Exploring Galtströms Bruk - 17th century Ironworks in Njurunda Sweden 🇸🇪 ~ Adventures with Beth the Van ~ while moving countries 3500km south

Let’s explore Galtströms Bruk with me today - and admire the historical Ironworks from the 17th century in Njurunda Sweden 🇸🇪
We will see the beautiful autumnal colours all around the ironworks, its blast furnace and mill. Where we take a closer look at the furnace details and the buildings surrounding it. We see old railways and a little stream, even the moon will accompany us today on this very cold and windy autumn day ; 11 October 2025 not that long ago.
As some of you may know, I have been on the road since 10 October with no internet as we didn’t sleep in accommodations along the road. I slept in a tent next to the van. Yes… in October in the Nordics and had 4 frosty 🥶 nights in the last 12 days and lots of rain and storm right now. All this while driving in Beth (the Van) 🚐 she was fully loaded with the last of our belongings, even a bit too much as even the front cabin had bags, boxes, food and the camping gear in it. We drove slowly south a little over 3500km to move countries in 9 days, we crossed 5 countries now. Yep… I’m moving again haha.

Some might wonder how is everything going?… so a quick update today.
All belongings are placed in the storage unit with the first load we drove down south in august. 6000km -ish in 20 days, there and back.
No we couldn’t do it faster as Beth is an old van, from 2012 and just 2 litre… fully loaded we couldn't drive faster then 85km/h, we even went up mountains in second and third gear just reaching 35km/h… it was fun let me tell you haha and I will write soon more about it. When we have decent internet again as we are still sleeping in Beth right now for a few more days as we haven’t reached the end destination yet.
This adventure was on our second day on the road. To stretch our legs while driving through the nordic countries…

With this post I’m joining in at the Wednesday Walk #challenge. That is hosted by @tattoodjay every week on Wednesday.
‼️Have a look: Here in the Wednesday Walk Community if you want to join in!… the community is run by @tattoodjay
Look at his last #Wednesdaywalk post. It will tell you also the rules of joining in at the Wednesday walk posts 😁 come join us!

Today’s photographic selection will be of 35 PHOTOGRAPHS
Date : 11 October 2025
The Photographs in this post are taken with my iPhone.
I will follow the time stamps on them. So it looks like you are experiencing my adventures on this walk to #discover everything what I saw, like the little #details seen through my eyes.

Location of the Ironworks in Njurunda Sweden we find on the following screenshot of Google Maps :

More information in Swedish you find on this website here: Galströms bruk i Njurunda.
More information in English you find here: Galströms Ironworks.
Where you can read;

”Galtström's mill was founded in 1673 and is Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA's oldest predecessor. Galtström's ironworks is the region's oldest, largest and last ironworks and was in operation between the years 1673 and 1916.“

The iron smelting process you find on the following website: Iron smelting!

Shall we start our walk? Great… let’s go as we need to warm up a bit on this cold October morning.

After we park Beth we see the ironworks next to us. We have to cross a few railway tracks to get there. Walking over the grass… down a slope.

Just over the railway tracks I look back and see the yellow colours of the trees… such a stunning contrast with the cloudless blue sky.

We stand now right in front of the ironworks and see the mill, the blast furnace and more buildings that are part of it.

As we walk further around we see more and more. Very fascinating.

We see the moon right next to the large tower.

As we get closer by we see more. It is rather well preserved as you can see.

There is an information sign and I take a few photos for you:

The english text:

A detailed technical drawing of the furnace. I like this overview, did you know I was a draftsman… technically woman… but hey… it’s the term, in engineering. So drawings like this do fascinate me. Did you see the cat?

I walk around and enter between the walls.

Next to the opening we find this carriage that used to run over the rails.

We see one of the large towers better now.

To our left we see parts of the blast furnace. See the iron rings to hold the bricks together.

Walking further more of the mill.

We look closer at the ironworks.

So cool, what do you think?

A detailed capture of the large right tower as we walk out of this area again to go further around.

The bottom…

As we walk through the opening in the wall again we see far ahead, surrounded by beautiful autumnal leaves… this little building. The red fence compliments the scene.

We walk further and reach the front of the blast furnace. Yes, we can go closer by.

First we take in the views. The wind has blown over the red fence.

We see more details as we walk closer.

So interesting to see all the iron that holds it all together.

Maybe a better angle with the sun.

This plaque with years is on the side of the largest tower.

We look along the buildings, towards the mill.

And back again.

On the side of the building we see 1853.

As we walk back… I see the yellow leaves blowing in the wind next to us and try to capture them in the frame by standing under the tree… after several attempts I managed a few photos. It is still cold at 10:00h in the morning. The sun is only just warming it all up. Before we could drive away from our sleeping spot, I had to dry the tent 🏕️ with the frost.

We see Beth parked in the photo… with 2 bed bases and 1 mattress on the roof. As some things didn’t fit this second trip… and we had to sell a few more items we rather wouldn’t have done. But hey… all good in the end, we figure it out.

Another leafy capture with the ironworks in the background. Blurred out.

The little stream… actually it is rather fast flowing.

See:

As we walk up we see the yellow trees again. I have an idea… wait a moment. Let’s go to the trees and white fence.

My favourite photo of the day: yes… stunning, although I say it myself.
Beth in the distance… autumnal leaves framing her nicely. I take a few different captures. How can I not…

She did so great… moving all our belongings including us all the way… driving crazy long distances in the last months, south and north and south again. Now she can rest a bit. She is still not fully empty as the heaviest cabinet (5 boxes packed inside), 7 suitcases and food and camping gear is still in the back of the van.

I write soon about the drive itself… our stops along the road… the camping in a tent when it is already too cold 🥶 but… we made it. I managed to leave the Nordics before the first snow. The neighbours said it snowed last week… so truly just in time.

…and here I say that’s all for today’s post my friends.
Join me next time for more updates, adventures, #stories and photographs.
Even my own artworks, once in a while, will come by.
Thank you so much for looking, and reading.

Ecency art by @irisworld

Any questions or comments, let me know. Always happy to help.

Have a great day all!
Grtz Jackie

Unless stated otherwise: All art and photos used in my posts are taken, created and owned by me. If you wish to use any of my photographs, please contact me first. As I have used some commercially myself. We don’t want that you or somebody else gets into trouble ;) So please don’t use them without my consent.

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If you want to see where I traveled to and what I already shared in @worldmappin formerly known as @pinmapple , have a look at my personal map here:
“LITTLEBEE4’s personal map on WORLDMAPPIN”

!worldmappin 62.16278 lat 17.49757 long Exploring Galtströms Bruk - 17th century Ironworks in Njurunda Sweden 🇸🇪 ~ Adventures with Beth the Van ~ while moving countries 3500km south d3scr