Day 1: Green Cows and Sustainable Cooking in Säffle

Eager as a calf in green pastures, you head towards the Säffle municipality. Here, you’ll find a wealth of highlights. And conveniently, Grön Ko café and market hall in Värmlandsbro is your first stop on the journey. Here, you’ll find locally sourced products on the shelves and on the lunch plates in a rustic setting (an old train station building). Continue on to Säffle’s town center, where a traditional sugary paradise awaits. Holger’s bakery has been around for nearly 100 years, and even the retro sign on the facade will lift your spirits. The homemade pastries are hard to resist as well. Start with a sourdough loaf baked in the uniquely well-preserved stone oven, and top it off with the signature buttery bun. With a sugar-laden satisfaction in your chest, the timing is perfect for Duse Udde, the expansive nature area next to Lake Vänern. Walk along the cliffs and enjoy the elements of nature in whatever form they come, gathering energy.

Day 2: Rustic and Local at Wiksfors Mill and a Five-Star Visit in Årjäng

In the small village of Långserud, the rustic mill buildings, after many years of dormancy, have come to life in recent years. And what a comeback it’s been! With locally produced goods, small-scale production, upcycling, and creative collaborations as guiding principles, the place has become a destination worth an extra detour. Explore the craftsmanship at Wiksfors Mill Shop, Balder Design, and Bruket Interior. Savor a hearty waffle lunch at Wiksforsmagazinet or treat yourself to a wood-fired pizza at Wedbränt (limited opening hours in the fall/winter). Full but hungry for new impressions, continue your journey west to Årjäng. Here, you’ll find the acclaimed Sommarvik campsite, where activities have contributed to the campsite achieving five-star status. Go for a peaceful paddling trip on Västra Silen and gather energy with each stroke. And the water-based experiences in Årjäng don’t stop there. Check out the locks in Lennartsfors, one of the most impressive in the Dalsland Canal (yes, it runs through Värmland too) for more water fun. And in the neighboring town of Arvika, you can set up your dinner plans, by the water of course. Barbord offers delicious tapas with a view of Glafsfjorden. Meet John Blund at one of the central hotels or check in at the carefully and boldly renovated school in Jössefors, Guesthouse Eleven.

Day 3: Joy in Glaskogen, Royal Tablecloths, and Wildlife in Eda

The day breaks and, as the saying goes, the early bird catches the worm. Greet the sunrise in Värmland’s largest nature reserve, Glaskogen. Here, there are no less than 300 km of hiking trails that take you through the wilderness and past numerous lakes and waters. You can spend days hiking in the reserve, but on this occasion, you’ll return to civilization after a couple of hours of adventure. In Arvika, there’s more on the agenda. A visit to Klässbol Linen Weaving is a must. Here, linen of the highest quality has been woven for over 100 years. The crowning achievement is, of course, their status as a royal supplier and their responsibility for the Nobel dinner tablecloths. Take home a tablecloth or pillow to bring the traditional luxury home with you. More history that keeps the style alive awaits at Rackstad Museum. The museum honors the artistic elite who lived and created in the Arvika area during the early 1900s. It’s no coincidence that the art museum is often ranked as one of the most beautiful in the country. The exhibitions are truly breathtaking. Before the journey ends, head towards Eda. Perhaps you’ll catch a glimpse of one of the rare white moose, which are more common here in western Värmland than anywhere else? And at Lövås Gård, there are exciting options to reach a magnificent crescendo: wildlife safaris, forest tours, and wolf evenings are just a few possibilities. The conclusion fits perfectly with the journey as a whole. In western Värmland, nature experiences – which evoke the feeling of a calf in green pastures – are never far away.