In Finspång, a cultural heritage trail of about ten kilometres starts at the tourist information office in Kulturhuset. It offers insights into local history from the 17th to the 20th century. You will also encounter other aspects of the destination on trails through forest and lake areas: here, the focus is on landscapes and a variety of routes.
Routes by length and landscape
Mäselnleden is a circular trail of about five kilometres around Lake Mäseln. There are parking spaces and toilets at Mäselnbadet. Another option is the roughly eleven-kilometre section of Östgötaleden between Regna kyrka and Älgsjön, which you can explore on foot or by bicycle. At the end of the route, there is a bathing spot on a clear, gently sloping lake. For a longer route, consider the 23-kilometre section of Östgötaleden between Rejmyre and Regna kyrka, which can also be cycled. Rejmyre is also the starting point for the Rejmyre–Falsnäset stage of Östgötaleden. Another route between Sörsjön and Falsnäset is 16 kilometres long; it links lakes, birdsong and varied forest landscapes.
The route lengths help you compare the trails, but do not indicate how long they take to walk. For a more leisurely way to enjoy nature, try the roughly three-kilometre hiking trail in Brevens tallskogar Nature Reserve, where open pine forests, marshes and lakes define the landscape. In Hällestad-Torps Nature Reserve, a 2.7-kilometre trail runs through old mixed coniferous forest by Lake Lyren; there is also a barbecue area. The roughly 1.5-kilometre trail in Lövfallet Nature Reserve passes through old spruce and pine stands, dry rocky areas, damp ravine forest and stands of aspen.
Forest trails with different highlights
In Regnaholm Nature Reserve, a two-kilometre hiking trail runs along Lake Regnaren through deciduous forest with beech and aspen trees; picnic tables are available. The 1.5-kilometre trail in Sätra Nature Reserve combines outdoor exercise with information about local geology, significant minerals and old trees. Tjuttorps Nature Reserve has two short hiking trails of about 1.3 and two kilometres through deciduous forest. You can barbecue outdoors on the peninsula. The trails therefore differ not only in length but also in what they bring into focus along the way: types of forest, geology or the opportunity to take a break at a picnic table.
Hällestads Storgruva also combines a short walk with a specific historical theme. The roughly one-kilometre trail passes a former iron ore mine that flourished in the 17th century. Visitors can find stones containing iron ore and other minerals there. The history of mining can also be explored on the roughly twelve-kilometre Gruvleden, which starts in Grytgöl and passes through a mining area with sites such as Jungfrugruvan and Hållersgruvan.
Discover lakes, paddling and nature
The canoe routes in Finspång connect lakes via streams and waterways. There are designated rest areas and wind shelters along the routes. Visitors can fish for pike and perch in Finspång’s 368 lakes, as well as stocked rainbow trout and trout. For swimming, the municipality has 15 municipal and three non-municipal bathing spots, as well as a playground with water features.
For a nature trail with additional navigation aids, head to Lake Bönnern northwest of the main town. The accessible trail runs along the water and has information boards as well as an audio guide in Swedish, English and Arabic. At Vibjörnsparken, nesting boxes and carved wooden animals complement the nature trail’s information boards; there is also an alternative route. The two examples offer different highlights: at Bönnern, multilingual audio information is available, while Vibjörnsparken focuses on details of nature and an additional route option.
Glass, iron and industrial history
Reijmyre Glasbruk was founded in 1810 and continues to produce mouth-blown glass in its historic glassworks. Guided tours explain the history of the glassworks and the production process. Visitors can try glassblowing at the furnace alongside experienced glassblowers. The Reijmyre glasmuseum, next to the factory shop and glassworks, displays historic glass and a carriage from the time when the cable car was in operation. If you are planning a guided tour or to try glassblowing yourself, check the latest information in advance.
Another industrial heritage site is Häfla hammarsmedja on Häfla ström, between Lakes Regnaren and Vagnaren. The site was in operation until 1924 and consists of a hammer forge with a smaller ironworks. Smedjans dag, held every August, offers a special reason to learn about this place; check the exact event date before visiting.
Finspång’s castle park also takes you through different chapters of history. Laid out in the 18th century, the park is open to the public year-round. Its features include the Auroratempel, Järntemplet and the Lugnet pleasure house, as well as an orangery building dating from 1831. The Turbinmuseum in the Orangeriet displays early order books from De Laval and the Ljungström brothers, along with well-preserved turbine sketches from the late 19th century. Risinge gamla kyrka was declared a state-listed historic building in 2019. In summer, Finspångs församling holds services, baptisms and weddings there.
Discover more destinations: Rejmyre, Finspång, Hällestad, Regna, Skedevi, Risinge, Ljusfallshammar, Grytgöl
For the regional travel overview: Östergötland.
