Discover Stråtjära: culture, swimming area and canoe routes

Stråtjära combines cultural and historical discoveries with water-based experiences and active excursions. Those looking for a mix of history, paddling, horse riding and peaceful moments by the water during their holiday will find various opportunities here to shape their own travel plans. When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home, it is therefore worth deciding first which experiences you want and then choosing the right base for your holiday days.

Church ruin and historical traces

One prominent site is Skog Church Ruin in Stråtjära. It dates from 1321 and is located in the Skog parish, in the municipality of Söderhamn in Hälsingland, directly on National Road 83. For visitors interested in ecclesiastical history and older buildings, the ruin provides a tangible starting point for learning about the history of the area.

In the vicinity of the destination, Skog Church can be visited by contacting the verger in advance. The verger can open the church and tell visitors about it. The Helgonleden pilgrimage trail also connects to the church ruin: one section begins at Staffansstenen in Själstuga and ends at Skog Church Ruin.

Other historical names tell of the area’s religious past. Kyrkudden is the site where the parish’s first church stood, called Sankt Olofs Chapel. Well-attended outdoor services are held at Kyrkudden. Stråtjära galgbacke is also described as the execution site of Skog parish. Such places are suitable for a travel plan in which not only sights but also historical connections play a role.

Skogbonaden and local culture

The Skogbonaden is also part of the area’s cultural history. The original is kept at the Swedish History Museum in Stockholm. Between 1992 and 1999, Elvy and Rune Axman, Margareta and Eie Gisselson, Sune Söderholm, and Ingrid and Sigvard Östergård made a copy using the original Sumak technique, also known as Snärjväv. This copy of the Skogbonaden was created using the original Sumak technique, also known as Snärjväv.

A glimpse into local everyday culture has also been preserved: During some summer weeks, coffee was served and bread was sold to the public at Bagarstugan in Skog. The address given is Hagalundsvägen 2, 826 69 Stråtjära. For travel planning with an interest in regional traditions, this place can serve as an additional point of reference.

Swimming area and paddling on the water

Another aspect of Stråtjära is Skogsandbadet, a swimming area in the municipality of Söderhamn. An artificially constructed pier encloses the swimming area. The paddling route on Bergviken can be launched from Skogsand swimming area; parking is available there.

The paddling route on Bergviken is suitable both for shorter trips lasting a few hours and for overnight tours. The canoe route in Ödmården can be reached from Bergvik via Stråtjära in the direction of Holmsveden. Those who want to combine several places and activities can take this information into account when planning their holiday accommodation.

The Skogsand campsite is located directly by the swimming area and provides access to the lake. The Skogsand/Stråtjära camping area allocates pitches on a first-come, first-served basis; advance reservations are not possible.

Horse riding and active holiday days

Stall Stråtjära offers experienced riders bookable trail rides on sturdy North Swedish cold-blood horses. Bookable riding lessons are also available, where you can learn more about horses and riding. Stall Stråtjära also rents out bicycles, boats, canoes and fishing equipment. This makes it possible to plan different holiday focuses: historical sightseeing, water activities and riding experiences can each form the focus of separate days, without prescribing a single type of trip.

Guidance for choosing your accommodation

The area around Stråtjära is crossed by Route 272, known as Tidernas Väg, and Route 83, known as Fjällvägen. These two names help with geographical orientation when choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home as a base for different experiences. A culturally and historically focused trip can centre on the church ruin, Kyrkudden and the Helgonleden. For a more active itinerary, the paddling routes, swimming area or offerings at Stall Stråtjära can instead take centre stage.

You can find more destinations for planning your trip here: Marmaverken, Söderhamn, Holmsveden, Norrala, Skog, Ljusne, Söderala and Mo.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Söderhamn.