Runmarö: Lakes, Orchids and Island History

Nature and Trails

Runmarö has nine lakes of varying sizes and is considered one of the archipelago’s most botanically valuable areas. More than half of Sweden’s 40 orchid species have been found on Runmarö. The Purren wetland is included in Sweden’s national peatland protection plan. This means that the island’s waters, wetland and notable plant discoveries represent distinct aspects of its natural environment.

The section of the Stockholm Archipelago Trail on Runmarö passes through open grazing land. Several sections of the Stockholm Archipelago Trail on Runmarö are accessible to strollers, wheelchairs and people with reduced mobility. At some locations along the cultural trails on Runmarö, information boards provide details about the local culture and natural environment. For day planning, open landscapes, local information and accessible trail sections can be considered separate focal points. The trails therefore differ both in their landscapes and in the type of information they convey along the way.

Culture and History

From Telegrafberget, the view extends towards Stockholm and across the archipelago. Telegrafberget got its name from an optical telegraph station that once stood there. In 1808, the optical telegraph line to Korsö ran via Söderby, and thus via Telegrafberget on Runmarö. August Strindberg (1849–1912) spent three summers on Runmarö. The viewpoint thus combines views of the landscape with a connection to the history of technology and literature.

The Runmarö branch of the Skärgårdsmuseet is based on objects from the collection of Runmarö resident Hans Öhlin. Services are regularly held at Runmarö Chapel during the summer; Runmarö Chapel was inaugurated in 1973 by the then provost Karl Gustaf Rinder. A large window serves as the altarpiece there. The museum and chapel offer different perspectives on the island’s history: one a collection of personal objects, the other a sacred space with its own history of design.

Boatswain’s House No. 95 in Södersunda is one of the best-preserved boatswain’s houses in Sweden. The oldest part of Boatswain’s House No. 95 in Södersunda was built as early as 1672. The croft Rasmus i Wintergata is mentioned in the oldest tax register, from 1637. These places preserve both a specific building and a written record of older settlement history.

Runmaröspelet is regarded as a play that has been performed every summer since 2010 and presents part of Runmarö’s history.

Active Days

Solberga Gård offers kayak rentals. RUNmarö is an annual running event with three courses around the island. The RUNmarö half marathon is an approximately 21 km route around Runmarö. Kayak rental and the running event thus represent two different forms of active island experiences: one activity on the water and a running event with several courses.

Getting Around

The boat trip from Stavsnäs to Runmarö takes about ten minutes, and boats to Runmarö operate year-round. The same broader destination area also includes Möja, Sandhamn, Ingaröstrand, Skälvik, Kalvsvik, Stugudden and Gustavsberg.

Runmarö Hembygdsgård is about 2 km on foot from the landing stage. The stated walking and boat information remains separate information for travel planning.

For the broader travel overview: Värmdö.