A seven-tonne forge hammer powered by a waterwheel gives the history of the Karmansbo ironworks a tangible scale. The well-preserved ironworks site includes a forge, a manor house and workers’ cottages. The historic hammer has been preserved in the forge.
Skinnskatteberg Manor is also one of the notable traces of ironworks culture: Wilhelm Hising had the manor house built in 1779. The manor and ironworks site is part of the Ekomuseum Bergslagen.
Ironworks history in different places
Five bloomery furnaces stand along a two-kilometre hiking trail at Röda Jorden. The site holds the oldest known evidence of iron production in Bergslagen. Every summer, iron is produced using traditional methods at Röda Jordens dag. Järnets Dag takes place in Karmansbo every year on the first Saturday in July. If you plan to attend either event, check the dates in advance.
The sites tell stories spanning different periods: Lienshyttan was in operation until 1959. Iron was processed in the Skräppbo Cultural Reserve as early as the 15th century; the area also has traces of the inland ice dating back 10,000 years. Haraldsjön is a spring-fed lake and, at 53 metres, the deepest lake in Västmanland. The mining field at Bastnäs is considered one of the most mineral-rich places in the world. It is also home to the only preserved hakspel in the world still at its original location.
The railway and industrial history also have their own settings. Lokstallet & KURJ is the only preserved locomotive shed along the Köping–Uttersberg–Riddarhyttan railway line. The tower’s water tank houses an exhibition about the railway and industry in Riddarhyttan. Galleri Astley and a sculpture park are located in the former station area in Uttersberg; the grounds are a nature reserve with an acoustic park. Galleri Astley is open year-round, and admission to the parks, museum and gallery is free. Check accessibility before your visit.
Hiking trails and nature in the municipality
Skinnskatteberg Municipality has twelve nature reserves and 244 lakes and waterways. The Bruksleden trail runs through the entire municipality, in sections. The municipality’s nature map shows cycling routes, longer hikes and shorter circular trails, offering guidance for different types of routes.
The approximately 5.8-kilometre Ormdalsslingan is a circular hike in Baggådalen. It passes through bogs and dense forest, and along quiet waterways. In the Örtjärnsskogen Nature Reserve, the trail is about three kilometres long and forms part of the Bruksleden, which continues beyond the reserve. This means you can choose between a shorter section that connects to a longer route and a longer circular hike. Check route details before setting out.
Other activities are spread across different areas: hiking, fishing, cycling and nature experiences are available year-round in Karmansbo–Hed. At Tattartjärn, Ljustjärn and Norstjärn, there are stocked salmon-fishing waters, barbecue areas, wind shelters and toilets, as well as accessible fishing piers and fly-fishing piers. Borntorpet’s ski trail centre is used for hiking, skiing, running and other exercise. In summer, the ski trail becomes a lit running track that can also be used during the hours of darkness.
A 700-metre gravel road leads to the Korphyttan site; parking is available nearby. Korphyttan can also be reached from a car park via an easy 50-metre path. As road and parking conditions can change, check them before setting out.
Local highlights for your stay
At Färna Herrgård, the landscape and seasonal cuisine are also part of the experience: the manor house is situated in an eco-park, surrounded by two lakes. The restaurant uses seasonal ingredients from nearby farms, the forests of Bergslagen and its own kitchen garden.
The charcoal-burners’ huts in Kolarbyn offer a different kind of accommodation. Visitors can stay overnight and cook over an open fire. The experiences on offer in Skinnskatteberg therefore range from technical and industrial history to trails through forests and bogs, and an overnight stay with open-fire cooking.
Discover more destinations: Skinnskatteberg, Karmansbo, Riddarhyttan, Fagersta, Hallstahammar, Köping, Surahammar, Västerås.
For the regional travel overview: Västmanland.
