Ullared
Ullared is located by the winding Högvadsån river amidst a landscape of hilly wooded peaks. Roughly 5 million people explore Ullared by shopping cart, but it’s certainly also possible to do so by canoe, bicycle or car. After all, Ullared has more to offer than its massive department store; there is a wealth of things do to and places to visit here.
Gekås Ullared
Situated further inland in Falkenberg lies Sweden’s most popular destination. 4.8 million people visit it every year, and with good reason. A visit to Ullared is more than a shopping trip; it’s an experience! Gekås Ullared is a shopping paradise for everyone who loves to find bargains smartly. Here, you’ll find over 100,000 different products ranging from toys to hygiene items, flowers, electronic gadgets, lamps, rugs, clothes, baby items, home decor, food, books, tools to sports, leisure, and much more. Yes, in short, everything for the home that can fit in a car! Besides shopping, there is a wide range of dining options, nursing rooms, changing rooms, a hair salon, stroller parking, a cinema room, fitting rooms, shopping cart parking, and several overnight accommodations to make your shopping experience the best possible! Stay overnight In Ullared, there are accommodations for everyone! The big shopping-loving group of friends who want to stay in a cabin, the adventurer who wants to pitch their own tent out in nature, or the family who wants to splurge on relaxing comfort at a hotel. The Hotel Just 250 meters from the department store, you will find the Hotel, with 264 rooms, two hotel restaurants, and conference facilities for up to 130 people. The hotel rooms are 22 – 25 square meters, with 2-4 beds. Welcome to Gekås Hotel! Read more The Motel At the Motel in the center of Ullared, you stay comfortably on 20 m² with your own outdoor patio. With only 200 meters to the department store, you get a prime location when you shop at the store. Read more Cottage Village Here you will find cottages for everyone! Choose from accommodations for large groups, accommodations where you can bring your pet, semi-detached houses, and apartments with hotel standards. Check below to find what best suits you! Read more Camping Camp at Gekåsbyn’s large camping site with nature and the department store as your nearest neighbors. The camping sites are up to 100 square meters and have space for motorhomes, caravans, cars, and awnings. At the campsite, you also find a spot for pitching a tent. Read more Dining Places When you need to replenish your energy, Gekås offers a wide variety of both food and coffee. In the department store, you’ll find the Sport Bar and Macka & Jos on the ground floor, and on the 3rd floor are the Restaurant and Rosa Café. In the heart of Gekåsbyn lies Gekåsbyn Bistro and at the Hotel, you can take a break in one of the Hotel Restaurants. Read more Socialize and relax In addition to the obvious activity of shopping, there is also much else to do around the department store. There is always something happening, dance and music events, and fun occurrences in the department store, the adventurous can throw themselves into the high-altitude course, enjoy a bath on the sauna raft, or challenge family and friends in Adventure Golf. Read more
Ljusverkstan (The light workshop)
“Ljusverkstan” is a candle making workshop. Here you and your friends can come to make your own candles and “light crowns”. There is also artisan glass craft, pottery, knitwear, textiles and more from crafters from the nearby area.
