Holiday apartment in Haninge – Archipelago, Nature and History

A national park, 21 nature reserves and several other protected areas are located in the municipality of Haninge. There are also archipelago communities, hiking trails, burial grounds, mining history and museums. The area’s distinctive features are spread across coastal landscapes, islands and places with very different historical traces.

Culture and history

The area around Dalarö contains around 30 registered shipwreck remains dating from the 17th to the 20th century. Three representative wrecks in the Dalarö shipwreck area have been made accessible as part of the Dalarö skeppsvraksområden concept. Diving in the Dalarö shipwreck area must be done from a boat; before each dive, a diving operator applies through Dalarö Dykpark for permission to moor at the buoy.

The historic mining village of Utö contains traces of medieval iron mining, historic buildings and Sweden’s oldest surviving windmill. The Grytholmen open-air museum on Muskö includes crofters’ cottages, a forge, a boathouse, boats and a retirement cottage. Jordbrogravfältet is one of Sweden’s largest Iron Age burial grounds and includes 800 known graves.

More recent and medieval history is also present in several locations. Stenhuset is the ruin of Sundby’s first manor, which was burned down by the Russians in 1719. Hammerstahus is a castle ruin dating from the 14th century. Visible traces of peat extraction from the First and Second World Wars remain in Slätmossen Nature Park.

Stora Sandböte has an old settlement with buildings of cultural and historical value. A fisherman’s cottage from the 18th century was rebuilt there after a fire in 2001, using original drawings and traditional methods, and converted into a museum. The Haninge Art Map provides guidance for self-guided art walks.

Nature

On Gålö, hiking trails pass through grazing land, coastal meadows, forests and coastal landscapes. Huvudskär Nature Reserve encompasses an archipelago area with around 200 islands and skerries. Sundby Nature Reserve includes the southern part of Ornö and almost 30 smaller islands. Havtornsudd is suitable for observing migrating seabirds in early spring.

Hiking and trails

The Sörmlandsleden trail runs through Haninge Municipality; Stage 4 begins at Tyresta by and ends at Rudans gård. The Rudan recreation area can be reached by commuter train to Handen station and then directly via the southern exit.

In Sundby Nature Reserve, there is an easy circular trail of just over 6 kilometres starting at Sundby gård. At Sundby gård, you can also purchase a fishing permit for fishing in Nybysjön in the reserve. In Häringe-Hammersta Nature Reserve, hiking trails run around the peninsula.

Utö has hiking trails and paths leading to cliffs and sandy beaches; bicycles can also be rented. On the western side of Fruberget lies Frugrottan Cave, also known as Frubergsgrottan; it is considered the best-known of several caves there. The hiking trail from Skälåker to Havtornsudd runs along the shore for much of the way.

Archipelago and islands

Utö can be reached year-round by regular archipelago boats, most easily via Årsta brygga, which can be reached by bus from Västerhaninge. Waxholmsbolaget serves Huvudskär during the summer season.

Kyrkviken on Ornö has a museum, a library, guest pontoons and a bicycle rental service. Near Hässelmara on Ornö, there is a Bronze Age burial ground. Huvudholmen Nature Reserve is most easily reached by private boat.

Other destinations in the Haninge area include Tungelsta, Österhaninge and Vendelsö.

For the higher-level travel overview: Stockholm.