linked together, so you can walk further by connecting more trails. You can read more about the trails in the brochure further down the page.

Along some of the trails there are information signs that tell about Biskopstorp's history, natural values and the various management methods used to convert the spruce plantations to broadleaf forest.

Accessible for wheelchairs, walkers and prams

Major efforts have been made to make the area more accessible for outdoor life. Hiking trails, picnic areas, several barbecue areas, a viewing platform, a jetty in Kroksjön and several parking lots have been built. The area should be easy to visit for those who come with a stroller, wheelchair or walker.

Kroksjöslingan, which starts from Kronotorpet, has two branches where you can get around with a wheelchair, walker or stroller. One leads down about 200 meters to one of several barbecue areas with wheelchair-accessible bench tables and a fire pit next to it. There is also an accessible jetty with a fence and anti-skid protection. There are two simple benches on the jetty. The second loop leads out to the outermost tip of the cape, length about 1 kilometer. Here, too, there are two wheelchair-accessible bench tables and a fireplace.

It is not allowed to collect firewood from the surroundings, but it is possible to pick up ready-chopped firewood at the visitor center, the starting point for the trails, or you can bring your own firewood or coal. There is a large parking lot at Kronotorpet where the trails start. There are also accessible dry toilets.

Viewing point with seating

The Fästampa loop is about 250 meters one way and leads up to a viewpoint. From the platform you have an expansive view, partly towards Steninge and a patch of the sea and partly towards the whole of Halmstad, Laholmsbukten and Hallandsåsen in the distance. The structure is shaped like an amphitheater and there is plenty of seating. There is a small parking lot at the starting point.

There are also natural viewpoints here and there in the reserve. When the trees are bare, you can also see the sea from several other viewpoints along the various trails.

Fishing in the lake

Fishing with hand gear is allowed in Kroksjön (but not in other lakes in the reserve). Maximum one rod per person. The lake contains pike, perch and roach.

Collect stamp

In some of our most attractive reserves, you can also collect a nice stamp when you visit the reserve. You stamp either directly in your guidebook or on your own paper/book. In Biskopstorp, the stamp can be found at the information board at the Kroksjöholm visitor center.

Leaflet about the reserve

Biskopstorp Link to another website

Rent the crown tower Kroksjöholm

Do you have an association, an organization or are you a researcher with a focus on nature and nature conservation? Or are you an association that organizes activities for children or adults with various forms of disabilities?

Now you can rent Kronotorpet and get closer to nature through research, study visits or hikes. Through the association HK Vandraren, which rents the Kroksjöholm crown tower, there is now the opportunity to rent the croft for a shorter time when space is given in their activities.

Contact HK Vandraren: Jan-Åke Bengtsson mobile: 076- 539 30 30 or e-mail: janben4928@hotmail.com