Gekåsbyn
If you want to stay as close as possible to the shopping paradise, you will almost certainly find something that’s perfect for you. Gekåsbyn offers hotel rooms, cottages, motel rooms, campsites and motorhome sites. Hotel The hotel is located just 50 metres from the department store and has its own shopping cart corral. It has 112 rooms, a breakfast dining hall and can host conferences for up to 130 people. The rooms are approximately 25 square metres in size with 2-4 beds. The rooms are more than spacious enough to have company over – while still leaving room for your shopping bags. Naturally, each room is also furnished with a big mirror for you to check out how you look in your newly-bought clothes and accessories. There’s also a TV, kitchen cupboards with a sink, a cool cupboard and means to make yourself a cup of coffee and set the table for a coffee. Bathroom with toilet and shower. To the Hotel Camping Bring your caravan or motorhome for a short stay in Ullared. The campsites are up to 100 sq. m. in size and are roomy enough for your vehicle and awning. The service buildings are well-equipped and strategically placed around the campground. You can also choose to make camp between mountains, forests, meadows and streams. The tent sites are located close to the service buildings, and there is space for one vehicle per campsite. To the Campground Camper park You can also spend a couple days at the Camper park for caravans and motorhomes, which is located by Gekå’s central warehouse Sönnerang, 1 km east of Ullared. Parking is free between 7:00 – 20:00. Outside these hours, you must pay by card at the parking meter. You are allowed to park in the area for 48 hours. There are toilets as well as facilities for filling up on water and emptying latrines. To the Camper park Cabins You can also choose between a variety of excellent cabins in various sizes and price ranges at Gekåsbyn. Choose the one that is best suited for you and your party. In Gekåsbyn, there are plenty of ways to hang out and unwind after a long day of shopping. You hop in a wood-fired hot tub, relax in a sauna, have a barbecue, hang out at one of the playgrounds or go adventure golfing. During the summer months, you can also take a dip in Lake Musa, which is only a stone’s throw from the department store.
Floastad
If you are looking to have a picnic with a breathtaking view without have to carry your picnic basic too far, Floastad is a perfect destination. Come visit in the autumn when the landscape is alight in a multitude of colours, or in the spring as the hepatica are blossoming. Welcome Floastad can be tricky to find. Follow the signs toward Sumpafallen, but continue past and soon on the left are some signs for which you need to look. Park here, and then walk through the bright and stroll-friendly deciduous forest. Follow the path leading up to Skrabbabjär, which is its the highest point (105 m above sea level). It is not especially far to walk, so small children can certainly come along. Beautiful Views From the top, you have a magnificent view over Svartrå. The mountain slopes steep downhill, so be careful when walking here. You walk the last part up toward the top along an old stone staircase. Be careful here too, since the stairs can be slippery. They say that the mountain was once used as a ritual precipice in times past. Spring and Autumn Pay a visit to Floastad in the autumn in order to see a colourful landscape from the lookout point. However, the spring, before the deciduous trees have turned out completely, is also a good time to visit. That’s when you can see the protected hepatica poking out from between the previous year’s leaves. The bedrock in Floastad has elements of basic greenstone, which makes vascular plants such as hepatica and black baneberries thrive here.
Sumpafallen
At Sumpafallen, you can stroll along the rapids or into the beautiful forests. The nature reserve is an extremely popular destination for excursions. There are plenty of picnic tables here, so be sure to pack a lunch and enjoy a quiet moment in peaceful scenic surroundings. Welcome A narrow dirt road takes you directly to the nature reserve’s parking area. There are plenty of tables and benches here if you want to start your excursion with a picnic. Please be sure to close the gate again when you enter. There are grazing animals in the reserve whose role is to keep the landscape open, which also benefits many other species. Follow the path down the slope, and it won’t be long until you can hear the roaring of the rapids. The rapids are part of the Högvadsån river, which is known for its clear waters and salmon that can be seen leaping out of the water. Beautiful nature The ravine is surrounded by pastureland and oak plantations. It can almost feel like a magical place in the spring when the white wood anemones bloom and cover the fields like winter snow and a soft fog hangs over the water. The river is home to salmon as well as trout and freshwater pearl mussel. In the forest, you will hear the telltale birdsong of species such as willow warbler and finch every year, while the dipper keeps to the rocks out in the water. A lot to discover At the rapids, you can have a picnic on one of the many tables and benches. There is even a barbecue area that you can use. There are also some interesting ruins of the Sumpa mill, which is mentioned in historical accounts as far back as the end of the 18th century. An approximately 2 km hiking trail snakes along Högvadsån and eventually follows the road back to the parking lot.
