Martorps hiking trial

Hike through Kinnekulle’s beautiful and varied landscape on the Martorp Trail, a circular route of about 6 kilometers that offers everything from open limestone plains to shady forests and a magnificent waterfall.

Experience Kinnekulle’s diverse nature on the Martorp Trail, a roughly 6 km loop that takes you through open alvar landscapes, lush woods, and to the impressive Martorp Waterfall.

The starting point is the parking area at Ekesbacke, between Västerplana and Husaby. Follow the orange-marked Kinnekulle Trail westward, then take the blue trail toward the waterfall. At Martorp Waterfall, you’ll find an excellent spot to stop, rest, and enjoy the rushing water before following the Kinnekulle Trail back to the parking lot.

The waterfall is at its most spectacular in spring, when melting snow fills the stream. During drier summers, the water partly runs underground through cracks in the limestone. The impressive rock formations around the waterfall were formed about 9,000 years ago, when the inland ice melted and sea waves shaped the limestone. The harder sections that remain resemble the rauks found on the islands of Öland and Gotland.

The trail passes through old grazing lands that have gradually grown into forest. In the clearings, you can spot Orchis mascula, a purple orchid that thrives in lime-rich soil. Near the waterfall, large elms grow, and with a bit of luck, you might catch sight of the white-throated dipper darting through the rushing stream.

The area also has a rich history, Martorp was first mentioned in 1433, and a mill stood here as early as the 18th century. Remnants of its walls and dams can still be seen today. The loop combines nature, geology, and history, making it one of Kinnekulle’s most cherished hiking destinations.