Nearby
The canal is 11 mil long. The best part starts right outside our gate.
More than 40 activities and attractions within an hour’s reach along the Strömsholm Canal, plus nineteen golf courses. You can launch your kayak at the mill, and the castle is within cycling distance.
More than 40 activities and attractions within an hour’s reach along the Strömsholm Canal, plus nineteen golf courses. You can launch your kayak at the mill, and the castle is within cycling distance.
From the mill, the canal connects the lock, the castle, and the swimming areas
The great thing about this area is that it’s not spread out. The Strömsholm Canal runs like a thread through it all, and along it, locks, swimming spots, fishing spots, and the castle line up in a row. You can bike, paddle, walk, or drive a short distance, and you can fit in several activities in a single day without ever feeling rushed.
That’s also why most people end up staying longer than they planned. A lunch turns into an afternoon, and one night turns into three.
Eight categories of attractions within an hour's drive of the mill
Bergslagen Ecomuseum
Cultural and historical attractions throughout Bergslagen, and the best source of information on the mill’s own history.
The Bed in the Meadow
Apartments in a rural setting in Strömsholm. Ideal for couples and small families.
Strömsholm Canal
The canal itself, with its locks, boating, and history. A great starting point for anyone who wants to understand what kind of water flows by here.
Kolbäcksgropen
The nearest fishing spot. You can purchase a fishing license through iFiske.
Sörkvarnsforsen Sport Fishing
Another popular fishing spot in the area, with its own fishing permits.
The Bridge in Mölntorp
The closest place to take a dip, within walking or biking distance. A dock, not a designated swimming area.
Borgåsund Beach
A designated swimming area at Borgåsund Harbor, just a short drive or bus ride away.
Sotebo Swimming Area
A sandy beach with piers and a diving platform, located within the Strömsholm Nature Reserve.
Nature Map
A hub for hiking trails and walking paths in the surrounding area. Search for "Westerqwarn" to see everything nearby.
Sweden by Bike
The bike path along the canal. Flat, it follows the water and passes locks and old bridge arches.
Strömsholm Nature Reserve
A nature reserve with a rich variety of birdlife and beautiful walking trails.
Lagårdssjön Viewpoint
A viewing spot for birdwatching. Best in the early morning and late evening.
Summer Evenings
On late summer evenings, people linger at the outdoor dining area long after their plates have been cleared away
You wake up next to the Strömsholm Canal and make coffee outside the RV while the area comes to life. After breakfast, you take a walk over to the Västerkvarn lock and back. Around 11:00, the bistro opens, and you settle in without any rush.
After lunch, take your bike to Strömsholm Castle and stop at Slottsboden on the way back. Spend the afternoon fishing at Kolbäcksgropen, or go for a paddle on the canal if the water looks inviting. In the evening, you’ll pull a pizza out of the wood-fired oven, take one last walk along the golf course, and sit outside the RV as it gets dark.
Morning
Coffee outside the RV
After breakfast
Västerkvarn Lock
Around 11
The bistro is opening
After lunch
The Castle and the Castle Storehouse
In the evening
Pizza straight from the wood-fired oven
It's not a program; it's just a suggestion of what a day here might look like.
Golf
19 golf courses
From Westerqwarn, you'll find 19 golf courses within a 1-hour drive. The closest one is just about 500 meters from your campsite.
SEASON
The courses are normally open from May through September, and Strömsholms GK closes when the ground becomes too wet in the fall. The parking lot, however, is open year-round regardless. One exception: Kvicksund Golf is open year-round and 24 hours a day. When darkness falls, they switch to a lighted 6-hole loop, so you can play there even in November.
The course for golfers looking for variety
Strömsholm Golf Club is right next door. It’s a 9-hole course with 18 tees between Kolbäck and Mölntorp, featuring a driving range and practice area, and some of the holes run along Kolbäcksgropen. From there, one of the Mälardalen region’s most densely concentrated golf areas opens up: fifteen courses within forty minutes, nineteen if you take a full hour.
With Westerqwarn as your base, you’ll explore a new trail every day and return to the same spot by the canal after your hike. No need to look for a new place to camp, no new area to get to know, and the wood-burning stove will be warm when you get back.
Neighbor, in under five minutes
Strömsholm Golf Club, about 500 meters away. 9 holes with 18 tees, a driving range, practice bunkers, and a café in the clubhouse.
Within half an hour
Fullerö, Köpings GK, and Skerike are about twenty minutes away. Västerås GK and Sura GK are just a little further, both with restaurants. Torshälla GK is in the direction of Eskilstuna. Kvicksund Golf is located halfway between Västerås and Eskilstuna, offering pay-and-play without advance booking and a green fee valid for the entire day. Hälla Golf offers a course, pirate golf, and a driving range equipped with the latest technology.
Within forty minutes
Eskilstuna GK, Tortuna GK, and Arboga GK. Frösåkers GK, overlooking Lake Mälaren, is perfect for those who want a links-style course and a long lunch. Orresta Golf and Ängsö Golf are to the east; the latter is right next to Ängsö Castle.
Do you want to go further?
Sala Golf Club, with its 27-hole course to the north, Fagersta Golf Club, Enköping Golf Club, and the Gripsholm course in Strängnäs are all about an hour away.
Westerqwarn is the starting point, not the entire outing
The more you get to experience in the area, the more worthwhile your visit will be. That’s why this page exists, and why it continues to grow. If you find something that should be included, please let us know. The list is updated regularly.
Destination Strömsholm Everything about Strömsholm
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the closest thing to Westerqwarn?
There are four attractions within easy reach without having to drive far: Strömsholm Golf Club, one kilometer away; Lakeside Adventures kayak rentals on-site; the Västerkvarn lock along the canal; and Bryggan in Mölntorp for a swim.
Where can I go swimming?
The closest place to take a dip is at Bryggan in Mölntorp, within walking or biking distance. If you’re looking for a larger swimming area, Borgåsund and Sotbo are just a short drive or bus ride away. Sotbo has a sandy beach, piers, and a diving tower, and is located within the Strömsholm Nature Reserve with a view of the castle.
How many golf courses are there nearby?
Fifteen courses are within a 40-minute drive, and nineteen are within an hour. The closest is Strömsholms GK, a 9-hole course with 18 tees. The courses are normally open from May through September, with the exception of Kvicksund Golf, which is open year-round and features a floodlit course after dark. The campground is open year-round.
Where can I buy a fishing license?
To Kolbäcksgropen via iFiske, and Sörkvarnsforsen’s Sportfiske has its own permits. Both bodies of water are located near the campsite.
Can you paddle on the Strömsholm Canal?
Yes. Lakeside Adventure rents out canoes and SUPs right next to Westerqwarn, so you can launch right at the mill. Be sure to book in advance during peak season; opening hours vary by season.
What do people do here when it rains?
Two indoor museums within a short drive: the Car and Technology Museum in Köping, featuring vehicles from the 1910s onward, and Miniature Kingdom in Kungsör, a model railroad that depicts Sweden in miniature. The Car and Technology Museum opens for the season on May 1; Miniature Kingdom is open Friday through Sunday. Check the hours before you go.
How far is it to Västerås?
A 20-minute drive via the E18, taking the Kolbäck exit. Eskilstuna is 30 minutes in the other direction, and Köping is just over 25 minutes to the west.
It takes more than a day to see all of this
Book a table for the evening or a night by the canal, and you'll have time to do more than you expected.