Trail section

6 Domsten - Helsingborg

  • Length

    14 km

  • Degree of difficulty

    Red

Lisa Wikstrand

This trail follows one long, rocky cliff on the northwest coast of Skåne. Sculpted by powerful sea waves and currents and with springs gushing from its sides, the beauty and strategic access to Öresund Sound inspired splendid castles. You can even visit Europe’s most beautiful park on your way to the historic city of Helsingborg.

Nature

This section of the Öresundsleden Trail is a part of the Kullaleden Trail, a hiking route of exceptionally high, international standard. For most of this trail, you walk on or beside the extensive sea abrasion cliff known as Landborgen. From Sofiero and southwards you wander along the top with views out over Öresund Sound. Landborgen consists of solid rock and the almost vertical cliff was chiselled out 4000 - 7000 years ago by the waves and currents of the ancient Littorina Sea, which was 6-7 metres higher than what you see today. The ravines you see today had already been carved out. From the campsite at Domsten, you can often watch seals sunbathing on the rocks. 

The area around the Kulla Gunnarstorp manor is a nature reserve. Here you find tree-lined avenues, and stately woodlands with beech, fir and birch trees, and when the park was created in the 1800s, several exotic, non-Swedish varieties of grass were chosen, and these still flourish. Because of the presence of the castle and its splendid gardens, the shoreline below has been called Scandinavia’s “most prestigious post-glacial shoreline.” Sandstone and slate are exposed in the cliffs, and large numbers of birds of prey inhabit the area in the spring and the fall, including the common buzzard, the European honey buzzard, and the rough-legged buzzard. 

At Hälsovägen you pass Sofiakällan, the only spring in Sweden with salty water. The salt comes from a salty crust deposited during the Triassic period, when the desert climate caused the sea water to evaporate. 

Take a few extra steps and enjoy the Pålsjö forest on the northern outskirts of Helsingborg. In spring, when the leaves are very young, the beech is an incredible shade of bright green and the white blossoms of wood anemones cover the forest floor. Old decaying trees and high stumps are prime real estate for insects and birds.

Cultural History

There are several castles to see along this stretch of trail. Sofiero Castle, built in the 1860s as a summer residence for King Oscar II and his wife Sofia, is open to visitors and has an impressive park with some 10,000 rhododendrons, and was described in 2010 by an expert jury from six countries as Europe’s most beautiful park. South of Kulla Gunnarstorp Castle, there is an associated Dutch-style water mill, one of the largest and oldest in Skåne. 

There are deposits of coal and clay all around Helsingborg and at Pålsjö, coal was mined as early as the 1500s. The discovery of clay there led to the development of the first porcelain factory in south Sweden around 1770 – Pålsjö Fajansfabrik. 

The town of Helsingborg is situated at the neck of Öresund Sound and has been a site of permanent settlement officially since 1085 during the Viking era. Its strategic position meant that the town became one of the most important medieval strongholds in Scandinavia. 

Several springs gush from Landborgen along the trail, and once upon a time people travelled long distances for a just a few drops. Today, however, you can buy this Swedish spring water in any small shop or grocery store – for instance Ramlösa with its unusual mineral content.

14 km

About Difficulty Grading

The grading of the trails is based on a common national standard. If you want to read more about this, visit the National Framework for Hiking Trails.

Even and firm ground: The terrain is generally flat. The hike requires no need to use your hands for support. No obstacles. Bridges are always present when crossing waterways.

Uneven and/or soft ground: Some changes in elevation. Certain sections may require hand support to maintain balance. There may be obstacles such as low stiles and short stairs. Minor obstacles like stones and roots. Boardwalks are present.

Loose or slippery ground combined with steep sections: Technical parts require hand support. There may be obstacles such as high stiles and longer stairs. Frequent sections with stones and/or roots. Boardwalks with deeper surrounding water.

Note: One or more of these features may be present along the trail section.

Red

  • 7-15 km
  • Utmanande
  • Stadsnära
  • Böljande
  • Kollektivtrafik
  • Skåneleden
Min son, Hans, och jag vandrade 12 Januari 2022 från Pålsjö Krog emot Domsten och vidare till Viken och Höganäs. Vi observerade, att Skåneleden markeringen gick på landsvägen förbi Sofiero Slott och sen neråt till vattnet på många trappsteg norr om Sofiero Trädgård och park. Det var fina SL5 markeringar hela vägen - men enligt kartan skulle Skåneleden gå väster om Sofiero längs vattnet, men vi såg inga sådana markeringar direkt över landsvägen från Tinkarpsgården. Har sträckan ändrats kring Sofiero Slott ändrats? En fin sträcka i alla fall.
Jan 2022
Jan Kennet Larsen
Vi gick tills vidare från Kärnan till Pålsjö Krog på denna vandring. Vi undrar på, om det utmanande refererar till de branta trappsteg upp och ner emellan Kärnan och Pålsjö? Vi har ännu inte gått emellan Sofiero och Domsten, det är kanske här, att sträckan är utmanande?
Dec 2021
Jan Kennet Larsen

Campsite

Water

Elevation

Fetching elevation data...
Leden passerar Sofiero slott och trädgård, som på sommaren förvandlas till ett fyrverkeri av färgstarka rhododendron. Photographer: Johan Hammar
Vandring i Kulla Gunnarstorp naturreservat. Photographer: Johan Hammar

Highlights along the section

Are you looking for a place to stay or a cozy cafe during your hike? Here are some of the sights and places to visit along the section.

Hiking suggestions

Do you find it difficult to know where to start your hike? Here is some inspiration and a selection of recommended hikes - short and long, with or without accommodation or based on different themes.

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News

Here you will find information about what's new on the trail as well as current redirections and disturbances.

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