Skeppsgården: Hiking, Nature and Maritime History

Skeppsgården combines a distinctive maritime past with varied opportunities for hiking. The locality is situated in Valdemarsvik Municipality, where the Vindån River flows into the sea at Skeppsgården.

A Shipping Community with a Long History

From the mid-16th century, Skeppsgården was a major loading and trading site. As an export location for firewood, pulpwood and timber, this function shaped the development of the locality. The loading site reached its heyday in the 19th century. At the beginning of the 20th century, around ten ships were based in Skeppsgården. The history of transport is also part of the local character: a steamboat landing stage remained in Skeppsgården until the 1950s.

Another distinctive story is connected with Villa Skeppsgården. It was built in 1908 by K. A. Wallenberg and presented as a wedding gift to Helge Lybeck and his wife, Nanny Wallenberg. Today, the villa is a course centre that has offered knowledge and expertise in the field of Levande Föda since the 1980s. Fiskartorpet, Skeppsgården’s historic fisherman’s cottage, also recalls the locality’s former connection with life on the water. Edsmarken was also held in Skeppsgården at the end of September.

Hiking in Åsvikelandet

For active days on holiday, the hiking trail system in Åsvikelandet is a good option. It is part of the Östgötaleden trail and is marked in orange. A section of the Östgötaleden trail of approximately 36 kilometres begins in Skeppsgården. If you prefer a shorter stage, you can consider the southern hiking loop in Åsvikelandet; it is approximately eight kilometres long. These different trail lengths help you plan a day with a longer distance or a more manageable loop.

The Åsvikelandet nature reserve is located 2 kilometres from Skeppsgården B&B. If you are travelling with children, you can use the planned distance as a basis for organising the day without making the entire holiday revolve around a single activity.

Discover the Church and Local Details

Östra Ed Church is an important nearby cultural landmark. It has a gilded pilot cutter as its spire finial. The present church was rebuilt on the same site after a fire in 1958 and inaugurated in 1960; the old walls could be used in the process. For visitors interested in regional architectural and local history, this story adds a distinctive detail to Skeppsgården’s maritime character. The rebuilding after the fire and the use of the old walls are part of this church’s history.

The Right Base for Your Travel Plans

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Skeppsgården, it is worth deciding on your preferred travel rhythm first. If hiking is your main focus, you can factor the approximate length of the loop or the Östgötaleden section into your planning. If you are more interested in history, you can treat the old loading and trading site, Villa Skeppsgården, Fiskartorpet and Östra Ed Church as thematic highlights.

For motorhome travellers, Skeppsgården has pitches that can be used during the day and overnight. These motorhome pitches are located near Vindån, the bridge, Åsvikelandet and Torrö. If you would like to compare other places in addition to Skeppsgården, you can also include Östra Ed, Ringarum, Gryt and Valdemarsvik in your travel planning.

Back to the overarching travel overview: Valdemarsvik.