Dog trip in Viking Land

First day of hiking! After a good night's sleep, we set off directly from the house or after a short drive, depending on our accommodation. Joy is the word that best describes our first steps and especially their first runs! Here, dogs can be let off-leash if they wish. It's not mandatory, but it's worth taking advantage of if they have good recall. The route is about 15 km, but the dogs will definitely cover a bit more!

We're taking a short drive to hike on the Hunneberg plateau. This former hunting reserve, once belonging to the Swedish royal family, is now a nature park dedicated to wildlife conservation and hiking.

This wild trail, passing through picturesque spots, allows you to immerse yourself even further in the beautiful Västra Götaland region. A secluded area with paths winding through the heart of the forest, practically all to yourself. Along the way, you'll find lakes and small streams. Dogs usually can't resist! It's the perfect opportunity to capture some stunning photos in the forest.

It's time to move! We have to leave the house in impeccable condition before we leave, it's customary in Sweden. We have one of our rules of etiquette, among others: leave the place cleaner than when we arrived! Traveling with dogs makes the challenge slightly more difficult, but working as a team makes it a pleasure and helps make this type of trip possible. Once on the road, we drive through several dozen kilometers of forest. The road is magnificent, and Charles takes you along hidden paths, eventually leading to the Bredfjället hill.

Long ago, a village stood here. For lunch, we stopped at an old, isolated farmhouse deep in the forest, which now serves as an occasional meeting place for the locals. Bredfjället is a truly peaceful place. This 8km hike will be our last time in the vast forest.

We're hitting the road again for our second home! We're setting sail for the island of Tjörn, a completely different atmosphere! We're settling into the small village of Rönnäng and more specifically into Carl's childhood home, which has been hosting the Viking Land dog trip since spring 2021.

The scenery has changed. On the island of Tjörn, the atmosphere is obviously maritime!

We take the car for about a 45-minute drive north and cross the island of Orust. We quickly board the ferry that connects Tuvesvik to Härmanö. It's a tiny island in an archipelago of hundreds. We disembark five minutes later in Gullholmen, the island's only village. We take the opportunity to meet our friend Torbjörn, if he's there. He's a retired schoolteacher, always ready to tell us stories about this unique village, its buildings, and its inhabitants. He shows us his small natural history museum in the old schoolhouse. He knows all the names of seabirds, even in French! We then begin the hike that circles the island of Härmanö, a designated nature reserve. Dogs are more than welcome here, but they must be kept close to their owners, as the wildlife is fragile.

A few kilometers are needed to reach Kyrkesund to catch another ferry. In a matter of seconds, we set foot on the island of Harön. We explore this island with its magnificent houses before venturing into its heart, a pastoral region where people work the limited available land using traditional methods. Indeed, the island is a protected nature reserve. Along our route, we discover numerous ruins, vestiges of a bygone era.

Last day of our Viking adventure! So we're making the most of it.

We're taking you to the unique island of Stora Dyrön. A tiny village occupies part of the island, with two harbors in the north and one in the south. Nature is still very much present, and a population of ibex lives on the island! A rare sight, but not impossible for the most observant! To spot them, you must be discreet in the areas they frequent. As Dyrön is a protected and fragile island, dogs must be kept on a lead or leash. A wonderful day to end this adventure in the heart of the Kattegat Strait on a high note.

After a hearty breakfast to prepare for the day ahead, we tidy up Carl's house and leave for Gothenburg.

The goodbyes must be worthy of our week and will undoubtedly take some time… But where one trip ends, another begins, and we'll stay in touch no matter what to exchange photos taken during our stay, and who knows? Maybe another dog trip in another Viking land?