#042 Dirty South

The Dirty South – Sand and Single Track

Distance: 110 KM
Height: 444 m
Direction: Two combined loops
Percentage: 51% Gravel and single track , 49% paved
Style: Mixed gravel roads with some forested and sandy single-track

Route designer: Elena Keller @elena_keller00

This loop, which leaves and returns from Malmö Central Station, follows the west
coast of Skåne, down to Falsterbohalvön Naturreservat, and back up again. The
first 15 kilometers of the ride are primarily off road, following a sandy stretch
along the beach, until reaching Regnbågen, a small, yet fun, mountain bike trail
system.

The trail options are plentiful, with some rocky and rooty technical
sections. There are options to skip the trail system altogether by following the
bike path that circles the park. The route continues south along the coast, often
dipping into small forested sections of trail and gravel paths to avoid the
pavement. If one wants to opt out of the gravel or single-track sections, there are
plenty of ways to change the route to follow the paved roads. 45 Kilometers into
the ride, you turn right towards Falsterbohalvön Naturreservat, where you spend
the next 50 kilometers encircling the peninsula, riding on smooth gravel
stretches, flowy trail sections in the pine forest, and sandy single-track along the
coast.

The beachy town offers beautiful coastal views, diverse terrain, and plenty
of options for a mid-ride ice-cream. The remaining 30 Km back to Malmö
primarily follows both gravel and paved roads through the countryside, passing
by horse and agricultural farms, beautiful churches, and quiet sections of land.
This route, although quite flat, took me longer to complete than I had originally
anticipated. The single-track sections slowed me down considerably, but kept the
ride extremely entertaining and enjoyable.

I would recommend stopping at a
café, bakery, or grocery store in Falsterbohavlöns to refuel on ride snacks. This is
likely the best option to refuel, given that once you leave Falsterbohalvöns after
completing the loop, you won’t reach another town until you hit the outskirts of
Malmö.