Öckerö between the Archipelago Coast and Island Culture

Öckerö showcases the rugged, exposed side of the outer archipelago: the municipality’s landscape includes beaches, cliffs, hills, meadows, heathland, natural areas and cultural landscapes. Öckerö is considered an archipelago of ten islands – a maritime setting where nature, trails and island history exist closely alongside one another.

Nature

The municipality of Öckerö has two nature reserves established to protect areas of particularly valuable natural habitat. Rördammen is one of the municipality’s largest wetlands and is known for its diverse birdlife. At Kärrsvik and Hummerviken, extensive fields of exposed rock continue through a flat and barren coastal landscape all the way to the sea. Hjälvik has a beach and a beach volleyball court.

In the surroundings of Öckerö lies the Rörö nature reserve. A trail there passes through an almost treeless heathland to extensive fields of exposed rock and viewpoints. The various landscapes thus range from wetlands and birdlife to barren coast, heathland and open vistas.

Trails and Exercise

The Öckerö natural area and exercise trail feature a 4,600-metre gravel path with branches towards Hummerviken, Rördammen and Rävholmen. The gravel loop around Rördammen is wide and gently hilly, making it easily accessible. Those who want to compare different trail lengths will find both short loops and longer coastal sections on Öckerö.

The Göteborgs skärgårdsled is a 35.3-kilometre coastal hiking trail with three stages and two loop sections. On Öckerö, it passes Rördammen, Hummerviken and Hjälviks badplats. The trail’s third stage runs across Öckerö and is 7.8 kilometres long. Hönö also has a 2.2-kilometre training loop from Hönö cemetery towards Jungfruviken and Engelsmännenes hage.

Culture and History

Around 200 known archaeological monuments have been preserved and documented on the Öckerö islands. Öckerö gamla kyrka is a stone church built in the mid-15th century that replaced an older stave church. Its ceiling paintings from the late 18th century were created by Jean Liljedahl.

Konstvågen takes place on the first weekend of August in the municipality of Öckerö. During this event, visitors can visit artists in their studios, homes, boathouses and gardens. The Öckerö Library hosts several author visits every year. The library also houses a municipal exhibition hall with exhibitions on a wide range of subjects and featuring various artistic techniques and forms of expression.

The Öckerö local heritage farm consists of four red-painted houses, two of which are over 200 years old, as well as several historic outbuildings. Exhibits include historical tools and objects from agriculture, carpentry, fishing, the school system and former local shops. The seabed around the Öckerö islands contains wrecks of sunken ships and objects from bygone times.

Maritime Öckerö

At the quays of Hönö Klåva, Öckerö, Rörö and other harbours, numerous larger and smaller fishing boats can still be seen. Boat tours in the Gothenburg archipelago include trips from Hönö to Vinga and seal safaris.

At the bakery of the Öckerö local heritage farm, the baked bread “Hönökaka” is often made; private individuals can also make bookings there.

Getting There and Orientation

The Hönöleden connects Lilla Varholmen with Hönö/Öckerö via a 2.5-kilometre car ferry route; the crossing takes 13 minutes and is free of charge. The municipality of Öckerö directs visitors to an official tourism portal with information about attractions, restaurants, accommodation and events. InfoPoints on the islands provide brochures and practical tips for travelling around.

Those who consider the destinations together will also encounter Asperö, Hönö, Björkö, Brännö, Kalvsund and Källö-Knippla.

For the overarching travel overview: Öckerö.