Lyngemadssjöns Nature Reserve – a Småland gem to discover
Welcome to Lyngemadssjön Nature Reserve – a place where the beating of history meets still waters, ancient pine trees and the silent presence of nature. Here, deep in the forests of Småland, a 165-hectare nature reserve spreads out – just thirty kilometres south of Jönköping. For those looking for a relaxing excursion in nature, without the noise of children, Lyngemadssjön offers a unique experience. And Smålandstorpet is the perfect place to call home during your stay.
Read more about Lyngemadssjön Nature Reserve here.
A landscape marked by time
Lyngemadssjön itself is the result of a damming of the Hästgångsån River that was built around 1950. The nutrient-poor lake, colored by humus substances, shimmers in brown and carries both history and biological richness. In the middle of the lake, small islands rise like rock outcrops, some over ten meters high. On them grow windswept pine trees – some as old as 300 years. The still surface reflects not only the trees but also a bygone era.
The silent inhabitants of the forest
The reserve is an El Dorado for nature lovers. The old coniferous forest is home to a variety of bird species: great terns, ospreys, woodcocks and teals nest here. During the summer months, waders such as the snipe and the woodcock appear to rest by the lake. It is a living, awe-inspiring landscape – but without crowds or stress.
For those who appreciate mushrooms, there is a whole world to discover here. On the way up to the dam wall, white tufted sedge grows – beautiful but poisonous. Among the most fascinating mushrooms in the area are the zonal thorn mushroom and the scrub thorn mushroom, belonging to the brown-spore genus Hydnellum. These thorn mushrooms signal the presence of old, protected forests. Maybe you will find a mushroom that bleeds red drops when you press it – a mystery in miniature.
A path to follow
The reserve has a 2.5-kilometer-long hiking trail that winds through varied terrain – forest, marsh and lakeside. It is just the right length for an afternoon stroll and provides many opportunities to stop and listen to the silence, smell the damp forest and see the light filtering through the spruce and pine trees.
During the fall, the area transforms into a colorful postcard. Yellow leaves against dark brown marshland and the sparkling surface of the lake create a harmonious scene that cannot be accurately depicted in a photo. It must be experienced on site.
The Story of the Shoemaker's Chamber
Not far from Lake Lyngemadssjön, in the ravine where the Hästgångsån River winds its way under large boulders, there is a place called the Shoemaker's Chamber. It is not only a natural phenomenon, but also a place with a story.
According to an old legend, there lived a shoemaker from Ödestugu – a man of peace who just wanted to do his job and hear some news from the village. But then came the war. During one of the many conflicts between Sweden and Denmark, sometime between the 15th and 19th centuries, the men were called to battle. The shoemaker, afraid of being drafted, chose to go underground – literally.
He hid in the ravine, in one of the caves by the Hästgångsån River, where he could survive on fish, birds and wood from the forest. No one knew where he had gone until one day, when the church bells rang to announce the end of the war, he returned to the village. His hiding place is still called the Shoemaker's Chamber.
There is also an alternative story – an even more tragic one – where the shoemaker did not flee the war but a plague. Perhaps the Black Death. He survived alone when the entire village was affected and the name Ödestugu is said to have originated from this fateful event.
A place of power – literally
Lyngemadssjön is not only beautiful, it also carries a history of technology. The lake is dammed, and via a water tube with a drop of 22 meters the water is led to a power plant on the eastern shore of Hoksjön. Here the energy of the hydroelectric power is converted into electricity.
At one point – in the autumn of 1962 – the dam broke and a flash flood swept through the landscape. Entire trees were torn away, roads were flooded and old inns were threatened with disappearance. It was a dramatic event that still lives on in the memory of the area.
Inside the power station, through a broken pane of glass, you could see the turbine that powered the electric generator – a tangible reminder of how humans interact with the forces of nature. Here, the kinetic energy of water is still used to create sustainable energy, just as mill wheels and forge hammers have been for centuries.
An excursion for body and soul
Regardless of the season, Lyngemadssjön Nature Reserve offers a respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Summer offers birdsong and the scent of sun-warmed forest. Autumn brings with it a splendor of colors and clear air. Spring brings life to mosses and soil. And winter? It embeds the landscape in a silent white blanket – perfect for a quiet hike in frozen beauty.
For those of you who come without children – perhaps with your partner, a friend or alone – this is a place to breathe, think and feel close to something bigger. Here you don't have to perform, just be.
So you come here
Lyngemadssjön is located about 30 km south of Jönköping, east of Hokasjön. It is easy to get here by car from Smålandstorpet and once there there are good opportunities to park near the hiking trail.
Feel free to pack a coffee basket – or ask us at Smålandstorpet for a packed lunch. Sitting down by the lake and drinking coffee to the sound of the wind in the trees is hard to beat.
Welcome to Smålandstorpet – your starting point near Lake Lyngemadssjön.
When you've finished hiking through old-growth forest, wading birds and fairy tales, it's nice to come home. At Smålandstorpet, a hot shower, the silence of the forest around the corner and perhaps an evening in the sauna await. We offer personal service, accommodation close to nature and an environment where peace and quiet prevail.
Are you planning to visit Lyngemadssjöns Nature Reserve? Then Smålandstorpet is the obvious starting point. Read more or book your accommodation on our website – we look forward to welcoming you.
