Look up. At a height on the horizon, Skepplanda church rises like a mirage. Step by step you approach the church. On the way, you reach Vadbackabron, an old stone arch bridge, which has been given the honor of acting as a symbol of this route. The road has many faces. Partly it is hiking along a cycle path (with room for the inner journey), and partly it is hiking to historical environments that give more room for the outer journey. If you want to stay somewhere, we recommend Skepplanda Hembygdsgård or at Stugåsberget.

The Vadbacka bridge leads over Forsån, which was the center of the mill movement in Skepplanda and the surrounding area. "Fors strommar" with a total drop height of over 40 meters was used already in the Middle Ages. For centuries, mills, sawmills and tanneries have existed along the fall furrow. In the Middle Ages, the Grönån was navigable a good distance into the Skeppland valley, and there are theories that there was a trading post at Vadbacka and Grönköp.

The environment around Vadbacka is scenic with many traces of the passage of time. Here is Skepplanda homestead and the falls in Forsån are impressive at high tide. You will find well preserved mills as remnants of older mill and sawmill operations. A trip to Stugåsberget takes you to the steep rock face where you will find a ship carving and a chariot figure. The ship, which is one of the county's largest petroglyphs, is three meters long and contains several interesting symbols, including a hand symbol. The location on a vertical rock face is also unusual. Right next to the petroglyph is an old quarry. Down in Skepplanda there is a grocery store and a pizzeria if you want to replenish your energy and take a break. Skeplanda church means the end of one stage and the beginning of a new one. As so often with the Göta älv pilgrimage route, the route has varied nature and rich history.

Welcome to the Vadbackabron route.

Surface: Forest path, asphalt, dirt road.

Time: 2-4 hours excluding breaks.

Don't miss: "Fors strommar" with a total height of over 40 meters was used already in the Middle Ages.

Get here: Västtågen towards Älvängen Station, bus 414 towards Starrkärr Church

Accommodation: There are no specific suggestions for accommodation along the stage, but there are many accommodation options to choose from in the digital map.

The Pilgrimsleden Göta Älv has developed in a collaboration between: the City of Gothenburg, the Association of Property Owners in Gamlestaden, Gamlestaden, Ale Municipality, Lilla Edets Municipality, Trollhättan City, Vänersborg Municipality, Västra Götaland Region, the Church of Sweden, the Pilgrims Center in Gothenburg, Visit Trollhättan Vänersborg, the Tourist Board of West Sweden and the West Coast Foundation.