Haverdal, Naturreservat

Haverdalsreservatet is one of Halland's oldest nature reserves. The area is a flying sand field located by the sea in Harplingebukten. Here you can swim, walk, jog, ride, drink coffee and pick mushrooms. Or go to Stora Sandkullen, from the top of the dune you have a nice view of the surroundings.

If you start from the parking lot at Lynga and hike down to the sea, you will experience a variety of habitats before you can dip your toes in the water. Closest to the parking lot is a stretch of fossil dunes in the pine forest. They began to take shape 400 years ago when the original forest was cut down.

The largest dune even has its own name, Stora Sandkullen. At 36 meters above sea level, it is probably the highest sand dune in Sweden. From the top you have a view of the reserve and its surroundings for miles. On clear days, the pine forest below is bathed in sunlight. Here the trees are relatively open. The ground is in various shades of green, but lingonberries and creams as well as reindeer lichen add extra color to the forest in late summer and autumn.

Paths and benches

There is an extensive network of paths, including a special nature trail (marked with ermine symbols) where you can learn more about Haverdal. Along the nature trail there are 15 signs with various facts about nature and the area. The nature trail starts from Lynga. At the Lynga parking lot there are also several tables and benches exposed.

There is also a bridle path in the reserve. It is 3.6-4.2 kilometers depending on which way you choose to ride. There are signs, maps and information about the trail in the reserve. To avoid mixing walking and riding, the bridle path is outside the regular marked hiking trails. In some places, however, there are crossings between the trails and there are signs posted to warn about the crossings, both for pedestrians and for riders.

Riders who want to get down to the beach should choose the so-called rescue route, which goes directly from the Lyngby parking lot and straight out to the beach.

Markings in the reserve

There are four marked trails in the reserve. The length and color of these are described below (see map of trails further down the page):

• Green marking, Nature trail - 3.3 km
• Blue trail - 3.6 km
• Orange trail - 4.6 km
• Yellow trail - 3.7 km
• There are also other trails in the reserve that do not have any special markings.
• There are also special bridleway markers on the 3.6-4.2 km bridleway. These signs are white and blue with a horse and rider on them.

Rich bird life

The Skinta stream runs through the reserve and is lined with deciduous trees such as birch and alder. If you are lucky, you can see Sweden's second-smallest bird, the wren, scurrying along like a mouse at the water's edge. The wagtail almost always has its tail up in the air and would probably avoid being seen if it weren't for the fact that it protests loudly against anyone who encroaches on its territory. The Skintan valley is home to a rich bird life with impressive bird song in May and June. Along the shores of Haverdal, oystercatchers and greater sandpipers can be seen, as well as other species of resting wading birds during migration.

Strong currents in the sea and tricky outlet from Skintan

Haverdalsbukten is shallow but can be affected by very strong currents and sudden seabed changes on windy days. If you get caught in the current, try to stay on course along the coastline to get out of the current.

As the Skintan outlet moves throughout the year depending on the weather and wind, the surfaces around the outlet are sometimes slippery, with soft sand that can feel like quicksand, where you can easily sink. So be extra careful where you put your feet when you are out and about at the outlets.

Spinning pine trees

In several places in the reserve, there are pine trees whose trunks are crooked or even knot themselves. Together, they form a small world of natural sculptures that, with the help of the imagination, can become the strangest figures. No one really knows why they have taken on such strange shapes. Perhaps it's the wind, insect infestation or something in the plants' genes.

Spider webs and gnarled aspens

On the walk down to the beach, you will also pass damp hollows where, among other things, wattle, bellflower, pine and various deciduous trees grow. Closest to the beach heath you are again under a canopy of leaves. Here you will find gnarled and set aspens whose leaves rattle loudly on windy days. From the sea you can hear the roar of the waves and the cries of seagulls. From the wide heath that waits behind the aspen trunks, you might hear the buzz of bumblebees and bees searching for nectar among the heather, hawthorn and other flowering herbs.

The dunes were planted with forest

Until the end of the 19th century, there was a treeless flying sand field with flowering sand heaths here inside Harpling Bay. The sandy field had long been used as pasture by local farmers. Peat and seaweed, and earlier also firewood and timber, were taken from here. But in the 17th and 18th centuries, the farmers of Haverdalen had increasing problems with flying sand covering roads and crops. They first tried to stop the sand with the help of fences and rice paddies, but eventually they had to take action. To bind the sand, the sandy field was planted with grass, pine, birch, alder and mountain pine in the early 1900s.

Sand Life opens up

Today, sand escape is no longer a concern, the problems are the opposite. The dunes have become overgrown with dense stands of grass, rice and shrubs, and the forest is getting denser. Many species that were once common are now red-listed or have disappeared completely. In the reserve, we are working to recreate and improve the habitats of species in the sandy soils. Through restoration, endangered species will be saved and lost species will have the opportunity to find their way back. Bare sand is re-created where flowers can grow and insects can dig nests. Haverdal Nature Reserve is one of the areas in Halland that has been restored as part of the EU Sand Life project.

Join us on a digital tour of Stora Sandkullen

Join our reserve manager up to the top of Stora Sandkullen.

Map of the trails in the reserve

You can print out the map below and bring it with you to the reserve.

Riding trails in the reserve

The bridle path is 3.6-4.2 kilometers depending on which way you choose to ride. There are signs, maps and information about the trail in the reserve.

Here you can see the route on a map in PDF format Pdf, 188.7 kB, opens in new window.

Digital folder

Here you will find information and facts about the Sand Life and Haverdal project, presented in a simple and concise way in text, images and maps.

Swedish version Link to another website

English version Link to another website, opens in new window

German version Link to another website, opens in new window

PDF version Pdf, 1.2 MB, opens in new window.