The town sits on the western shore of Lake Vänern, where fields and forests meet Sweden’s largest lake. It is a landscape of contrasts: one moment farmland and red barns, the next a sudden sweep of pine woods, and always water close at hand.

Ale, located in Västra Götaland County, Sweden, is a picturesque municipality known for its rich history, vibrant community, and stunning natural landscapes. Nestled along the Göta River, Ale combines the charm of rural Sweden with the convenience of proximity to Gothenburg, one of Sweden’s major cities.

Kungälv, located in Västra Götaland County in Sweden, is a charming town steeped in history and surrounded by picturesque landscapes. Just a short distance from Gothenburg, this town offers a rich blend of historical sites, including the impressive Bohus Fortress and the medieval ruins of Ragnhildsholmen.

Trollhättan, located in southwestern Sweden, is a charming town known for its rich industrial history, scenic landscapes, and vibrant cultural scene. Nestled along the Göta River, Trollhättan offers a blend of natural beauty and urban amenities, making it an ideal destination for both relaxation and exploration.

Gothenburg is Sweden's second city, with a suburban population creeping above one million, it crams a lot into a small space. Also known as lilla London, due to its climate, and historic connection to London it is the home of Volvo, a hub for music and a city edged on one side by the water and islands of the archipelago and on the other by the forests of Bohus.

Six of our headed out on Saturday morning for Brännö island, off the coast of Gothenburg. Part of the Archipelago that is easily accessible by the many ferries.

Ulricehamn is a small town with a small ski slopes attached to it. (Its about a 40 minute walk from one to the other, quite tough with a full set of gear!) and accessible from Gothenburg by direct bus, which makes it one of the few public transport accessible ski options near to Gothenburg.

Having moved to Sweden, I’m trying to do a bit more outdoors, with the ocean, lakes, forests and trails so easily accessible from the centre of town, it is a waste to not make the most of them.

Getting to Marstrand was less easy than it should have been, there is a train which connects to a bus in Ytterby. Unfortunately due to technical problems, the train was cancelled and the next one was two hours later. When we queried this and if my tickets would still be valid, we were told due to the delay we could take a taxi and Vastraffik would refund me. 1000 SEK journey later we were in Marstrand.

It was finally time to head to the southern archipelago of Gothenburg. A straight tram from the Iron Square took me to Salthomen where I caught the Ferry south. The ferries have a number of stops, so I chose one at random: Donsö.

A had a friend over and took them out to the Archipelago. We went to Styrsö and Vrångö. Styrsö is one of the largest islands, with several places to eat and one of the highest points of the islands. Vrångö is one of the smallest inhabited islands, but has a nice cafe bar right by the ferry station.

A had a friend over and took them out to the Archipelago. We went to Styrsö and Vrångö. Styrsö is one of the largest islands, with several places to eat and one of the highest points of the islands. Vrångö is one of the smallest inhabited islands, but has a nice cafe bar right by the ferry station.