Gotaleden Guided Trail Tour Style: Guided Trails Destination: Sweden Trip code: XBLDW Trip Walking Grade: 3 HOLIDAY OVERVIEW Join us for an exciting long weekend of discovery in West Sweden. From Gothenburg, the country’s vibrant second city, set foot on the Gotaleden Trail and let us show you the best stretches of this long-distance path. Your guide will bring to life the countryside around you as you walk through forests and alongside lakes. Take in the silence of the Säveån nature reserve, where you’ll find birds and beavers, and uncover the industrial heritage of Jonsered. We’ve handpicked three family-run hotels along the route for you, and there will be plenty of time to indulge in Sweden’s famed food scene with meals at an award-winning restaurant. A final walking tour of Gothenburg with a local guide makes this the perfect combination of walking holiday and city break. WHAT'S INCLUDED • Half Board en-suite accommodation • Experienced English speaking local guide • Group transfers from/to Gothenburg airport • All transport to and from the walks • Lunch at Gaveriets Restaurant • Walking tour of Gothenburg with a local guide www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 1 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 • 1 picnic lunch HOLIDAYS HIGHLIGHTS • Discover Gothenburg, one of Europe’s unexpectedly hip cities • Contrast the vibrant city with the wilderness right next door • Explore the Säveån nature reserve • Learn about the area's industrial heritage • Take a table for lunch at the award-winning Garveriet's Restaurant • Make time for a fika break and share coffee and cake with friends TRIP SUITABILITY The Gotaleden Guided Trail holiday is graded 3, as it involves walks largely on forest paths that may be rocky with exposed tree roots in sections. It is your responsibility to ensure you have the relevant fitness required to join this holiday. Please be sure you can manage the daily mileage and ascent as listed. The walking day is normally 6-7 hours. It is important for your own enjoyment, and that of your fellow guests, that you can maintain the pace. Spend time getting fit before your holiday and tackle a number of longer walks, including some on hilly terrain. Other exercises such as cycling, jogging and swimming are also excellent for developing increased stamina. ITINERARY Day 1: Arrival Day Arrive in Gothenburg and transfer to the Hotel Vanilla in the centre of the city. You’ll meet your local guide for an information briefing and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. Day 2: Härlanda Tjärn – Skatås – Jonsered Transfer by private coach to Härlanda Tjärn, where you will join the Gotaleden Trail. Start by walking to www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 2 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 Getryggen (Goat ridge), the granite plateau overlooking Skatås, where you’ll get a beautiful view over the western side of Gothenburg. Take in the Knipeflågsbergen nature reserve before heading towards Lake Kåsjön, passing the mystic Black Pond. The trail enters a beautiful forest with small oak trees, birches and pines, to arrive at Jonsered, a former company town with a number of handsome, well-preserved industrial buildings sat alongside the river Säveån. The town is an example of early Swedish industrialism and considered to be of cultural interest nationally. You'll stay at Aspenas Herrgard a Nordic Ecolabelled Mannor and conference centre on the shores of Lake Aspen. Walking today will be mostly on small single tracks with some roots and rocks, and some steep passages. Distance: 11.5 miles (18.5km) Ascent: 500ft (152m) Day 3: Jonsered – Tollered Head out along the river Säveån to explore the Hedefors Nature Reserve. Look out for birdlife such as goldeneye, mallards, red-breasted merganser, grey wagtail and if you are lucky, kingfishers among the broadleaf forest. Set foot next in the Sävenåns Nature Reserve and follow the river past old mills, and through areas of wild flowers. Keep an eye out for beavers, or at least their nests and well-gnawed tree trunks. Pause for lunch in the village of Floda. The Garveriet restaurant in a sensitively renovated old tannery, focuses mainly on innovative and sustainable food, and sources raw produce from local small-scale farmers. The dishes are unpretentious and honest, with the menu changing to reflect the seasons and what’s available locally; the pastries and sourdough baked in their stone oven are especially tempting. Once refueled, move on to Nääsområdet, a borderland between the big city and rural area. Pastures and forest give way to the town of Tollered, where you’ll overnight. Relax at the Nääs Hotel & Restaurant , sat next to the lake in a former 19th Century cotton mill, and look forward to a delicious three -course dinner. We