The Pilgrimage Route Hjo-Kungslena
Hjo-Tidaholm

Facts about the trail

Length: 

44 Kilometers

Alternative Routes

The Pilgrimage Route Hjo-Kungslena can be up to 50 kilometers, depending on the path you choose to take.

Loop Trails - walk a section of the trail

There are several places along the trail that form loop trails - something that is popular because you avoid walking the same stretch twice - and you return to where you started.

Loop Trail - Hökensås Golf Club

In 2019, a new trail section was inaugurated, which is a 5-kilometer side trail from the original Pilgrimage Route. You can choose to park at Hållsdammarna and walk towards Hökensås Golf Club >>. The golf club is located halfway - here you can stop, rest, and purchase snacks/lunch/dinner from April to October. If you instead choose to park at Hökensås Golf Club's parking lot, you have 2.5 kilometers to Hållsdammarna - a cozy café spot with many birds at times.

Loop Trail - Almnäs Bruk "Göransnäset"

Almnäs Bruk >> is a farm with medieval origins. It features well-preserved cultural environments of national interest, as well as a dairy and an on-site farm shop. Here, you can walk the approximately 4-kilometer loop trail, along Göransnäset with views of Lake Vättern for most of the time. During your journey, you can also take a refreshing dip in Lake Vättern. If you want to walk a bit farther, it's recommended to park at Norra Fågelås Church.

Approximate time:

Approximately 11-15 hours

Recommended number of days:

2-3

The time for your hike will vary depending on your walking speed, the amount of gear you carry, how many and how long your breaks are, your level of experience, and weather conditions. You can estimate that you'll cover approximately 3 kilometers per hour, but depending on the terrain and the aforementioned factors, you may walk longer or shorter distances per hour.

Marking:

Marked with the Saint Olaf's Cross

The Pilgrimage Route is signposted, and along the way, you will see posts with Saint Olaf's Cross, and arrows are also marked when the trail turns.

Difficulty level:

Easy

The trail is an easy hike. You walk some on asphalt, but mostly on gravel roads and paths.

Start and finish:

Start in Kungslena

To get to Kungslena, you can take a bus from Skövde (Västtrafik Line 303 >>). The bus stops on Highway 26. The bus stop is called 'Kungslena Mad,' which is 2 kilometers from Kungslena Church - where you start your pilgrimage. The bus journey takes about 20 minutes (Skövde Travel Center - Kungslena Mad).

Start in central Hjo

To get to Hjo, you can take a bus from Skövde (Västtrafik Line 402 >>). Get off at Hjo Bus Station, just a couple of hundred meters from Hjo Harbor, where the Pilgrimage Route begins. The bus journey takes about 40 minutes (Skövde Travel Center - Hjo Bus Station).

Park your car and use public transportation

If you choose to take your car and park in Hjo or Kungslena, you will need to take a bus to Skövde to transfer to Line 303 or 402. There is a bus that operates between Hjo and Tidaholm (Västtrafik Line 405 >>). You will need to change buses at Tidaholm Bus Station. Bus Line 405 has limited service, mainly on weekdays.

Tips-start in Kungslena

A recommendation is to start in Kungslena because there are fewer bus departures going there. From central Hjo, there are more departures, and you won't feel as time-constrained if you were to miss one.

How to get here:

For walking the Hjo-Kungslena route, or vice versa, public transportation is preferred. By getting to Skövde, there are buses to both Hjo and Kungslena (Tidaholm). Train connections are available from both Gothenburg and Stockholm to Skövde (high-speed trains operate on this route). The train and bus terminals in Skövde are located in the same building.

Printable Map>>

Digital Map>>

About the Pilgrimage Route Hjo-Kungslena

The Pilgrimage Route between Hjo and Kungslena is a part of the Pilgrimage Route in Västra Götaland with connections to the medieval pilgrimage destination Nidaros, which is present-day Trondheim. The trail has also been designated by the Council of Europe as one of the European Cultural Routes. Here, you have a unique opportunity to travel on foot through a culturally, historically, and naturally diverse and beautiful landscape, with the Middle Ages as a focal point, offering opportunities for an inner journey.

