Ludvika - Grangärde, St Olav Rombo Way Stage 8

Between Grangärdes old church village with iron maker’s homesteads, and Ludvika’s streets you walk alongside lakes and through the woods. For some time you follow the old railway embankment that is now an easy to walk cycle track. The second part of the stage is in the woods, and you walk on forest paths and roads.

In Ludvika you will find the mine museum, the old ironworks and Ulrika church that was built for the iron workers in the 18th century. In the middle of the stage is the eco temple – a place of worship in the middle of the woods – where you can stop for a moment’s reflection.

The church in Grangärde has roots from the early 15th century. There is an alter cupboard from that time and a medieval sculpture of St. Olav.

Walk in the footsteps of the pilgrims

Romboleden (Rombo Way) is a pilgrimage route that people began using in the 11th century. The Romboleden is Sweden’s longest pilgrimage route at 900 kilometres long. It starts in Köping in Västmanland and finishes in Trondheim on the Norwegian Atlantic coast. If you walk the entire trail, you will experience a beautiful and varied landscape. You will walk on old chalet paths, over mountains with magnificent vistas and along narrow country gravel roads. You will find easy one-day walks with cafés along the way, and long treks that take several days. The route often passes through small villages.

Would you like to walk with a Pilgrim’s Passport and collect stamps from each stage? The medieval Pilgrim’s Passport allowed a pilgrim to walk in the whole of Europe without being stopped by rules or boundaries. These days it is just a nice memento. The Pilgrim’s Passport can be collected at several stage starting points and from the web page of Rombo Way.

Thanks to the landowners – show consideration when hiking

St Olav Rombo Way runs mainly through actively cultivated forest and agricultural land. Thanks to the generosity of the landowners and the cooperation with non-profit organizations, you have the opportunity to hike through landscapes that would otherwise be inaccessible.

As a hiker, it is important to remember that you are walking on someone else's land. Show consideration by sticking to the trail, avoiding to disturb animals, crops and ongoing work. Leave nature as you found it - or even better.

Leave nothing but footprints along the trail.