Holiday apartment in Söderhamn – Archipelago, Culture and Nature

The Söderhamn archipelago combines barren rocks, lush shores, tranquil bays and open sea. Accessible from the mainland, the Skatön coastal nature reserve offers swimming opportunities and varied natural surroundings and extends into the outer marine belt. Stenö Havsbad is located on a peninsula in the archipelago; its southern side has a child-friendly sandy beach. Skatberget offers a different view of the coast: it rises 32 metres above sea level and provides views over the Söderhamn archipelago and the outer marine belt.

Nature

Birdlife also characterises the surrounding area. Ålsjön is a shallow lake and an important bird habitat. More than 200 bird species have been recorded there, of which more than 60 species regularly breed. In the Ålsjöområdet, a wooden boardwalk runs through large parts of the area; there is also an accessible birdwatching tower. The Stenöorn nature reserve is an important resting place for waders. Almost all wader species that regularly occur in Sweden have been observed at this site. Visitors can watch birds from a birdwatching tower and walk along a path beside the sea.

Sågverkstrampet runs between Söderhamn and Sandarne, a 13-kilometre hiking and cycling route through forest and cultural landscapes shaped by the sawmill era. In the Söderhamn archipelago, visitors can paddle between islands, hike and cycle along the coast, fish from the shore or a boat, and visit coastal nature reserves. Those arriving by boat can use guest harbours, natural harbours and guest jetties.

Culture and History

Hälsingegården Erik-Anders was built around 1825 and preserves original paintings of unusually high quality in the large upstairs hall and in the two front buildings. It is one of seven farmhouses inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List under the name Decorated Farmhouses of Hälsingland. Trönö gamla kyrka is a well-preserved late medieval church complex with unrendered stone façades, a covered cemetery wall and a bell tower; its oldest parts date from the late 12th century.

Söderhamns Stadsmuseum is housed in the former drill house of the gun factory from 1748, which has operated as a museum since 1915. The Flygmuseum in Söderhamn presents the history of aircraft, military aircraft and training aircraft that have been stationed at F15 since 1945, and has a Viggen flight simulator. It also displays the military aircraft stationed at F15, scenes from the squadron's daily operations and, outdoors, a J35 Draken.

A guided city tour lasts about an hour, takes visitors through Söderhamn city centre and begins at Söderhamns Stadsmuseum. Kulturvandra is a self-guided city tour through Söderhamn's history and to historic sites in the city. At Östra Berget, Oscarsborg offers panoramic views over Söderhamn; the complex was inaugurated in 1895. Oscarsborg can be reached via the stairs from Södra Hamngatan or via Baggargatan. Skärså is an old fishing village with fishermen's houses and boathouses on the coast northeast of Söderhamn.

Activities

At Hällåsen and Hällmyra, visitors can go cross-country skiing through varied landscapes and on challenging training trails. The longest cross-country ski trail at Hällåsen/Hällmyra is 10 kilometres long and is called Södergrenslingan. Hällmyra also has a ski playground and a technique slope for practising downhill skiing or sledging. At Alirs Öga, visitors can enjoy the views and nature in summer and go sledging in winter. Alirs Öga is considered Sweden's largest landscape sculpture and a popular excursion destination.

Aquarena Hällåsen is an indoor swimming centre with a 25-metre pool, a children's pool and a sauna. Swimming lessons and water aerobics are offered there. In the section of the river from Smäckbron to the sea in central Söderhamn, fishing for pike, perch, whitefish and trout is free; there are fishing jetties, ramps and wind shelters.

More Places

Further destination pages lead to Holmsveden, Söderhamn, Skog, Söderala, Mo, Stråtjära, Norrala, Marmaverken and Ljusne.

For the higher-level travel overview: Gävleborg.