Bjärekustens naturreservat, Naturreservat

The Bjärekusten nature reserve is located at the far end of the Bjäre Peninsula. In the north, a dramatic rocky coast awaits. Here, primeval mountains such as Hovs Hallar and Knösen rise from the foaming water. The Skåneleden trail runs along the edge and the walk offers breathtaking views of Laholmsbukten. A steep path leads down to the rocky beach with rauks and cave-like rock formations. If you continue Skåneleden south towards Torekov, the beach and pastures are flatter and easier to walk. Seals are often seen resting at Norrebrohamn. At Ängalag you pass the eight Bronze Age burial mounds called Gröthögarna.

Sea water with varying salinity

The Bjäre Peninsula is located in the transition zone between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. Currents and winds give rise to large variations in salinity. This contributes to the area's rich marine plant and animal life. The fact that the seabed varies between sand, gravel and rock also contributes to the diversity. Seabirds, seals and porpoises also seek out the waters of the Bjäre coast in search of food.

Hovs Hall's steep cliffs and caves

At the far end of the Bjäre Peninsula lies Hovs Hallar. A dramatic rocky coast with steep cliffs and shingle fields. The reddish bedrock in the cliffs of Hovs Hallar has been shaped by the forces of the sea. In the cliffs, you can see angular boulders that have broken away from the rocks. On the shoreline, there are instead rounded pebbles that have been polished by the water. It can be a little difficult to get down to the pebble beach, but for those who make their way here, cave-like rock formations and towering rauks await. Up on the plateau, wide fields of juniper spread out.

Watch seals and birds

Along the coast there are seals that often lie and rest at Norrebrohamn. There are also many birds here, mostly ducks and gulls. On really stormy days, birdwatchers crouch among the rocks waiting for the winds to blow in rare seabirds from the Atlantic. Beach toads also live at Norrebrohamn and Ilasjön, as well as in the neighboring reserve Södra Bjärekusten.

Gröthögarna - burial cairns from the Bronze Age

The Bjäre Peninsula was a popular place already during the Bronze Age. The sea provided both food and transportation, while the land was good for cultivation and grazing. There are therefore plenty of traces from this time on the Bjäre Peninsula. Large burial mounds and burial cairns are found around the landscape, as well as rock carvings and small rounded pits in boulders, known as bowl pits. In the Bjärekusten nature reserve there are the eye-catching Gröthögarna. It's an unusual collection of eight burial mounds that lie in a row between Torekov and Hovs halls.

Outdoor life

The Skåneleden trail runs through the entire Bjärekusten nature reserve. From Båstad, the trail goes via Englandsdals nature reserve Link to another website and later enters the northeastern part of the Bjäre coast. Here the hike begins with a sharp climb up to the view Knösen. Then the hike continues through forest and pastures up along the edge to Hovs halls. At Hovs Hallar, a more open landscape and wide views of Laholmsbukten await. From the large parking lot you can make a detour down to the rocky beach and the rauks. The path is rocky and steep in places. A slightly easier hike continues through the more flat and open pastures and beach meadows between Hovs hallar and Torekov. At Norrebrohamn you have good opportunities to see seals. A little further south are the old Bronze Age graves Gröthögarna.

The large parking lot is at Hovs halls. There are toilets and a hotel with a restaurant. Just outside the reserve, the Skåneleden trail has a rest area with a shelter and fire pit. Within the Bjärekusten nature reserve, however, it is not allowed to make fires. Rest areas and access points with small parking lots are available in several places. Krossarevägen (Kattvik) is the entrance in the far northeast. From Hovs hallar to Torekov you have in turn access points at Norrebrohamn, Dalen (Olastorp), Ängalag (Planthagsvägen), Svarta hallar (Källrevägen) and Varan (Flymossavägen) at Torekov. Toilets are available at Norrebrohamn and Ängalag. Ängalag is a good starting point for visits to Gröthögarna.

In English

Welcome to Bjärekusten Nature Reserve

Bjärekusten Nature Reserve comprises the northern coastal stretch of the Bjäre Peninsula. Cliffs of primary rock such as Hovs Hallar and Knösen rise steeply from the sea. Large pastures with a thousand-year-old history meet shingles and sea.

At Gröthögarna, eight large burial cairns from the Bronze Age remind us of the long history of humans on the Bjäre Peninsula.

A little bit inland is Knösen, the highest point on the Bjäre Peninsula. The Skåneleden Trail, which passes through the reserve, provides a lovely walk along pastures and beaches.

Sea birds, seals and porpoises live in the coastal waters. On stormy days, sea birds such as storm petrels and northern gannet driven in from the Atlantic can be spotted from the rocks.

Regulations

Within Bjärekusten Nature Reserve it is forbidden to:

• disturb wildlife by close-up photography of nests, lairs, burrows,or similar,
• bring unleashed dogs or other loose pets,
• light fires other than in designated places,
• drive mopeds or other motor vehicles other than on designated roads,
• park other than in designated areas,
• camp or park caravans,
• pick, dig up or in any other way damage plants, mosses or lichens,
• break off branches, fell or in any other way damage living trees and shrubs,
• put up notice boards, placards, posters, signs, or similar, or make inscriptions,
• in a disturbing manner use music or sound equipment, musical instrument, or similar,
• without the permission of the County Administrative Board, carry out scientific or other investigations that may disturb the natural environment,
• cause damage to fencing, signs or other fixtures,
• ride other than on specially designated roads or paths,
• moor or land boats other than in adherence to harbors and by permission of the landowner,
• play golf,
• park campers or similar (i.e. vehicles with overnight facilities) at the mooring areas between 12 p.m. and 6 a.m.

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

In German

Welcome to Bjärekusten Nature Reserve

The Bjärekusten nature reserve covers the northern coastal area of the Bjäre Peninsula. Here, bedrock cliffs such as Hovs Hallar and Knösen rise steeply out of the sea, and there are extensive thousand-year-old pastures, scree fields and the sea. At Gröthögarna, eight large Bronze Age burial mounds are a reminder of the long human history of the Bjäre Peninsula. A short distance from the coast, Knösen is the highest point on the Bjäre Peninsula. The Skåneleden hiking trail runs through the nature reserve along idyllic pastures and beaches. The coastal waters are home to seabirds, seals and porpoises. On stormy days, seabirds such as storm petrels and gannets can be seen from the cliffs as the wind blows them in from the Atlantic.

Regulations - it is forbidden in the Bjärekusten nature reserve

• disturbing wildlife by taking close-up photographs of nests, burrows, dens and the like,
• letting dogs or other domestic animals run free,
• making fires outside specially designated areas,
• use of mopeds or other motorized vehicles off roads designated for this purpose,
• park away from specially designated areas
• camping or putting up caravans,
• picking, digging or otherwise damaging flowers, grasses, mosses or lichens,
• break branches or otherwise damage living trees and shrubs,
• put up boards, posters, notices, signs, inscriptions or similar devices
• using music or hi-fi equipment, musical instruments or the like in a disruptive manner
• carry out scientific or other research that may affect nature without the permission of the provincial government,
• damage fences, signs or other devices
• to ride off specially designated paths and tracks
• mooring or mooring boats outside port areas, except with the permission of the landowner,
• play golf,
• placing mobile homes or similar (i.e. vehicles with sleeping accommodation) on the moorings between 00.00 and 06.00.