Discover Kinnekulle, the blooming mountain

306 metres above sea level might not be all that impressive, but on a clear day you can still see right across Lake Vänern to both Värmlandsnäs and Lurö. You also have a view of Läckö Castle, which is situated right out on Kållandsö. You can read more about that here and here.

The pictures above were taken from the observation tower located right at the top. The tower and the café on the ground floor are run by a small community association. As you can see below, the café is quite simple, but it is always nice to have a coffee and pastry, especially when you are out for a walk.

Besides the tower, there is a whole lot else to see at the top. Among other things, two memorial stones, one from the royal visit and one from the tragic plane crash where a Norwegian military aircraft crashed into the mountainside. As a fun fact, there is also ”André's hole”, a mysterious excavation by our local celebrity. It is somewhat unclear why he undertook this excavation as he was not a geologist and normally undertook somewhat more spectacular projects. One theory, however, is that he had a mistress nearby named Gurli Linder and that he therefore needed an excuse to spend time in the area… 😛 If you want to know more about this legendary man, you can visit the André Museum in Gränna. We haven't been there, but it is definitely on our list.

There are a variety of trails that run through the nature reserve and we chose one that starts and finishes opposite Hällekis estate. There is an old stone staircase that marks the start. However, you have to be careful not to cause any damage as it can be punished with a fine of five kronor... 🙂

About halfway along the trail you also come to the impressive stone quarry that you can also see as the feature image for this post. Here there is a small walking path around the small artificial lake, but also a very special motorhome site. The camera didn't quite manage to capture the colour of the water, but it is completely azure blue.

Visit Lidköping calls the area the blooming mountain and we can certainly vouch for that. It is incredibly green and when the wild garlic blooms, it really looks as if the whole mountain is covered in flowers. All these flowers also emit a very special scent and, honestly, you almost get a bit dizzy after walking around there for a while.

When you have walked a full lap and almost got back to the manor, you pass Hällekis Garden Café. Here there is an excellent selection of light dishes and delicious fika. There is also a gallery, a junk shop, a small plant nursery and a few other bits and bobs.

We have been there several times and have always been more than satisfied with the cosy environment, the good food and not least the great service.

There are many beautiful houses in the area that may be worth an extra detour. North of Kinnekulle there is also cozy Hellekis where you can visit the craft village, various museums and various other pleasant summer attractions, among other things. Lundsbrunn Resort and Spa is also around these parts, which can be a nice complement to a cozy hiking trip. You can read more about it here.

What can be said about this experience? Well, we are always happy and satisfied when we leave Kinnekulle. Here you can find gentle walking, culture, nature, good food and much more. In other words, it is an area you always want to return to. So we can certainly recommend a visit.