Balsberget, Naturreservat

The magnet is very much the view from the top and what it delivers, miles across the surrounding landscape and Kristianstadsslätten! This forested rocky hill of about a hundred meters offers great opportunities for hiking and walking. In the Balsberget nature reserve you will find three marked trails where the red trail, 3.5 km, leads up to the top.

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The forest

Beech forests spread out on the slopes. The calcareous soil fills the forest with spring flowers. Around May 1, the ground is covered with white, blue and yellow cowslips. In the early morning, you may come across some of the wild animals found in the forest - roe deer, elk or fallow deer and, on rare occasions, even red deer. The area also has a rich bird life with many species. On an early morning visit, you can hear the small birds singing and woodpeckers such as the nuthatch, lesser spotted woodpecker and green wren pecking out their nest holes in the trees. In the fall, it's time to bring your mushroom basket. There are plenty of both funnel chanterelles and Karl Johans mushrooms here.

The cave

Deep down in the mountain, the bats rest in winter. They hibernate in Balsbergsgrottan, one of Skåne's largest caves. It is a cave system with over 200 meters of cave halls and passages. The caves are natural, formed by water dissolving the limestone rock, but have been expanded by limestone mining. Water bats are the most common species to overwinter in the caves, but other species also find their way here, such as the endangered barbastelle. In summer you can visit the cave but during the period October 15 - April 15, the cave is closed to avoid disturbing the bats' hibernation. Keys to the gate can be obtained from the estate office at Råbelöfs manor.

Outdoor life

Balsberget is a popular area for outdoor activities with three marked trails in hilly terrain. The red trail, 3.5 km, leads up to the top of Balsberget. Stop and enjoy the miles of views, 93 meters above sea level. If you continue with the yellow loop after the summit, you get a few more kilometers and real level differences. The blue loop is less hilly and 2.7 km long. The three loops pass Balsbergsgrottan and start from the parking lot in the western part of the area. Feel free to combine the loops with the roads as you make your way around this hilly forest landscape.

The cave can be visited during the summer months. You can borrow a key from the Råbelöf estate office (weekdays 8am - 4.15pm, tel 044 - 754 40).

At the parking lot there is an accessible toilet and barbecue area. Remember to bring charcoal if you are going to barbecue and to take your rubbish home. There is also a rest area with bench tables at the cave and at Råbelövssjön. The nearest bus stop is Fjälkestad church, which is 1.5 km west of the reserve. Balsberget is one of the visitor sites in the Vattenriket biosphere reserve with great outdoor opportunities. Here you can hike, cycle and kayak/canoe, among other things. Next to Helge å in Kristianstad is the Vattenriket nature center where you can get good nature guidance.

In English

Welcome to Balsberget Nature Reserve

From the top of the hill at Balsberget there is an expansive view out over the plains of Kristianstad and the surrounding landscape. This wooded, hundred-metre-high hill of Archaean rock lies close to the lake Råbelövsjön and offers plentiful opportunities for hiking. This jewel is about 10 kilometres from Kristianstad and is well worth a visit, especially at the time the trees are coming into leaf when the ground is brilliant with flowers and in autumn when the mushrooms appear.

Woodland

Beech woodlands spread out across the slopes. The lime-rich soil means that the woodland fills with spring flowers. Around the first of May the ground is covered with white, blue and yellow anemones. In early morning, you can run into one of the wild animals that live in the woodland - roe deer, moose or fallow deer, occasionally even red deer.

The area is also rich in bird life, with many species. On an early morning visit you may be able to hear small birds singing and woodpeckers such as Black Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and European Green Woodpecker pecking out their nesting holes in the trees. In autumn, it is time to bring along your mushroom basket. There are plenty of trumpet chanterelle and cep.

The Cave

Bats rest deep down in the hill in winter. They hibernate in Balsbergsgrottan, one of Sweden's largest caves. The cave system has over 200 meters of caverns and passageways. The caves are natural, formed by water dissolving the limestone hill, but they have been widened by limestone mining.

Daubenton's bat is the most common species found hibernating in the caves, but other species also find their way here, for example, the threatened barbastelle. In summertime, you can visit the cave, however, between October 15 and April 15, it is closed in order not to disturb the hibernating bats.

Regulations

In Balsberget Nature Reserve, you may not:

1. make a fire anywhere other than designated places by prepared parking areas
2. drive motorized vehicles except on the designated road to parking areas
3. set up a tent, caravan, motorhome or similar
4. ride a bike outside of existing roads and forest roads
5. ride horses
6. allow a dog or other pet off lead
7. harm living or dead, standing or fallen trees or shrubs, or harm other vegetation, for example by digging up plants
8. climb the slopes, whether free climbing or using equipment
9. enter the Balsbergsgrottan cave passages between October 15 and April 15
10. hold orienteering exercises, competitions or other organized outdoor activities in the area marked on the map, with the exception of existing paths and forest roads
11. set up a billboard, placard, sign, notice, marker or similar item, with the exception of informational signs, reservation signs and boundary markers
12. arrange motor sports competitions

In addition, without the landowner's permission you are not permitted to:** **.

13. utilise the area for competitions, exercises, camp activities or other organized outdoor activities

14. drive horse-drawn vehicles