Strömsholms kanal (etapp 5 av 8) Virsbo - Ramnäs

From mill town to mill town in the fifth phase of Strömsholm Canal

Along this stage, you paddle between the Västmanland mill towns of Virsbo and Ramnäs. The stage offers beautiful scenery, pleasant bathing places and fascinating cultural environments. After you have passed Lake Virsbosjön, the canal flows in a fairly narrow stream, which means that you often paddle close to land and can enjoy rural views.

The stage starts at the launching bridge after the lock in Virsbo and is 16 km long and takes a maximum of 7 hours to paddle including a coffee or lunch stop. The stage ends at upptagningsbryggan in Ramnäs where the paddler can choose to finish the tour or continue along the Strömsholm Canal's next stage towards Surahammar.

Two lifts must be done during the stage before Ramnäs. The first lift is at the Seglingsberg locks and the second shortly after at the Färmansbo locks. At Seglingsberg you will find upptagsbridgean at the left shore edge before the water splits to go to the left towards the lock and to the right towards a power plant. Watch out for the power station on your right. After the lift, there is a land transfer over a bridge that crosses the canal so that you follow the canal on the right past the lock. Launching bridge is missing here, but there are suitable grass slopes down to the water along the right side of the canal where you can launch your canoe. At the second lift in Färmansbo shortly afterwards, you can clearly see the landing stage at the left edge of the canal just before the lock. You will also clearly see this landing stage for launching the canoe after the lock at the left edge of the canal.

A third and final lift follows at the lock in Ramnäs for those who want to continue towards Strömsholm Canal's next stage towards Surahammar. You can clearly see both the pick-up bridge before the lock and the landing stage after the lock on the left side of the canal. However, make sure you find the canal when you paddle towards Ramnäs. At Lake Lilla Nadden, the waterway splits in two. A larger flow of water goes to the left while the canal you will paddle goes to the right.

Along this lovely stage there is much to experience. You pass pleasant places such as the bathing area in Virsbo, the bathing area outside Seglingsberg and the bathing area at Stora Nadden. At the lock at Seglingsberg there is a nice grassy area where you can stop for a picnic and at the lock at Färmansbo there is a grassy area where camping is allowed. Just before Ramnäs you pass Killingholmen where there is a shelter, fireplace and outhouse. It is also possible to camp on Killingholmen.

Those who wish to stay a little more comfortably can treat themselves to accommodation at both Herrgården i Virsbo and Schenströmska Herrgård in Ramnäs. Delicious coffee is available from Genberg's summer café in Virsbo and why not treat yourself to a pizza from Ramnäs Pizzeria.

Virsbo and Ramnäs are located within Surahammar municipality and for more information about what there is to experience here visit the municipality's website for visitors.