Vallsta: Hälsingland Farms, Ski Trails and Tunnbröd
Accommodation in Vallsta
Vallsta appeals to travellers interested in cultural history and active days: Gästgivars represents the Hälsingland farms World Heritage Site, while Hosarbo offers three ski trails. Östigården Vallsta adds regional produce to the mix.
File:Badliv vid Orbaden i Vallsta Arbrå socken.jpg
Photo: Nilsson, Erhard och Emil via Wikimedia Commons, CC-BY-SA-4.0
Gästgivars: World Heritage and Painting
In 2012, Gästgivars and six other Hälsingland farms were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Gästgivars is home to one of four visitor centres for the Hälsingland farms World Heritage Site, where visitors can get help planning their Hälsingland farm experience.
The grand banquet hall at Gästgivars was decorated by the influential painter Jonas Wallström. Wallström developed a stencil-painting technique that spread to other parts of Sweden. A visit therefore brings together a look at the decoration of a particular banquet hall and the story of a technique that spread beyond this place. The visitor centre and banquet hall offer two different perspectives: planning a Hälsingland farm experience and the specific artistic decoration of a single building.
Ski Trails near Hosarbo
Hosarbo in Vallsta has three ski trails measuring 2.5, 5 and 12 kilometres. You can choose a route based on your preferred distance: the 2.5-kilometre trail is the shortest, and the 12-kilometre trail is the longest, with the 5-kilometre option in between. There is also a connecting trail between Orfa and the long Hosarbo trail. This lets you factor both the distance and the connection to Orfa into your plans. Trail conditions vary by season; check the current conditions before setting out.
Orbaden: Music and Beach History
Orbadenstämman is an annual gathering of musicians in Hälsingland. The programme includes folk music, concerts, children’s performances, courses, dancing, and food and drink experiences. Dates and programmes vary from year to year; check the schedule for the year of your trip. Orbadenstämman also includes a free church-boat concert on Orbaden beach, for which no advance booking is required.
Orbaden beach is one kilometre long, with both deep and gently sloping areas. As early as the 1930s, locals and visitors from across Sweden would meet there.
Regional Produce and Cycling Route
As of 26 April 2023, Östigården Vallsta produced and sold Tunnbröd and Ostkaka. The Tunnbröd was baked with flour from its own grain. Production conditions may change; ask in advance about the current selection.
A cycling tour around the villages of Orbaden and Vallsta follows the Ljusnan River for several kilometres and passes several places to eat and have coffee. The same route thus offers two useful landmarks: the stretch along the river and several places to eat and have coffee along the way. The route and information about the businesses may change; check the current route and what the stops offer before setting out.
Discover more destinations: Hanebo, Rengsjö, Segersta and Bollnäs.
Back to the main travel overview: Bollnäs.
