Ljungleden connects Gothenburg with Falköping across a varied West Swedish landscape. Named after the heather associated with Västergötland, it also joins two longer cycling routes, creating opportunities to build a wider journey through the region. Västkuststiftelsen manages the trail in cooperation with the municipalities along its course.
From Gothenburg towards Alingsås
West Sweden’s visitor guide places the Gothenburg end at Drottningtorget, outside the central station. The route uses cycle paths out of the city and follows an old railway embankment towards Sjövik before turning at Gråbo towards Floda. Gråbo has a square with a food shop and café, making it a useful pause on the way out.
Floda offers places to stop for food or an overnight stay. Further along, Nääs Fabriker occupies buildings associated with a nineteenth-century cotton mill beside Lake Sävelången. Alingsås is another place to linger: its cafés, cobbled streets and courtyards give riders a chance to explore Sweden’s fika tradition.
Across the countryside to Falköping
Beyond Alingsås, the journey continues through the Vårgårda and Herrljunga areas towards Falköping. The route’s landscape changes between woods, lakes, open agricultural land and smaller settlements. Heather gives the trail its name; West Sweden Trails also describes meadows and rapeseed fields along the way.
Vårgårda has an exhibition about the Fåglum brothers and their place in Swedish cycling history. Around Herrljunga, the regional guide suggests a farm shop stop, while Dahlbogården between Alingsås and Vårgårda and Alboga Choklad before Falköping are short diversions from the route. Falköping marks the inland end and offers places to eat and stay.
Riding and planning
The route is signposted as regional cycle route 106. Much of the riding is on asphalt, using cycle paths and roads with relatively little traffic, but there are gravel sections too. Choose a bicycle suited to both surfaces and expect to share some roads with other traffic.
You can choose a shorter section for a day trip or arrange accommodation for a longer ride. The regional visitor guide lists places to stay along the route and suggests carrying water, food and a repair kit. It also notes that Västtåget trains stop at several places along the route; bicycle space is subject to availability, so check the operator’s current conditions when planning.
For a longer tour, Ljungleden connects with Kattegattleden at Gothenburg and Ätradalsleden at Falköping. The West Sweden guide describes continuing on Ätradalsleden to Falkenberg and returning towards Gothenburg along Kattegattleden, creating a much larger circuit.