Walk without taking the car

Long hike Bjärka Säby to Linköping

Take the countryside bus 566 towards Brokind with frequent departures from Trädgårdstorget to the Bjärka Säby stop. Set your sights on the new Castle and follow the orange-marked Östgötaleden trail towards Hamra via beautiful paths along Stora Rängen. When you reach the mouth of the Kinda Kanal, hike alongside the canal until you reach Hovetorp. Here you’ll find both toilets and the opportunity to enjoy ice cream or rent a kayak. The hike continues to Hamra, where there is also a toilet before you diverge from the Kinda Kanal and head towards the forests south of Linköping. A pleasant hike leads you to the wetlands at Ullaberg where you continue your hike into Linköping through beautiful forests, nature reserves, and Tinnerö Oak Land.

If you don’t want to walk all the way back to Linköping, you can instead circle the wetland at Ullaberg to continue out to the parking area at Harvestad, over Tinnerbäcken, and finally to the Brokindleden where you’ll find the Harvestad bus stop. Take bus line 10 back to Trädgårdstorget.

Distance: approx. 30 km.
Hiking time: 8-10 h.
Difficulty level: Easy.
Toilets: Hovetorp. Hamra, Ullaberg, Ullstämmaskogens nature reserve, and Vidingsjö Motionscenter.
Ice cream & Snack: Bjärka Säby, Hovetorp, Vidingsjö Motionscenter.
Drinking water: Hamra, Vidingsjö Motionscenter

Short hike Harvestad to Linköping

Take bus line 10 towards Sturefors with departures up to every twenty minutes from Trädgårdstorget and get off at the Harvestad gård stop. Walk the path up towards Ullaberg. Just before you reach the parking area, you will pass Tinnerbäcken. From the parking area, follow the orange-marked path along Östgötaleden around the wetland, over the bridge, and then into the forest, and finally Tinnerö Oak Land south of Linköping.

Distance: approx. 17 km.
Hiking time: 5-6h.
Difficulty level: Easy.
Toilets: Ullaberg, Ullstämmaskogens nature reserve, and Vidingsjö Motionscenter.
Ice cream & Snack: Vidingsjö Motionscenter.
Drinking water: Vidingsjö Motionscenter

Ljung to Bergs locks

Between Ljung on the border to Motala and Bergs locks, it’s easy to hike even if you don’t have a car, and the hike goes along the beautiful Göta canal.

Take bus 520 towards Motala and get off at the Ljungs Västra Bro stop. The stop is right next to Göta canal, and here you start your hike along the canal towards Bergs locks. The hike is just over 9 kilometers long and is easy to walk as it goes along the wide gravel road next to Göta canal. The trail also has good accessibility.

You can also take the same bus line to Borensberg in Motala and walk the same way to Bergs locks, this hike is just over 20 kilometers.

Maps and information about the trail can be found here.

Bjärka Säby to Hamra (Östanskog)

Take the countryside bus 566 towards Brokind with frequent departures to and from Trädgårdstorget and get off or on at the Bjärka Säby, Östanskog, or Hovetorp stops; you can combine it as you wish depending on how long or short you want to walk. Around this area, you can hike along the water at Kinda Kanal, discover locks, the beautiful lake Stora Rängen, and visit the mighty New Castle Bjärka Säby.

Map and more information can be found here.

Distance: approx. 8 km.
Hiking time: 2-3 h.
Difficulty level: Easy.
Toilets: Hovetorp. Hamra.
Ice cream & Snack: Bjärka Säby, Hovetorp.
Drinking water: Hamra

Hamra (Östanskog) to Linköping

Take the countryside bus 566 towards Brokind with frequent departures to the Hamra (Östanskog) stop. Discover southern Linköping’s forests through hiking in nature reserves and finally the beautiful Tinnerö Oak Land as you approach central Linköping.

Map and more information can be found here.

Distance: approx. 22 km.
Hiking time: 6-8 h.
Difficulty level: Easy.
Toilets: Ullstämmaskogens nature reserve and Vidingsjö Motionscenter.
Ice cream & Snack: Vidingsjö Motionscenter.
Drinking water: Vidingsjö Motionscenter