Omberg: Ellen Keys led from Stocklycke to Hjässan

From Stocklycke, where Sveaskog's Ecopark Centre and a hostel stand, the blue Ellen Keys led goes down towards Vättern on the glacial ridge. After the flowery meadow it passes the old timber harbour at Stocklycke and runs south along the shore under the steep slope, by the Rödgavel grotto and the Bokskogen nature reserve, to Ellen Key's villa Strand, where the writer (1849 to 1926) lived at the end of her life. The path then climbs steeply through the forest to Hjässan, the highest point of Omberg, with the ruins of Hjässaborgen, the largest of Omberg's three ancient hill forts, and views over Vättern, Tåkern and the Östgöta plain. The way back goes by Hjässatorget and through beech wood to Stocklycke.

It is 6.2 km round with 178 m of ascent; allow about 2 hours, more with stops at the harbour, Strand and the summit. The grade is Moderate: Easy by the clock, but about 130 m of the climb comes in 1.4 km up to Hjässan, which our data put near 262 m and the path is steep in places.

Sveaskog's leaflet says to take care: many trails close to the edge of Vättern go close to steep slopes and precipices. The trail runs through two county board nature reserves, Ombergs bokskog and Mörkahålkärret: the county board's pages say pets must be on a lead and tents are not allowed in both, and that fires are not allowed in Ombergs bokskog.

Stocklycke has a car park, which the map marks as free, and the county board lists a dry toilet and a barbecue area there; Hjässatorget has parking and a dry toilet too. Sveaskog's leaflet (May 2025) says the bus between Ödeshög and Mjölby stops at the Alvastra crossroads on road 50, just west of Pålbyggnaden, which is not at the start, and that the nearest railway station is Mjölby, 45 km away.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.