Stråtjära: Skogsand Swimming Area and Church History

Stråtjära offers two distinct starting points for planning a trip: water activities around the Skogsand swimming area and church history at the Skogs kyrkoruin ruins. Horse-riding activities, rentals, and other routes add a range of options for active days.

Water and paddling

Skogsand is a swimming area in Söderhamn Municipality. An artificial pier surrounds the swimming area. Skogsand campsite is right next to it, providing access to the lake. Parking is available at the swimming area, where you can launch onto the Bergviken paddling route.

This paddling route is suitable for both shorter trips of a few hours and overnight trips. When planning, you can first weigh up the time you have available: a trip of a few hours or an option with an overnight stay. The canoe route in Ödmården offers a different route option: it can be reached from Bergvik via Stråtjära in the direction of Holmsveden. At the Skogsand/Stråtjära campsite, pitches are available on a first-come, first-served basis; advance reservations are not possible.

Horse riding and rentals

Stall Stråtjära offers bookable trail rides on sturdy North Swedish horses, aimed at experienced riders. Riding lessons are also available to book, where you can learn more about horses and riding. The two activities have different focuses: riding experience is required for the trail rides, while the lessons focus on learning about horses and riding.

Stall Stråtjära also rents out bicycles, boats, canoes, and fishing equipment. If you are planning an active stay, you can choose between a horse-riding activity and a range of rental options. These activities include both land- and water-based pursuits; which one fits your travel plans depends on how you want to spend your time.

Churches and cultural heritage

The Skogs kyrkoruin church ruins in Stråtjära date from 1321. A section of the Helgonleden Pilgrim Trail is nearby: it begins at Staffansstenen in Själstuga and ends at the Skogs kyrkoruin church ruins. Skogs kyrka is also nearby and is a separate place to visit: the church can be visited by contacting the verger in advance. The verger can open it and tell you about it. Check the contact details before your trip, as access arrangements may change.

Kyrkudden is also part of the nearby historical landscape. The parish’s first church stood there and was called Sankt Olofs kapell. Stråtjära galgbacke is also described as the execution site of Skog parish. These connections add more local history to the church ruins, without implying that the places mentioned are one and the same.

The Skogbonaden has an original and a copy, each with its own 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. The location of the original and the work on the copy are two distinct aspects of this textile’s history.

Getting around the area

Road names are also useful for finding your way around Stråtjära: Road 272 is called Tidernas Väg, and Road 83 Fjällvägen. Both roads cross the area around Stråtjära. Together with the specific route information for Bergviken and Ödmården, these names offer different points of reference for planning your trip.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Mo, Holmsveden, Söderala, Söderhamn, Norrala, Marmaverken, Skog, Ljusne.

Back to the main travel guide: Söderhamn.