09 Åmål - Säffle, Vänerleden

The north-west stage starts in Åmål

It’s a good idea to start cycling this stage from the guest marina in Åmål, where both parking and toilets are available at the tourist information office (turistbyrån). The bustling boat life and the town’s old district create a picturesque backdrop for the start of your cycling trip. Take the opportunity to go up to the new lookout point on Kungsberget Hill if you want to see a view of magnificent Lake Vänern before you set off on your bike. Åmål offers several forms of accommodation if you want to stay the night there; the town hotelÅmåls Stadshotell and Örnäs Camping are in central locations.

The route takes you north through Åmål via fine cycle paths, and when you have cycled out of the town, you will pass Berga Bistro, which is a good place to visit if you enjoy well-prepared traditional dishes. The route then follows the cycle path that runs parallel to the E45 road up to the county border with Värmland. If you’re looking for accommodation directly adjacent to Vänern’s shore, Paradisets Spa is located about 2.60 km from the cycle and foot path between Åmål and Säffle. The turn-off point is where the cycle path ends, just before Avelsäter towards Dottebol. The spa is on Gränsön Island.

After you have passed the county border, the route meanders into the forest. In Tveta you pass Linhagen before you arrive at the Guttane Handelsområde retail park, where you can stock up on groceries before cycling south towards Duse Udde.

From Guttane, you cycle south towards the manor house Krokstad Herrgård, where you can savour lunch and dinner of very high quality as the owner Håkan Mattsson does not compromise on ingredients and he only chooses the best. Krokstad Herrgård is a restaurant recommended in the White Guide. Hotel rooms are available in the manor house if you want to stay the night. From Krokstad Herrgård it is about 3 km to Duse Udde, which offers a campsite, cabins, a restaurant in the lighthouse and a nice bathing beach. But perhaps its best feature of all is the incredibly beautiful expansive view of Lake Vänern.

The route then returns to Krokstad Herrgård and leads you towards the guest marina Säffle Gästhamn and the town centre. You can take a break at the guest marina to watch the boats go through the locks and to treat yourself to an ice cream or maybe play minigolf. Next to the Säffle Canal, you can enjoy lunch directly beside the lock at the Stenmagasinet restaurant or have a good coffee at Kanalcaféet. You can also get good food and coffee at Galna Tuppen and Holgers Konditori, which are not far from the canal area.