Martin gets more people to love Billingen

“Head for the woods – do it with me.” That’s the invitation that greets anyone visiting Martin Maar’s website. Since 2018, he has been running the company Älska Billingen (“Love Billingen”), with the goal of helping more people experience everything the Billingen mountain has to offer.

Billingen is one of many table mountains in Skaraborg. The mountain stretches into both Skara and Falköping municipalities, but it is most prominent in Skövde, as the entire town lies at its foot. Billingen is a table mountain, which means it isn’t particularly high. However, it is large and has the characteristic flat “top” typical of table mountains.

Billingen has long been a popular recreational area for the people of Skövde, but in recent years, more investments have been made, and now it’s a destination that attracts visitors from far away. Today, there are activities year-round – from thrilling bike trails and hiking paths with magnificent views during the warmer seasons, to sparkling cross-country ski tracks and a downhill slope in winter. There’s also a playground, pump tracks, and child-friendly walking paths with plenty to discover for the little ones. Beyond that, there’s lots of untouched nature for those who want to explore beyond the outdoor recreation area.

“The nature around Billingen is absolutely incredible! There are so many hiking trails, but also small paths that bring you really close to nature. I go for a run, hike, paddle, ski, or skate as often as I can. A day without being out in nature is not a good day.”

Those are the words of Martin Maar. Martin moved to Skaraborg from Småland thirty years ago. He has always enjoyed nature, and through his work in a photo shop, he quickly connected with nature enthusiasts in his new hometown of Skövde.

“I didn’t know anyone when I moved here, but pretty quickly I met people who took me out into the nature around Billingen. We hiked and rode mountain bikes. At first, I mostly stuck to the trails, but after a while, I started studying maps and wondering if it was possible to get through a certain route. When I had planned a route, I tried to make my way along it – most of the time it worked out,” Martin laughs.

Älska Billingen (Love Billingen)

After a few years in Skövde, Martin found himself without a job for a period. He spent a lot of time in nature on Billingen and missed having a platform to share his experiences. He had previously posted on his personal Facebook page, but with more time on his hands, he started a page so others could follow his posts and share their own experiences. That’s how the Facebook page Älska Billingen was born.

“The goal was really just to spread and share experiences with other enthusiasts, but one thing led to another, and suddenly I was asked to take people on hikes. I took a course on starting a business and began organizing various nature experiences.”

Tips for Discovering Skaraborg’s Nature

For those who haven’t yet experienced Billingen and everything else Skaraborg has to offer, we asked the expert Martin: Where should you start if you want to explore Skaraborg’s nature?

“Oh, that’s tough! One place I keep coming back to is Ryd’s caves. They’re close to town, so easy to reach, but incredibly beautiful and well worth a visit. Then there’s the Valle area – fantastic for hiking. And Våmb! There are lots of trails there, and now there’s a marked route too, which is great for those who aren’t comfortable wandering freely in the forest. But really, there’s no bad place to start – just get out into nature!”