Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
Canoe Guide - Varends-leden
Canoe Tours in Småland: Varends-leden
The Varends-leden starts in Asasjön, north of Växjö and follows lakes and occasional stretches of river 120
km south to Ålshult.
Start: Asa, at the north end of Asasjön, is 12 km east of Lammhult which is north of Växjö on Highway 30.
Finish: Granö. Grano is the official end of the tour, but you may prfer to finish at Ryd a few km further
north. Ryd is on Highway 126 35 km north of Karlshamn.
Transport: Lammhult and Ryd are served by buses.
Portages: 11 short portages. A canoe trolley would be useful.
Difficulty: Easy, unless there is a strong wind building up waves in the lakes.
Distance: 120 km
Maps: There are good canoe maps available for this route.
Route extension: It is possible to continue 26 km down the river Mörrumsån to Svängsta with about 12
portages. Canoeing from Svängsta - Karlshamn is only permitted in winter. It would also be possible to extend
the route with an exploration of the lake-dotted lake Åsnen.
The route:
Asa - Åby: 16 km
Head south from Asa down lake Asasjön and follow a small stream into lake Tolgasjön and paddle south to
Åby.
Åby - Öjaby: 19 km
At Åby you either pass through the lock or portage for 200m and enter the large lake Helgasjön. Head south
down Helgasjön to Öjaby which is just west of Växjö at the southern end of the lake.
Öjaby - Gemla: 10 km
Pass under the bridge at the south end of Helgasjön and portage the dam at the end of the lake. The next
section is a combination of small lakes and river, with 4 more portages round small power stations or old mills.
Gemla-Os: 10 km
The Helige å meanders through an agricultural landscape with one short lake section. The power stations at
Gransholm and Os must be portaged.
Salen: 4km.
Paddle 4 km down the exposed eastern shore of lake Salen.
Salen - Åsnen: 10 km
Reenter the Helige å and paddle south. There is one portage at Huseby after which you pass through a big
reed-bed before entering lake Åsnen.
Åsnen: 30 km
Paddle south down the large, shallow lake Åsnen before finding a way east through the islands and south
again to reach Hackekvarn, just west of Urshult.
Hackekvarn - Granö: 14 km
Portage from Åsnen into Havbältesfjorden and continue down this narrow lake. There is short portage at a
low bridge at the end of the lake and soon enter lake Hönshyltefjorden. Paddle down this lake past Ryd and
onto the rest-place at Granö at the southern tip of the lake.
Information:
Nordländer Kanotcenter, Åbyfors
Slussvägen 2, Åby
SE-360 40 ROTTNE
Telephone: +46 470 933 09
E-Mail: nordlaender@telia.com
Canoe hire, canoe transport and maps/information
Getnö Gård, Privat naturvårdsområde
Familjen Olsson, SE-360 10 RYD
Tel: +46-477 240 11
e-mail: olsson@getnogard.se
Canoe hire, canoe transport and maps/information
Route description (German)
Kanu DKV-Auslandsführer Band 4: Skandinavien
The Varends-leden starts in Asasjön, north of Växjö and follows lakes and occasional stretches of river 120
km south to Ålshult.
Start: Asa, at the north end of Asasjön, is 12 km east of Lammhult which is north of Växjö on Highway 30.
Finish: Granö. Grano is the official end of the tour, but you may prfer to finish at Ryd a few km further
north. Ryd is on Highway 126 35 km north of Karlshamn.
Transport: Lammhult and Ryd are served by buses.
Portages: 11 short portages. A canoe trolley would be useful.
Difficulty: Easy, unless there is a strong wind building up waves in the lakes.
Distance: 120 km
Maps: There are good canoe maps available for this route.
Route extension: It is possible to continue 26 km down the river Mörrumsån to Svängsta with about 12
portages. Canoeing from Svängsta - Karlshamn is only permitted in winter. It would also be possible to extend
the route with an exploration of the lake-dotted lake Åsnen.
The route:
Asa - Åby: 16 km
Head south from Asa down lake Asasjön and follow a small stream into lake Tolgasjön and paddle south to
Åby.
Åby - Öjaby: 19 km
At Åby you either pass through the lock or portage for 200m and enter the large lake Helgasjön. Head south
down Helgasjön to Öjaby which is just west of Växjö at the southern end of the lake.
Öjaby - Gemla: 10 km
Pass under the bridge at the south end of Helgasjön and portage the dam at the end of the lake. The next
section is a combination of small lakes and river, with 4 more portages round small power stations or old mills.
Gemla-Os: 10 km
The Helige å meanders through an agricultural landscape with one short lake section. The power stations at
Gransholm and Os must be portaged.
Salen: 4km.
Paddle 4 km down the exposed eastern shore of lake Salen.
Salen - Åsnen: 10 km
Reenter the Helige å and paddle south. There is one portage at Huseby after which you pass through a big
reed-bed before entering lake Åsnen.
Åsnen: 30 km
Paddle south down the large, shallow lake Åsnen before finding a way east through the islands and south
again to reach Hackekvarn, just west of Urshult.
Hackekvarn - Granö: 14 km
Portage from Åsnen into Havbältesfjorden and continue down this narrow lake. There is short portage at a
low bridge at the end of the lake and soon enter lake Hönshyltefjorden. Paddle down this lake past Ryd and
onto the rest-place at Granö at the southern tip of the lake.
Information:
Nordländer Kanotcenter, Åbyfors
Slussvägen 2, Åby
SE-360 40 ROTTNE
Telephone: +46 470 933 09
E-Mail: nordlaender@telia.com
Canoe hire, canoe transport and maps/information
Getnö Gård, Privat naturvårdsområde
Familjen Olsson, SE-360 10 RYD
Tel: +46-477 240 11
e-mail: olsson@getnogard.se
Canoe hire, canoe transport and maps/information
Route description (German)
Kanu DKV-Auslandsführer Band 4: Skandinavien
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