Stage 13 of the North Sea Trail/Bohusleden may challenge your life and time perspective, if you let your imagination run wild. Large shell banks and traces of Baltic Sea water [sic] from a time long before ours. Just imagine; the landscape around you was shaped by the inland ice… Suddenly, the blister on your foot and other everyday problems seem less significant!

At Kuröd, the Kuststigen Trail joins the North Sea Trail/Bohusleden. Enjoy the beauty of the varied landscape, enjoy the meandering forest paths and beautiful lake views. And ignore that blister.

Älje is located in the Bäveån Nedre nature reserve. Here is also the small lake Surveln, the remains of the old Uddevalla sound. The sound actually linked the Baltic with the North Sea.

The shell banks are highly special and the largest of their kind in the world. It is definitely worth walking the short circular detour from the trail to see them. They were formed when the inland ice melted, and in the Shell Bank Museum you will learn more about the geology and the history of the area up until the present time. The museum is mainly open during summer. You can also read about the shell banks on the information boards. The Kuststigen Trail, leading to the North Sea via e.g. Orust and Lysekil, starts here.

Lake Bjursjön recreation area. Facilities include municipal beach, footpaths and tracks for jogging and skiing. The outdoor centre is normally open on Sundays during winter.