Verkeåns naturreservat, Agusa-Hallamölla, Naturreservat

Here in the Verkeån Agusa-Hallamölla nature reserve you will find both Skåne's largest waterfall and cultural environments such as Andrarum's alum mill and Hallamölla mill. The Verkeån river flows through the entire area on its way down to Brösarp's slopes and Haväng in the adjacent reserve. There are good opportunities for hiking. The Backaleden trail runs along the south side of the river and the Skåneleden trail on the north. The hike goes through both pastures and deciduous forest in the hilly landscape on its way to the sea in the east. Near Alunbruket and the coffee house in the west is Verkasjön. There are opportunities for barbecues and overnight stays. In the far north, the Skåneleden trail runs up the pointed pebble ridge Jären.

The clean water of Verkeån

Verkeån meanders through the reserve. It is unusually clean and rich in species for a Scanian river in an agricultural area. Shady trees and cool groundwater keep the temperature down in summer. At the same time, the swamp forests along the river banks act as small purification plants. Unusual fish and insects thrive in the flowing, clear and oxygen-rich water. These include trout and stonefish.

Red colored hills from the alum mill

The old alum mill in Andrarum was Skåne's largest industry in the 18th century. Black clay slate was mined from the ground and refined into alum with the help of fire. Alum was once a sought-after substance that was used both in the tanning of leather and as a medicine, for example to stop bleeding. The slag heaps with the burnt, red shale remain in nature. The magnificent whitewashed warehouse is another reminder of this era. The old dance floor is hidden in the forest.

Old trees teeming with life

Alum production consumed large quantities of wood. And in the early 19th century, the landscape was almost completely devoid of forests. The trees that remained were often found on the steep and less accessible slopes along the Verkeån river. These trees became a refuge for some of the forest's plants and animals. Today, the old trees provide shelter for both unusual mosses and lichens. And many of the reserve's beetles depend on the decaying old wood. Some of them are the bee-eater, the six-spotted flower beetle and the leatherjacket.

Hallamölla mill and waterfall

At Verkeån is the old mill Hallamölla dating back to the 1400s. Sometimes there are tours of the mill, which was in operation until the middle of the 20th century. It is also here that you will find Skåne's largest waterfall with a total drop of 23 meters. In the damp environment next to the rushing water, mosses form green cushions on the rocks. Here you may see white-tailed deer and common terns hunting insects in the river.

Outdoor life

At the old alum mill in Andrarum there is a parking lot and coffee shop. Next to it are the red-colored slag heaps from the time of the mill and the dance floor. A short distance north is Lake Verkasjön with parking, picnic area, shelter, toilet and barbecue area. Don't forget the charcoal and remember to take your rubbish home. Verkeån flows through the reserve. The Skåneleden trail (orange, SL4 Österlen) runs along the northern side of the river and the Backaleden trail (yellow) along the southern side. Both follow the river all the way down to the outlet in the Baltic Sea at Haväng. A stretch of about 20 km that also includes the nature reserve Verkeån subarea 1 with Brösarp's slopes.

Another access point is Hallamölla. Both Backaleden and Skåneleden pass the old mill building and the waterfall next to it. The waterfall at Hallamölla is Skåne's highest with a total drop of 23 meters. It is a nice place for a coffee break. In the far north, south of Agusa, there is another parking lot. Here Skåneleden runs up on one of Skåne's most powerful pebble ridges, Jären. It is a so-called goat ridge with particularly steep sides and a pointed ridge.

**OBS: The trails in the reserve have been damaged by previous high water flows and storms and are still difficult to access in places. We are trying to fix this as soon as we can, but the work is extensive and takes a long time. We regret this!

In English

Welcome to Verkeån Agusa-Hallamölla Nature Reserve

The River Verkeån runs through a varied landscape; inland through deep ravines, through coniferous and deciduous woodlands, meadows and fields and finally it cuts through the sandy hills, out to the sea.

You are now in the western River Verkeån Nature Reserve, Agusa-Hallamölla. The ridges stretch out in a hilly landscape with lots of woodland.

The River Verkeån, which winds its way through the reserve, is unusually clean and species rich for a river in Skåne. Unusual fish and insects inhabits the clear, flowing and oxygen rich water.

At the beginning of the 1800s the landscape was almost entirely bare of woodland when the Alum factory at Andrarum used up wood in huge quantities. In the steeper parts of the river ravine and in some of the grazed pastures however, the trees were left. These ancient, hollow trees have become a haven for many fungi, lichens, insects, birds and bats.

Close to Hallamölla mill you'll find the highest waterfall in Skåne. The Hallamölla waterfall has a combined height of 23 meters.

Regulations

Within Verkeån Agusa-Hallamölla Nature Reserve it is forbidden to:

• remove dead wood, break branches, cut down or otherwise damage trees and bushes,
• light a fire, other than in designated barbeque areas or with a kerosene or propane stove,
• use motor-operated vehicles except on designated roads,
• cycle along the walking trails or in areas set aside for nature conservation,
• bring along a dog unless it is on a lead,
• camp other than in designated places,
• park caravans, camper vans, buses or equivalent vehicles other than between the hours of 06-24 at the specially designated places,
• use a boat, canoe or equivalent in Lake Verkasjön, River Verkeån or other lakes or water courses within the nature reserve.

Without permission from the County Administrative Board it is also forbidden to:

• undertake scientific or other types of studies which can damage or disturb the natural environment,
• put up signs, posters, notices, tape or any other equivalent items,
• arrange competitions or set up camp activities.