Ornö – Nature, Archipelago Culture and Trails by the Water

If you would like to combine nature, maritime history and active days on your trip, Ornö offers an unusually diverse range of experiences. Protected landscapes, historical traces, paths through forests and along the coast, as well as opportunities for cycling and kayaking, shape the island. You can focus on different aspects: the Stockholm Archipelago Trail leads through forests and along coastal paths, while museums, churches and historical sites bring Ornö's history to life.

Nature, Island Views and Protected Landscapes

The Norra skogen nature reserve covers 389 hectares. It is characterised by coniferous forest and contains rocky pine forest, mixed woodland, marshes, wetlands and a large part of Lake Nybysjön. The area is accessible exclusively on foot. From the Östra Hässelmara ferry landing, it is just over 1.5 kilometres as the crow flies to Nybysjön. This makes Norra skogen particularly interesting for visitors who want not only to view a protected natural area from the path, but also explore it on foot.

The Sundby nature reserve extends across the southern part of Ornö and includes almost 30 smaller islands. Typical archipelago bird species can be found there. The trail in the Sundby nature reserve leads to Stenhuset, the ruins of Sundby's first manor, and through the old oak landscape at Mane äng. Telegrafberget offers a different view across the archipelago: the mountain rises 61 metres above sea level and offers views of Dalarö, the expansive bay of Mysingen and, in clear weather, the remote island of Huvudskär.

Exploring by Bicycle, Kayak and on the Archipelago Trail

Ornö is easy to explore by bicycle. For a hike or a longer route, the Ornö section of the Stockholm Archipelago Trail is an important guide. It is the longest section of the trail and leads through forests and along coastal paths. You can start it in Hässelmara, Ornöboda, at the Lättinge landing or by Ornö kyrka. Several sections of the Ornö trail are accessible with a pushchair or wheelchair, as well as for people with reduced mobility. There is also an opportunity to swim between Hässelmara and Bodal.

There is also a clear choice on the water: kayaking around Ornö is possible. Single and double kayaks can be rented at Kayakomaten in Kyrkviken. This allows you to add a maritime activity to your stay without having to choose a different type of landscape for it.

Church, Museum and the History of Ornö

A chapel probably already stood on the site of today's Ornö kyrka at the end of the 14th century. A larger church was built there in 1652. The Ornö Museum provides its own historical focus. It features permanent exhibitions with objects and photographs from Ornö; there are also rooms furnished like historical archipelago farmsteads.

The Lervassa Trail presents the history of schooling, cultural life, as well as the agricultural, fishing and military history of Ornö on information boards. Near Hässelmara there is a Bronze Age burial ground and gravel stone heaps at a settlement site from that period; an information board provides context for the site. Rosirska gravkapellet was built as a burial chapel in 1771, belonged to the old church and survived the church fire of 1881. Långviksgruvan, also known as Lugnets gruva, is another site connected to the island's history as a feldspar-mining location. The mine was in operation from 1914 to 1965.

Getting There and Further Orientation

A car ferry operates year-round between Ornö and Dalarö. For further travel planning, this selection also includes UtöUtö, HaningeHaninge, VendelsöVendelsö, ÖsterhaningeÖsterhaninge, VästerhaningeVästerhaninge, DalaröDalarö, TungelstaTungelsta and HandenHanden.

To the overarching travel overview: Haninge.