Stenshuvud National Park

Stenshuvud is a hill of about ninety-seven metres that comes down to the sea in one step, and its south-facing slopes are warm enough to hold species that are otherwise scarce this far north - hornbeam, several orchids including the lady's slipper, and a long list of insects. The park covers around four hundred hectares of that slope plus the beach, meadows and marsh at the foot. There are three summits with views along the coast, an Iron Age hill fort on the highest, and a sand beach at the bottom that is one of the better swimming places on Osterlen. Trails are marked from the naturum at the entrance.

Background

A national park since 1986, the hill stands near Kivik in Simrishamn Municipality, in Scania. Because the land around it is fairly flat, it shows from far off and has long served seafarers as a landmark. The Skåneleden Trail between Simrishamn and Kivik crosses the park and climbs the hill. Besides broadleaf forest there are heaths, meadows and swamps, home to the hazel dormouse, the Eurasian golden oriole, the European tree frog and the agile frog. About 600 vascular plant species grow here, among them the very rare barren strawberry. Local folklore says the name, Sten's head, comes from a giant who lived in the cave Giddastuan. The Hällevik arboretum lies to the north.

Source: Wikipedia, "Stenshuvud National Park"

Highlights

• A hill dropping straight to the Baltic - about ninety-seven metres.
• Orchids and hornbeam - species held by the warm slope.
• An Iron Age hill fort - on the highest summit.
• A sand beach below - swimming at the foot of the hill.

When to go

May to September; late May for orchids. Half a day.

Good to know

Paths up the hill are steep and rooty. Parking fills in summer and is charged. The naturum keeps seasonal hours. Views are partly obscured by trees in full leaf.

Nearby

Kivik and the orchards are north; Simrishamn is south.

Key facts