The hiking trail is a total of 44 kilometers, with the option to extend the distance to 50 kilometers. It leads you from the picturesque little town of Hjo on the shores of Lake Vättern to the small medieval village of Kungslena with its church. Here, you have a unique opportunity to travel on foot or by bicycle through a culturally, historically, and naturally diverse and beautiful landscape, with the Middle Ages as a starting point, and with significant possibilities for an inner journey.

Information Signs and Accommodation Options

Along the trail, there are about 20 information boards where you can read about historical environments, beautiful nature, and the region you are walking through. Benches and picnic tables are placed in scenic spots along the trail, where you can take a rest. Here, you'll also find small thought-provoking verses. There are plenty of accommodations along the trail, where you can have an evening meal, breakfast, and a packed lunch for the next day's hike. Information brochures with maps are available at the tourist information offices in Hjo and Tidaholm. You can also have it sent to you or download the map yourself here >>.

Do you want to continue your journey from Hjo or Kungslena?

From Hjo Harbor, you can take a boat over to Vadstena. You can book a boat spot with Arne Björklund. The connection also works in reverse - from Vadstena to Hjo. Read more here >>. You can also continue your hike to Gudhem from Kungslena. Learn more about the Pilgrimage Route Kungslena-Gudhem here >>.

Kan du cykla utmed Pilgrimsleden?

Yes, you can cycle along the trail. Large parts of the trail are on asphalt and gravel roads. If you have a regular bicycle, you may need to take detours from time to time because some forest sections are more hilly. If you want to be able to cycle the entire trail, a mountain bike is recommended.

What is a pilgrimage trail?

Historically, pilgrimage trails were used to reach holy places, and various pilgrimage routes were connected. In Sweden, most of them lead to Trondheim (formerly Nidaros). Viking King Olav II Haraldsson was canonized in 1031 and is buried in Trondheim. Other well-known routes in Europe lead to 'Santiago de Compostela' (Spain), 'Cammino di Francesco' (Italy), and more.

Pilgrimage Routes in Västra Götaland

There are many beautiful views along the hiking trails in Skaraborg, and the Middle Ages are constantly present. The monastery ruins in Gudhem and Varnhem show that there were accommodations and hostels for pilgrims. Reliefs in Forshem and on Skara Cathedral testify that pilgrims were a part of everyday life. In Skaraborg, there is something for everyone; a cultural landscape with plains, watercourses, a wonderful flora and fauna. Let yourself be captivated by the breathtaking views from the mountains, encounter the rich birdlife at Lake Hornborga, and be inspired by the beautiful nature along the roads in Skaraborg.

• Hike between Varnhem and Falköping >>
• Hike the Pilgrimage Route in Northern Dalsland >>

Your reason for hiking

On your journey, you find simplicity and spirituality, surrounded by beautiful nature, among churches, pilgrim chapels, and monastery sites. Here, there are environments with memories of past generations. You share carefreeness and freedom with other hikers. Silence and slowness in harmony with what the region offers. You can also experience remnants of human culture since the Ice Age, surrounded by modern agriculture, businesses, and an active community life.

Interactive Map - Use Your Mobile

On the Pilgrimage Route Hjo-Kungslena website, there is an interactive map >> with information along the trail. You can find Pilgrimage accommodations, bus stops, water refill stations along the trail, places to eat, viewpoints - everything you might want to know before and during your stay along the trail.

The mobile network coverage along the route is how the cell signal reception is

The mobile operators that have been tested along the route have coverage throughout the entire route. However, if you still want to be prepared, visit your operator's website to check the coverage in the area.

Run, walk, or bike the trail with others

Trailhelg.se, run by Anna and Malin, organizes hiking and cycling trips, with a primary focus on trail running adventures in Skaraborg. Join them on a journey and explore nature with others. Learn more about Trailhelg.se here >>.

Information and actions on the Kungslena-Hjo trail

Report issues along the trail.

If a tree has fallen on the trail, a sign is damaged, or a boardwalk is broken, please inform the association so they can address the issues along the trail. You can email them at info@pilgrimslederskaraborg.se. The Pilgrimsled association between Hjo and Kungslena is a non-profit organization responsible for trail maintenance. Follow Pilgrimsleden Hjo-Kungslena on Facebook >> for more information.