The Axeltorp Route – 11km

You can start your walk at Båstad Sport Center DRIVAN and follow the green markings. The entire rout is approximately 11 km and it usually takes about 3 – 4 hours to walk. The rout takes you to several sights like fields from prehistoric times and precipices. The rout takes you through woods of beech and over ravines and brooks. You will also get a wonderful view over Båstad and the Laholmbay. So pack a picnic and experience a few hours of Båstad and it's magnificent surroundings.

1. Galta Stenar

These two stones are referred to as Galtar stenar , and they mark the spot of two graves from the younger part of the Iron Age (app. 400-1050 a.c). According to myth it's the Fylkeking Galter and his horse who are buried here. They were killed in battle, engaging another Fylkeking.

2. The fruit cultivation of Axeltorp

The apple is a symbol of many things, one of them being Båstad. Parts of Båstad that we today find colonised used to be apple cultivations.

3. Vitehög

At a first glance, Vitehög appears to be a huge pile from the Bronze Age. But it is a stone subsidence and because it is built on a natural hill – it looks like it's bigger then it really is. This stone subsidence could have been made during the Bronze Age or the Iron Age – it has not been established.

4. Field from prehistoric time

In this area there are several exiting remains from human activity during prehistoric times. During the Iron Age (400-1050 a.c.) and possibly during the Bronze Age (1800-500 b.c.) the land has been used for cultivation. By the slope there are about 20 different so-called terrace field squares from prehistoric times along with several small cairns - that is man-made mound of stones. From the Bronze Age there is a boulder with holes. It is the oldest form of rock carving. It's function and meaning is unknown, but it is believed that they had a certain roll in the religious perception of the world. In the middle of the area there is a special road, which after about 100 meters divides into three roads of the same character. In swedish these roads are referred to as hålvägar , which means hole roads in a direct translation. These roads are what are left of roads that have been formed by nature and man's usage and have been shaped into these hole roads. It has been difficult to establish when they were first created but it is believed to be from prehistoric times or at least historic times.

5. Gravrösen

During the Bronze Age (1800-500 b.c.) stone cairns were built for the dead. Unlike the so-called piles these cairns were meant for one person only. This type of grave is usually found by the coastline of that time, or by larger lakes and watercourses. The placement of this specific cairn is there by unusual. But it is possible that we are deceived – it may not be a grave at all but a cultivation cairn. During agricultural labour at that time, stones could have been put on top of an all ready existing grave, but a different kind, and eventually building a cairn without the intention of doing so.

6. The Axeltorp Windmill

Hans Nilsson, the owner of the Axeltorp farm, built the windmill in 1654. Professional windmill builders usually built the complicated windmills. The wheel windmills have been in usage since medieval times, but they were not used in the countryside until the 17 th Century.

7. Ättehögen

A grave pile from the Bronze Age (1800-500 b.c.) This type of grave is called Attehög and it is a family grave where several people were buried during the entire Bronze Age. Up to 30 different grave dispositions have been found in these kinds of graves. Whether or not these people have been related is unfortunately impossible to determine. The graves that are located along this rout have not been explored.

8. Kyrkohögen

This grave pile is from the Bronze Age and is referred to as Kyrkohögen – which means the Church pile. Additional grave piles from the same time period are represented along this rout. The characteristics you can look for are the placement in the countryside and the impressive sizes. Almost every grave is built on high ground with view over land and sea.

9. Ättestupa

Just next to the rout is a rock face with rather steep sides. According to legend this rock face is an old Ättestup which means that old and feeble people where thrown down from the edge to end their lives.

10. Brattenborg

Brattenborg is a small rock hill from where you have an impressive view over Båstad and the Laholmbay. Considering the name and the rock hills characteristics some have wanted to claim that there once stood a castle here. However, there are no remains that supports this claim but the thought is a bit appealing.

11. Varegårdsröret

There was great trouble deciding where the boarder between Skåne and Halland should be during the 17 th and the 18 th Century. The decision was made in 1788 and the boarder stone was put down, marking the boarder. Here in Lya valley, where Båstad, Östra Karup and Grevie meet, you can still find such a boarder stone. On one side the year 1788 is carved and on the other side the letters “N I V”. The stone is called Varegårdsröret .

Be careful with our nature!

Pleade consider the following:

•  leave trees, flowers, bushes and such alone

•  don't disturb the nature life

•  the animals don't like dogs

•  don't walk out on fields or any land with growing crops

•  keep nature clean

•  don't forget the picnic basket at home

Have a nice day out in nature!