Hiking right outside the door

In Totebo, you don't have to get in the car to go hiking. The forest begins right behind Ullevi, and narrow, soft paths of pine needles and moss wind between pines and birches, past moss-covered boulders and quiet clearings where the midday light slants in golden shafts through the treetops. Around the old school in Totebo, you can walk a pretty little loop in about 45 minutes — ideal for the first evening after arrival, when your legs need a bit of movement after the long drive but your head is already on holiday.

Around Vimmerby: water lilies, windbreak huts and a viewpoint

Those wanting a bit more distance will find it near Vimmerby, about 26 kilometres or half an hour's drive from Ullevi. The Naturrundan, a nearly 10-kilometre loop, leads through varied terrain on the edge of town. Equally appealing is the Djursdalarundan: the path alternates between open meadows and dense mixed forest, and if you need a break along the way, you'll find two simple windbreak huts with a barbecue spot — perfect for a campfire picnic in the middle of the green.

Nearby lies Stora Idgölen, a small lake covered in water lilies. The path there climbs steeply in places, but rewards the effort with a viewpoint from which the lake spreads out below like a green-and-white mosaic — a spot for anyone happy to get a little out of breath for a beautiful view.

The primeval forest of Norra Kvill: a day trip in itself

The real highlight for hiking fans lies a good hour's drive northwest of Ullevi: Norra Kvill National Park. No one has felled a tree here for around 150 years — the result is a small but genuine primeval forest with centuries-old pines, massive boulders left by the last ice age, and over 200 species of moss that turn the forest floor into a dense green carpet. A roughly four-kilometre, easy-to-walk loop trail runs through the park and along part of the shore of Stora Idgölen lake — quiet, ancient, and with a stillness rarely found in such an easily reached forest. Planning a whole hiking day, it's best combined with a stop in Vimmerby on the way there or back.

On the coast: Gränsö and Segersgärde near Västervik

Those who'd rather have a sea view than forest silence head the other way: to Västervik, about 40 kilometres or a good three-quarters of an hour from Ullevi. Just five kilometres from the town centre lies the Gränsö nature reserve on a peninsula right on the Baltic Sea — the Gränsöleden trail runs about twelve kilometres right around the reserve, past rocky cliffs, small bays and old coastal forest, with the sea almost always in view.

Things are a little quieter and hillier at the Segersgärde nature reserve, on a headland between two sea bays. Several loop trails lead over scenic hills and past small, quiet lakes — a place for those who prefer shorter stretches and stopping more often to enjoy the view.

The ideal hiking day from Ullevi

The day works best when you commit to one destination rather than rushing: an early start with coffee in your backpack, the drive to the trailhead, then time to walk with no clock to watch. For a quiet afternoon, the loop right from Totebo is plenty. For a whole day of real nature, Norra Kvill is worth it, combined with a café stop in Vimmerby on the way back. And if you'd rather have sea air in your lungs, the coast near Västervik offers two reserves for a relaxed hiking day with a sea view. If you'd rather pedal than walk in between, you'll find complementary cycling routes in Hiking and Cycling Around Vimmerby and Västervik.

  • Right from Totebo: loop around the old school, approx. 45 minutes, reachable without a car
  • Near Vimmerby (approx. 26 km): Naturrundan (10 km), Djursdalarundan, viewpoint at Stora Idgölen
  • Norra Kvill National Park (approx. 50 km): primeval forest loop, approx. 4 km, easy walking
  • Near Västervik (approx. 40 km): Gränsöleden (12 km, coastal), Segersgärde (hilly, several loop trails)
  • Tip: sturdy footwear, insect repellent in summer, don't forget a water bottle