Ärtan och Bönan, “the Pea and the Bean”, is a small wood in northeast Höganäs where coal was mined two hundred years ago, and a 10 ha nature reserve since 2020. A wood-chip exercise loop runs through young deciduous woods and meadows, past old spoil heaps. Höganäs municipality recommends it for families, with plenty of insects and plants to discover.
The route
Start at the small car park where Industrigatan becomes Metallgatan. From there, an accessible stone-dust path leads to the grill site in the middle of the reserve, with benches and tables. The wood-chip loop, about 1 km long, winds through the whole area; allow about half an hour.
Along the way
Shafts 18 and 19 were worked here between 1814 and 1826, making this one of the earliest coal-mining sites in Höganäs: the coal lies close to the surface. Their spoil heaps of rock and poor coal remain, topped by oaks much older than the woods around them. The name is said to come from shaft 18, pronounced “attan” locally, which sounded like ärtan, the pea; shaft 19 then became bönan, the bean. Another story says it describes the two big heaps, one round and one long. Rare beetles live in the old birches and aspens, and you may hear woodpeckers drumming and warblers singing. QR-code diamonds in the wood tell you about the place and its wildlife.
Good to know
- Accessibilitythe stone-dust path to the grill site is accessible, while the rest of the loop is wood chips; the Kwenda app guides you in modes for visual impairment, wheelchair use and cognitive impairment (iPhone only in 2026; English is listed only for Björkeröd)
- Ruleskeep dogs on a leash; no camping, cycling or horses; light fires only at the grill site and never during a fire ban, and take your litter home