The west coast of Böda
Windswept old pines
The nature reserve Bödakusten Västra (West Coast of Böda) stretches from Byxelkrok in the north to Byrum in the south. Here you can walk in the windswept old “kingdom” of pines, experience the mighty dunes and caress soft pebbles. The area includes a stone circle and the remains of lime kilns.
Sand dunes and old pines
The old, sparse and windswept pine forests, with many dead trees, towering sand dunes and rubble fields are the area’s most typical environments. It features dune fields and sandy field where the wind for thousands of years has transported the sand and built up the dunes which can be ten meter high and miles long. In the 17th century, attempts were made to prevent the drifting sand by planting pine and balsam poplar. At “Kinshögar”, “Masthuggsudden” and “Rörstensudden” occurs rubble stone fields, with stones rounded by the see and flushed onto the shore by the waves. In the southern part of the reserve there are “Alvar” land and dry meadows. On “Mensalvaret” growes the Hoary Rock-rose, Fly orchid and Fairy flax. In the spring at “Bränsle äng” (meadow) the soil is stained of the Small Pasque Flowers violet flowers. The western coast of Böda offers rich opportunities for swimming, berry picking and hiking, and through the aera is a hiking path, Bödaleden (the Böda Trail).
Valuable water areas
Along the coast of Böda there is limestone outcrops, sandbars and shallow shores. The shallow shores are important spawning and nursery facilities for herring and flounder.
Rare species
Many rare species of insects thrive in the varied natural environments along the Böda coast. Here is one of the few places in the country where all three species of the antlion occur. Also the fungal flora is interesting here, with species like Boletopsis grisea, Alexander’s Funnel and Scented Knight.
FACTS:
Size: 742 ha (1834 acres), including 250 ha (618 acres) of water
Year of decision: 1999
Objective: Maintain an area of coniferous forests, deciduous forests, limestone pavement, sand dunes, pebble beaches and valuable coastal waters. The area is part of the EU ecological network of protected areas, Natura 2000.
How to Get here:
Northwest Öland. The reserve extends from Sandviken, south Byxelkrok down to Mens Alvaret and south Byrum.
GPS coordinates to the parking lot WGS 84 decimal (lat, lon): 57.29877, 16.97140
Map: Naturcentrum AB, Stenungsund.
Download: the County administrative boards brochure over (in Swedish only) (317 kB): Bödakusten Västra
Download: the entire brochure (in Swedish only) (19 MB): Utflyktsguide Öland
© Lantmäteriverket, Ur Geografiska Sverigedata, översiktskartan Dnr. 106-2004/188”
Source: County Administrative Board, Kalmar
Translation: Visitoland.com