Beautiful viewpoint at Västerplana Storäng
Hastings church, overlooking Kinneviken, is located in the Västerplana Storäng nature reserve on Kinnekulle. The hiking trail passes a bit away and this sandstone cliff rises 25 meters above Lake Vänern. Storängen is bordered by the railway, and fields stretch beyond the road. When Carl Linnaeus visited the site in 1746, the area was three times larger than today, and traces of ancient cultivation remain in the form of cairns.
The surrounding cliffs have sometimes been likened to churches, and the highest point, known as 'Hästen' or 'Hästhall', was an important sea mark. The name 'Hastings Church' may refer to Västerplana Church, whose tower is visible from the lake. Today there is a wooden cross on the site where open-air services were held, but there was never a church here.
Linnaeus mentioned the site as "Hesling's church" in 1746, probably because of a rock formation that resembled a church. However, it is unclear whether this is exactly the same place.
