Stenshuvud is characterised by its hilly coastal landscape, lush broadleaf forests, and beautiful white beaches. Hike up to the 97 metre high viewpoint and admire stunning views up and down the Baltic coast.
Stenshuvud National Park is located a couple of kilometres south of Kivik, on the east coast of Skåne. The national park was formed in 1986, and today is one of three national parks in Skåne. The name Stenshuvud derives from the 97 metre hill, which according to local folklore got its name (“Sten’s head”) from a giant living in a cave on the hill. As the surrounding landscape is relatively flat, Stenshuvud can be seen from a great distance and has traditionally been used as a landmark for seafarers. In 1749, Carl von Linné and Olof Söderberg passed Stenshuvud, noting in their travel log: “Stenshufvud is a high mountain, which lies on the seafront of the sea to a useful land survey for the seafarers”.
The majority of Stenshuvud is covered with deciduous broadleaf forest, including beech, oak, and hornbeam. In the south of the park are heaths, meadows and moorland. Stenshuvud offers delightful hiking trails through lush forest and heathland, viewpoints out over the sea, a beautiful sandy beach suitable for swimming, and even the ruins of a 6th-century fortress.
Stenshuvud Map
Hiking Trails
Stenshuvud Loop - 2km, 1H
This is the classic Stenshuvud trail. The trail leads through a beautiful hornbeam and oak forest, passes the ruins of an ancient castle wall, before making its way to the viewpoint at the top of Stenshuvud with views out over the sea and along Hanöbukten bay. There are three summits: north, south, and east. The north summit is the highest, at 97 metres. If you wish to extend your hike, follow the steps down to the yellow trail. Once you interect the main track, either walk back along the alder marsh on the inner side of the hill, or follow the track north and follow the edge of the sea southwards.
Hällevik Loop - 4km, 1H30M
This trail can be started from either the main or northern entrance and does a loop of the hill. From the main entrance, take the trail north through hornbeam forest, past the alder marsh, and to the the arboretum at the northern entrance. The trail then leads though oak forest, before reaching the coast and following the coast southward. You pass the lighthouse, some secluded streches of beach, and eventually make your way back to the main entrance at Naturum.
Kortel Loop - 3km, 1H
This trail can be started from either the main or southern entrance. The hike passes through birch forest, hornbeam forests, meadows and pastures. The highlight of the hike it the Kortelshuvud viewpoint, which gives great views over Stenshuvud and out to sea.
Sea Loop - 1km, 30M
This trail begins at the Naturum Visitor Center and is a pleasant stroll leading down to the sea. The trail passes the edge of the orchid meadow which, during the summer, puts on a spectacular display of floral splendour. This is the most direct route to the beach.
Arboretum Loop - 0.5KM, 15M
Hälleviks Arboretum is located at the very north of the national park. Botanist Carl Ekenstam began collecting, propagating, and selling exotic plants in Hällevik at the turn of the century. He began planting excess plants here from 1910 onwards. He worked closely with Henric Åkesson, the founder of Kiviks Musteri. The arboretum has a large collection of conifers and cypress from Asia and North America.
Skåneleden: SL4 Österlen (Simrishamn - Kivik)
Walking northward from Simrishman, the trail approaches Rörums Strand. You can either enter Stenshuvud from the southern Rörum entrance and take the purple Kortel trail to Naturum, or you can follow the beach north, turning inland on the blue Sea trail to Naturum. From Naturum, the trail follows the red Stenshuvud trail to the 97 metre high point of the national park, and then continues on the yellow Hällevik trail to the the northern Hällevik entrance. The trail follows the road the rest of the way to Kivik.
How to get to Stenshuvud
Stenshuvud is located a couple of kilometres south east of Kivik, on the east coast of Skåne in the south of Sweden. The national park has three access points: Hällevik (in the north), Naturum (in the middle), and Rorum (in the south). Naturum is the main entrance and is where the visitor centre and largest carpark is located. Naturum is only 500 metres from the beach. A kiosk sells coffee and snacks.
Stenhuvud by Bus
There is no bus service that will take you directly to Stenshuvud, but you can get close. SkåneExpressen 3, operated by Skånetrafiken, connects Kivik and Simrishamn. The closest bus stop to Stenshuvud is “Mellby Skola”, which is approximately 3 kilometres from the national park. From Simrishamn, the ride takes 23 minutes and costs 27 SEK. From Kivik, the ride takes 4 minutes and costs 27 SEK. Buses run once an hour.
No comment yet, add your voice below!