5 minute read
Coastal hikes
The island boasts numerous hiking trails through Gotland's scenery, including barren coastlines, fishing hamlets, lush meadows and sea stacks. So lace up your hiking boots and explore the nature that the island has to offer. Adequately equipped and with good planning, you can enjoy the hiking trails year round.
South of Visby, from Södra Hällarna nature reserve all the way to Tofta shooting range, the coast is dominated by steep cliffs and stony beaches.
Photo: Yolanta Birkhane
Along the Stenkusten, the vast expanses are barren and the sky is almost limitless as it stretches out over the sea.
Stenkusten
The beautiful stony coastline runs from Bläse to Ar on northern Gotland. As you hike, you will encounter lovely limestone roads, fishing hamlets and pebble beaches. Along the way, you can stop off at the Limeworks Museum of Bläse and the photogenic Graustäde fishing hamlet.
The Klintkustlinjen trail
Along the north west coast, the Klinkustlinjen hiking trail is being established – a still ongoing project run by the Gotland County Administrative Board. Once finished, you will be able to hike a full 50 kilometres along Brucebo and the Skansudde bird sanctuary, past Själsöån river where you can see spawning trout, all the way to the Kappelshamn settlement. The trail traverses ten different nature reserves and shifting Gotland landscapes.
Grogarnsberget
Hike around Grogarnsberget on eastern Gotland – a 30-metre tall rock cliff nature reserve. Here, you find yourself inundated with magnificent Gotland views and areas shifting from rock to limestone. In the north, at the Grogarnshuvud point, you will find the ruins of Gotland’s second largest hill fort, presumably built during the Iron Age. Make a visit to the quaint fishing village of Herrvik while you are in the area.
The Ekstakusten nature reserve
One of southern Gotland's most stunning coastal strips offers four kilometres of knotty dwarf pine, scenic pebble beaches and views of the Lilla and Stora Karlsö islands. You will also pass the Djupvik and Kronvall fishing hamlets during your hike, two places well worth visiting. In the evenings, the sea reflects the sunset's burst of colour.
Norsta Auren is on the north east side of Fårö island and welcomes you to its long sandy beach, rolling sand dunes and peaceful surroundings. The Klintkustlinjen trail Stenkusten (Stone Coast)
Södra Hällarna –Ygne The Pilgrim trail
Hike along Gotland’s 800 kilometre coast or go inland for the beautiful Pilgrim trail. Whatever you choose, you will experience Gotland's nature at its best!
The little chapel at St. Olofsholm is actually a warehouse that was built in 1835. It was also here that Gotland's first wooden church was erected. During the 13th century, it was replaced by a stone church, the ruins of which can still be seen on the grounds. During the Medieval Ages, many Gotlanders made the pilgrimage to St. Olofsholm, especially on 29 July when the St. Olof’s mass was held. St. Olof was the patron saint of Gotland.
Photo: Yolanta Birkhane
Pilgrim Trail
Pilgrimages have been going on for ages and they offer a way to hike in peace and quiet while reflecting. You essentially have two destinations for your walk – your physical destination and your inner musings.
As is tradition, the Pilgrim trail on Gotland goes from St. Olofsholm in north east Gotland to the Solberga abbey ruins in Visby. The trail was established in the 1990s and goes through quiet, beautiful and varied landscapes. The journey takes about two days to walk and you choose where you want to stop for the night. Along the route, you will see everything from coastline and meadows to ancient relics and a few of the 92 medieval churches found on the island. As described by Stellan Bergström, teacher at Visby Dioceses, the journey offers time for quiet reflection.
Bergström points out that everyone is welcome to hike the trail, free of charge. Maps and information are available at the Office of the Diocese, in Visby Cathedral, in the St. Olofsholm chapel and in the churches the trail leads through. You can also download maps and brochures from Visby Diocese’s website.
“There is also a pilgrims passport in which you mark off the churches the trail traverses. You can hike the trail year round, but naturally, spring, summer and autumn are best,” Stellan explains. Along the entire stretch, there are signs bearing the pilgrim symbol and signs denoting places of interest. The trail name, St. Olavsleden, comes from the Norwegian sainted king Olav Haraldsson who, according to medieval sources, visited Gotland on a number of occasions. He is reputed to have gone ashore in St. Olofsholm on his journey back to Norway.
There are no particular pilgrim packages, so you decide where you wish to stay for the night. Stellan therefore recommends planning your route in advance. Check accommodations and how you will get from your starting point to your destination. You could also contact Gotland's tourist agency. You will need to carry your own food and beverages, much like hiking in the mountains. Pack a map, warm clothes and good shoes.
If you prefer not to take a long hike, you can choose parts of St. Olavsleden for day tours. Visby Diocese organises themed hikes and then makes information available on their website for later reference.
“We also have other trails you can hike. One example is the ‘From church to church’ trail that takes you past various churches on the island. These trails don’t have the same official status that the St. Olavsleden trail has, but they make for nice hikes. At this point, I know that the trails between Klinte and Fröjel church and between Roma cloister ruins and Dalhem are in good shape and regularly frequented,” Stellan concludes. What is a pilgrimage?
To be a pilgrim means to be a wayfarer. Those who take pilgrimages have both an inward-looking goal and a physical destination. It is a spiritual journey through the individual's inner being, but also a purely physical trek between two places. Jerusalem, Rome and the grave sites of saints all over the globe have all been important pilgrimage destinations.