High rope course Ullared
At High rope course Ullared, a breathtaking adventure awaits for the whole family in the form of cableways, nets, tunnels, climbing walls and lianas, all of which are located high up among the trees. Rise to the challenge and above the ground. At high altitude High rope course Ullared is located in Gekåsbyns camping area. There are high-elevation courses up to 18 metres above ground with fun challenges among the treetops! With four different courses at different heights and levels of difficulty, everyone can find a suitable challenge, be it the lowest – and easiest – course or the highest and most difficult. Climb nets, balance on ropes, fly through the trees on a cableway and climb through a tunnel, always under the watchful eye of the experienced guides. Have fun together High rope course Ullared also organises corporate activities, children’s parties, bachelorette parties and bachelor parties. The park is open from March to November.
Musasjön
After a long day of shopping at Gekås Ullared, what could be better than going for a cooling dip? Musajön and its surrounding beautiful nature is located just a stone’s throw from the department store. Bathing and play There is a fantastic swim spot by Musasjön. There is a nearby sandy beach with a bathing jetty, swimming raft and slide. Start the day with a morning swim or round off a successful day of shopping with a cooling evening dip. Goggles, swimwear and everything else you may need can be bought in the department store. Sauna and walks There is a sauna raft out on the lake which you can book via Gekåsbyn. You can also go for a scenic walk around the lake, which will take you around 20 minutes at a fast pace. There are also a handful of nice barbecue areas in the immediate vicinity.
Åkulla Bokskogar
One visit to Åkulla is enough to make you want to return some day. It’s a lovely area for outdoor activities, and there’s plenty to explore. Sweden’s foremost beech forest area Åkulla Bokskogar lies on the border between Falkenberg and Varberg, covering an area of 50 square kilometres. The area contains about 20 lakes and several nature reserves. It is one of Sweden’s foremost beech forest areas given the fact that it is home to a wealth of rare and endangered species. Hiking for everyone Åkulla is suitable for the whole family. There are no less than 12 hiking trails here, varying from 1.6 km to 6 km in length. Bring your stroller, dog, running partner, or picnic bag and make a day out of it, choosing the route that suits you best. The trails are also interlinked, making it possible to explore different parts of the area and go on longer hikes. The trails are well marked and interspersed with maps to help guide your way. Maps of the hiking trails Explore Åkulla There are several activities to choose from here. For instance, you could go fishing in the lakes, visit the local attractions and stay the night. Åkulla’s beech forests have a long season that extends from early spring to late autumn, and there are still plenty of things to do even during the winter months. In the winter, the ski tracks with artificial snow at Åkulla Friluftsgård are a popular attraction for professional as well as amateur skiers.
Ullared Flädje Golfklubb
Flädje is a well-maintained and scenic forest and heathland course located in the Ätran river valley: A nature experience out of the ordinary. The joy of golfing The golf club is characterised by its charm, relaxed atmosphere and volunteer members as well as a truly non-snobbish attitude to golf as a people’s sport. This is what the club proudly refers to as the Flädje spirit. Great golf and great service The course varies in nature and appeals to both elite and average golfers. There is a good cafeteria here that serves you a good cup of coffe and nice sandwiches. RV park There is a motorhome parking area with electricity adjacent to the club house. The spots are on grass, and there is also a nice barbecue area. More about the RV parking area
Fishing in Högvadsån
There is a great variety of fish in Högvadsån, including salmon, trout, pike, perch and other species. Högvadsån flows into the Ätran river in Ätrafors and is the Ätran river’s biggest tributary. The Ätran river and Högvadsån have a native salmon population and together make up the most important spawning grounds for salmon on the Swedish west coast. The most important spawning beds are found in Högvadsån, which is also home to a wealth of other flora and fauna. Buy your fishing licence here ifiske.se When can I go fishing? Season: 1 April – 30 September What rules apply? You can go spinning, fly fishing or bait fishing. Only one rod may be used per person at a time. Fishing with shrimp or worms is allowed with single or double hooks. Restrictions apply in certain areas. Please be sure to read through all the rules for fishing in Hövadsån. You must register your catch. If you catch a salmon or trout, you must show it where you bought the fishing licence or note it on the back of the licence and leave it where you bought the licence. You can also text message details of your catch to 070-329 30 08.
