Upplandsleden Stage 8 Knutby - Pansarudden 19.5 km

The stage starts at the swimming area at Lake Hosjön just outside Knutby and the sandy area north of the lake means that the trail runs on a very long and, if it rains, extremely slippery footbridge. There is a beautifully situated rest area with a shelter on a hill overlooking a pond with the curious name of Stor Tickul.

The next part of the trail is the easy walk towards Vällnora, which is the first of two old mill villages in the area. The mill was built in 1684 and there are also ruins of a blast furnace, forge and other old buildings. Most of them are from the first half of the 19th century and some are used today as summer residences.

Another two kilometers to the east, you will reach the village of Bennebol with almost the same collection of ruins. Visit the small but very informative historical exhibition before continuing through the forest towards Fyrväpplingen fishing camp. Nature changes here and resembles the pine forests of northern Sweden.

After the fishing camp, the forest changes again and you walk in John Bauer's environments with fallen tree trunks and thick layers of moss on every rock. It's like you wouldn't be surprised if a troll appeared behind a rock. The forest becomes very dense before you reach the stage finish at the Pansarudden nature reserve.

This stage of the Upplandsleden is very varied with some parts in very wild and dense forest and other parts passing old industrial areas. There are several habitat changes along the way and plenty of opportunities to make detours to small conservation areas and old castles. The path is often non-existent but the trail markings in the terrain are exceptionally good.

It's amazing that you can walk a whole day on a marked trail just 20 miles from Stockholm and not see a single person.