Klarälven valley (Stöllet, Hagfors and Norra Råda)
The Klarälven runs south through northern Värmland, and timber-raft trips leave from Torsby municipality: you build the raft yourself and drift downstream for a day or up to a week. Stöllet sits on the river further north, and Branäs ski resort is up the valley for winter. Hagfors and Norra Råda are old ironworks country around Uddeholm. Oslo Gardermoen is around two and a half hours away.
Best for: Families and groups who want a timber-raft trip or river canoeing
Not for you if: You want restaurants nearby: these are small forest and mill communities, and Hagfors has the only real shops.
Gräsmark and Torsby (the Fryken lakes)
Gräsmark is a scattered village on Lake Rottnan, north-west of Sunne. Torsby sits at the top of Upper Fryken, the northernmost of three long, narrow lakes running south past Sunne. Mårbacka, the home of the writer Selma Lagerlöf, is near Sunne and open to visitors. West of Torsby, Finnskogen is forest along the Norwegian border settled by Finnish migrants in the 1600s. Oslo Gardermoen is about two and a half hours away.
Best for: Lake fishing and a cottage close to the water
Not for you if: You want a lively town: Torsby is the only place of any size, and it is small.
Kristinehamn and Lake Vänern
Kristinehamn is a small town at the north-east corner of Lake Vänern, the largest lake in Sweden. A 15-metre concrete head designed by Picasso stands on a point by the water about 7 kilometres from the centre, unveiled in 1965. The shore is broken up by bays and islands, which suits small boats. Trains run to Karlstad and Stockholm, and Arlanda is about three hours by car.
Best for: Small-boat trips and a town base on Sweden's largest lake
Not for you if: You want hills and wilderness: this end of Värmland is flatter, with more farmland.
Filipstad, Lesjöfors and Storfors (eastern Bergslagen)
This corner of Värmland grew on iron. Filipstad, founded in 1611, is linked with the inventor John Ericsson, born at Långban nearby, and the poet Nils Ferlin, who has a museum in town. Långban's old mine is known for the sheer number of minerals found there. Lesjöfors and Storfors are small mill towns among lakes, and the Bergslagskanalen can be paddled by canoe. Karlstad and Örebro are each about an hour away.
Best for: Mining history and canoeing on the Bergslagen canal
Not for you if: You want a beach resort: this is old iron country of forest and small towns.
Glava and Glaskogen (west)
Glava is a village south-west of Arvika, close to Glaskogen, which covers around 29,000 hectares and is the largest nature reserve in Värmland. About a fifth of it is water, with canoe routes, around 300 kilometres of trails and simple overnight cabins; a Glaskogen card is needed for the cabins and campsites. Canoes can be hired at Lenungshammar in summer. Oslo Gardermoen is roughly two hours away.
Best for: Canoeists and hikers heading into Värmland's largest nature reserve
Not for you if: You want choice: we have one cottage here.