The most beautiful road in Halland
Travelling along this road is a nature excursion in and of itself. Bring your picnic basket and make a stop by one of the many picnic spots that are located by the road. About the most beautiful road in Halland In connection with the 150th anniversary of the Swedish National Road Administration, the stretch of road between Askome and Gällared in inland Falkenberg was voted the most beautiful road in Halland. And with good reason. The road hugs the Ätran river and is offers amazing views. On some stretches, the road even passes over the water. The 15-kilometre road starts in Askome, taking you along Ätraforsdammen and onwards through a rural landscape and passing through several great picnic spots with tables and benches along the way. Yngeredsforsen is part of Ekomuseum Nedre Ätradalen and is well worth a visit. As you get closer to Gällared, the forest framing both sides of the Ätran river grows denser. There is a wealth of different flora and fauna here, such as wood cow-wheat, garden speedwell and butterfly orchid. There is no separate bike path, but you should have no problems biking here as there are very few cars on the road.
Ätranbaneleden
Ätranbaneleden is an easy bike trail that stretches between Ullared and Fegen and is suitable for the whole family. It follows the old railway embankments, and on the route you will learn more about the local area’s nature, culture and history. About the trail Ätranbaneleden is 24 km long and goes from Ullared to Fegen. It follows the old railway embankments constructed for the Varberg-Ätran and Fegen-Ätran routes. Both railways were closed down in 1961. The bike trail is clearly marked with red-and-white signs. The trail mainly consists of hard-packed gravel and is easy to travel on for cyclists. There are only a handful of hills along the way, and the trail is mostly lined by forests and marshland, but also open fields on some stretches. There are information signs posted at regular intervals along the trail. Be sure to read through them if you want to learn more about the nature, culture and history of the area. The trail i 24 km long. Local area services There are accommodation options, restaurants and cafés located close by the trail. You can find swim spots and grocery shops in Ullared, Ätran and Fegen. There are also six picnic/rest areas along the trail. Our Outdoor Recreation brochure contains a map of Ätranbaneleden. You can download a PDF version here (subject to change)
Pyttebaneleden
Pyttebaneleden stretches between Ullared och Älvsered and is ideal for cyclists. The path runs along an old railway embankment which occasionally hugs Högvadsån. Pyttebaneleden follows the old railway embankment between Ullared and Älvsered. Falkenberg’s railway once passed through this route (from 1896-1961) and was called Pyttebanan. The bike trail is clearly marked with red-and-white signs. The trail mainly consists of hard-packed gravel and is easy to travel on for cyclists. There are no hills along the way, and the landscape alternates between open fields and forest groves. Every now and then, the trail follows Högvadsån, a river known for being a major spawning ground for salmon and sea trout. There are information signs posted at regular intervals along the trail. Be sure to read through them if you want to learn more about the nature, culture and history of the area. The trail is 15 km long. Local area services There are accommodation options, restaurants and cafés located close by the trail. In Ullared and Älvsered, you can find swim spots and grocery shops. There are also three picnic/rest areas along the trail. Our Outdoor Recreation brochure contains a map of Pyttebaneleden. You can download a PDF version here. (Subject to change)
Canoeing in Högvadsån
You can go canoeing along the charming Högvadsån in Älvsered, only 10 km north of Ullared. You can rent a canoe or a kayak at Högvads Kanot & Fiskeäventyr. You can go fishing for free. The trip starts by the bridge in Älvsered, approximately 100 metres west of Lantmännen and ends in the southern end of Hackarpsjön. It takes about 3-4 hours to paddle back and forth at a leisurely pace without stopping. Of course, you can stop wherever you want or turn around and paddle back again. After about 20 minutes of paddling, you will arrive at Nabben with a bath and barbecue area, toilet and a beach volleyball court. A good place for a break or a picknick. You can also fish for free! There may be low water levels along the stretch, so we recommend you bring boots or similar footwear in case you have to get out of the canoe to push it through shallow water.