walk mostly on smooth paths and small roads, with short sections of smaller trails with roots and rocks. Distance: 12 miles (19km) Ascent: 500ft (152m) Day 4: Tollered – Gothenburg After a hearty breakfast, you’ll be whisked back to Gothenburg. Here, an experienced local guide will lead you on a half-day walking tour of the city. Discover the city through a local’s eyes and learn about life here. The remainder of the day is free for you to explore at your leisure; perhaps you’ll step into one of the excellent museums or visit the enormous Universseum to see the exotic animals and plants. Get a different feel for the city by taking to the water; join an open-top barge, padan, for a sightseeing cruise, or hire a kayak or paddleboard and nose your way through the many canals and waterways here. Make a beeline for the charming Haga neighbourhood for a fika break, and sample the local craft beers at a brewery. In the evening, there will be a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Day 5: Departure Day After breakfast, transfer to Gothenburg Airport to fly home. ACCOMMODATION Hotel Vanilla Hotel Vanilla is a small hotel perfectly located in the city center of Gothenburg. The hotel has a personal and friendly touch and a beautiful inner garden and a nice bar/ breakfast area. It is located in an old, stone building on a quiet backstreet, in the middle of the Gothenburg. www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 3 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 Aspenas Herrgard Located on the shores of Aspen's Lake, this beautiful Manor and conference centre has a long history of hosting various types of gatherings, with 112 Bedrooms, and a restaurant which is at the heart of the Mansion, popular with locals and guests alike. Aspenas Harrgard is very proud to be a Nordic Ecolabelled Hotel, and sees sustainability and quality sitting hand in hand. Nääs Fabrika Hote - Tollered, Sweden Nääs Fabrika Hotel and restaurant is located in a beautiful setting next to Lake Sävelången in a former 19th century cotton mill. This family run hotel prides itself on serving delicious food in its restaurant with friendly staff. All 81 bedrooms are en-suite and come with a TV, and electric kettle and hairdryer. USEFUL HOLIDAY INFORMATION Joining Instructions (With Flights) For those travelling on our HF Holidays’ group flight, please proceed to the arrivals hall once you have passed through passport control, customs and baggage reclaim, when you arrive at your destination. Your leader or local leader will assemble the group in the arrivals hall. Look out for the HF Holidays’ sign. Joining Instructions (Without Flights) If you are arriving ahead of the group, and are meeting them at the first hotel, please leave a message at the hotel reception for the HF Holidays’ leader or local leader, detailing your room number, and a mobile telephone number if possible. The leader will contact you once the group arrives. If you are arriving after the group, a message will be left for you at the hotel reception, welcoming you and giving details of the time and place to meet the group. If your flight arrives before the group flight and you would like to join the transfer to the first hotel, please contact our Abroad Administration team on (0)20 8732 1261. They will have a list of the relevant transfer costs. Essential Information Passport Requirements You may need to renew your British passport if you’re travelling from 1 January 2021. On the day you travel, you’ll need your passport to both: • have at least 6 months left • be less than 10 years old (even if it has 6 months or more left) Use the government website to see if your passport is valid for this holiday EHIC Cards The UK government has officially launched the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which will replace the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). UK residents can now apply for one of the GHIC cards, which will gradually replace the EHIC cards as they reach their expiry dates. Every family member travelling requires a GHIC. You can make an application for yourself and on behalf of your partner and any dependent children under the age of 16. Both cards will offer equivalent protection for emergency and medically necessary healthcare needs when in the EU on a temporary stay, which includes holiday, study and business travel. Necessary healthcare includes things like • emergency treatment and visits to A&E www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 4 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 • treatment for long-term or pre-existing medical conditions • routine medical care for pre-existing conditions that need monitoring • oxygen and kidney dialysis The public only need to apply for their free GHIC cards when their current EHIC expires.