Södra Bjärekusten, Naturreservat

Södra Bjärekusten is an elongated coastal reserve between Vejbystrand and Torekov. Here you can walk in flowery beach meadows and rocky shingle fields. There is a good chance of seeing seals and good opportunities for swimming. The walk offers fine views over Skälderviken towards Kullaberg. Particularly impressive is Dagshög, a five-meter high burial mound from the Bronze Age. The Skåneleden trail takes you through this flat coastal heath. On its way north, Skåneleden continues into the Bjärekusten nature reserve with Hovshallar, which has a much more dramatic nature.

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Coastal heath with pebble fields and white sandy beach

Open land and open sea await. Södra Bjärekusten is an elongated nature reserve that runs along the coast between Vejbystrand and Torekov. Here you are met by grazed and flower-rich meadows, but also by a lot of stone and sand. The beach is often rocky and boulder-rich, and in some places large shingle fields spread out. Here and there, white sand has also been deposited and laid the foundation for a number of popular bathing spots.

Grazed land with wading birds, amphibians and gentians

The grazed coastal meadows are home to both breeding waders and small birds such as stone curlews and avocets. The flat coastal landscape also contains several frog ponds. Here you can see unusual species such as the common toad and great crested newt. Perhaps most special is the unique flora. There is an abundance of marram grass and jewels such as coastal rue, coastal and bell gentian. If you're lucky, you may find the rarities small water lily and floating reed at one of the small ponds. Small, delicate plants such as cat's foot and dwarf flax thrive on the nutrient-poor, dry pasture.

Porpoises, seals and seabirds in the waters of Skälderviken

Skälderviken spreads out beyond the coastal meadows. The water is rich in fish and sea mammals swim here - porpoises, harbor seals and sometimes even gray seals. Eider and little tern are some of the birds that take advantage of the water's riches.

Dagshög - Skåne's largest burial mound

The Bjäre Peninsula is one of the country's oldest cultural areas. All the ancient remains in the area show that people lived here early on. One ancient site that stands out in particular is the Bronze Age mound Dagshög. With a height of 5 meters and a diameter of 42 meters, Dagshög is Skåne's largest burial mound. It is located in the northern part of the reserve between Torekov and Rammsjöstrand.

Outdoor life

Södra Bjärekusten's nature reserve extends about 15 km along the Bjäre coast, from Torekov in the north and almost down to Vejbystrand in the south. The area is worth visiting all year round, although the summer bathing attracts most visitors. There is a unique flora here, with a lot of hawthorn and gentians. The Skåneleden trail (SL1 coast to coast, stage 18) can be followed throughout the reserve. Along the trail there are nice bathing places and species-rich environments as well as rest areas and toilets. Remember to take your rubbish home. Take the opportunity to look for harbor seals and porpoises along the walk and also little terns during the summer months. An example of good opportunities to see seals is in Vistorp harbor, in the southern part of the area. Also take the opportunity to go up to the Bronze Age grave Dagshög in the northern part of the reserve.

There are several parking lots in the area. There are bus stops in Torekov in the north and in Vejbystrand just south of the reserve. In the far south there are two small islands with no access. The islands or skerries are called Inre- and Yttre Gryteskär and may not be visited between March 1 and June 30. There is a rest area and parking lot on the adjacent mainland. It is forbidden to stay here with a motorhome/caravan overnight. Camping is also not permitted within the reserve.

In English

Welcome to Södra Bjärekusten Nature Reserve

Along Södra Bjärekusten, the extensive coastal meadows stretch out before you; grazed for thousands of years. The landscape is a mosaic of wet and dry, nutrient rich and nutrient poor, sand, pebbles and cliffs. If you are lucky you can spot the rarities lesser skullcap and floating water plantain by one of the pools or carline thistle and common milkwort in patches where it is dry, with more chalk in the soil. The nutrient poor, dry pastures are adorned with small, rare plants such as mountain everlasting and allseed.

The Skälderviken bay extends out beyond the coastal meadows. The water is full of fish and the sea mammals such as porpoise, harbor seal and grey seal like to swim here. Common eider duck and little tern are just a few of the birds which take advantage of the water's riches.

Regulations

Within Södra Bjärekusten Nature Reserve it is forbidden to:

• Go ashore on the islands of Inre and Yttre Gryteskär and the adjacent islands, or go into the water area marked on the map between the 1st March and 30th June (red dashed areas on map),
• put up posters, signs, plaques, notices or equivalent items,
• put up any kind of construction or foreign (for the nature reserve) object,
• drive a motor vehicle other than on public roads or roads designated for driving,
• park up a caravan, camper van or equivalent (i.e. a vehicle designed for sleeping) between the hours of 00.00 and 06.00,
• camp or make a fire other than at designated places or were directed by the site manager,
• ride or drive with a horse other than on designated bridleways or where directed by the site manager,
• organize competitions, play golf or undertake any other activities which may disturb the natural environment, plants or animals,
• bring dogs other than when held on a lead,
• moor or pull up boats other than in the harbor area between the 30th April and 1st October,
• damage natural objects or formations (e.g. exposed bedrock).

The regulations which apply in the reserves are set out on the notices displayed at the entrances and on maps.