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Furusund

Easy 7.2 km

This is a short, beautiful hike in an archipelago setting with plenty of history to discover.

 

Do not miss the compass rose carved into the bedrock!

About the section

The Furusund section is a nice hike. It is a 7.2 km gentle walk through a tranquil archipelago landscape, with constant proximity to the sea. The roughly two-hour hike is a delightful experience.

On Furusund, the section is not physically marked with SAT markings but instead it follows a locally marked trail.

How to hike the section?

You can start the section either at the ferry terminal or at Furusunds Värdshus.

We highly recommend hiking the stage clockwise to experience everything. A significant portion of the route is marked with red trail markers.

The Furusund and Yxlan sections go well together.

Trail marking

On Furusund, the trail is not marked with SAT signage. Instead, much of it follows the local red markings. You can also use the interactive map for navigation.

About Furusund

Furusund is an island and small community in the northern Stockholm archipelago, located in Norrtälje municipality. It has around 150 permanent residents year-round, but the population grows significantly in the summer due to the many holiday homes on the island.

Furusund lends its name to the busy shipping lane between Furusund and Yxlan. Every day, ships traveling to Åland, Finland, and Tallinn from Stockholm pass by.

In 1463, a fleet anchored at Furusund, and a 24-point compass rose was carved into the bedrock on a shoreline cliff. Due to land elevation, this compass rose is now several meters above the guest harbor. It is the oldest compass rose in the Nordics and the only one with a royal crown.

In the 17th century, Furusund had a proper harbor and a seaside tavern. At the time, the area was called Halsö, which gained prominence until it was burned down during the Russian raids of 1719.

In 1734, a building was constructed that served as a distillery, then a customs house, and now houses Furusunds Värdshus.

Since the mid-19th century, Furusund has grown into a popular—and originally exclusive—vacation spot, attracting many prominent figures as regular visitors.

In 1953, Furusund gained mainland access via a new road from the west.

Furusund has a fascinating and exciting history, and we highly recommend learning more about it.

Plan your trip

You can reach Furusund daily with an SL bus from Norrtälje. During the summer, you can travel from Stockholm via Vaxholm to Furusund by ferry, or use the North-South Line.

Search for Furusund in the Google Travel Planner below.

Eat, sleep do on Furusund

The best places to stay are Furusunds Värdshus or Villa Dagmar, from where you can explore Furusund, Blidö, and Yxlan.

You can rent bikes, kayaks, and even go on seal safaris, among other activities.

Visit Explore Archipelago for more ideas.

The right of public access – an obligation when venturing into nature

In Sweden we have a common law called “The Right of public access”. It is fantastic to have the freedom to roam but it comes with obligations. The existence of the Stockholm Archipelago Trail is solely thanks to the goodwill of all landowners. In nature, we respect all people, all animals, and all protected areas. We leave only footprints behind and we take only memories with us.

Please take whatever garbage you generate back to the mainland where waste management works and is available. On the islands it is expensive and complicated. Please use public toilets or make sure that there is no trace left behind.

From March to September, dogs must always be kept on a leash.

Respect fire bans and absolutely do not light fires on the rocks. They crack.

Read more here