About the section
This section is like a hidden gem.
When you step ashore at at the ferry quay, you are greeted by open spaces and a cozy atmosphere. You disembark in the heart of the island. The restaurant, the shop, and the holiday village. In the summer, it buzzes with life. After passing the holiday village, the gravel road takes you to the northern end, where you will encounter a similar wildness as on Ålö.
Here on Nåttarö, you will be amazed by the beauty, the rugged terrain, and the endless horizon. Rocky outcrops, sandy beaches, and fantastic forests.
Nåttarö is a section you must not miss.
How to hike the section?
The section should be walked clockwise.
At the junction by the shop, turn left, heading north. There, follow the gravel road to Östermarfladen through a sparse pine forest. In the area around Östermarfladen, you can stop for a few hours and explore both sides of the bay before continuing.
From here, the adventure along the eastern coast begins. Cliffs, technical trails, shingle, magical sandy beaches, hills, and enchanting forests. Take your time; you won’t regret it. This part is not easy.
The Nåttarö and Landsort sections can be reached from Nynäshamn. Additionally, you can get to Rånö and Ålö by theWaxholm ferry boat. From Ålö, you can then cycle up to Utö with a rental bike. All these stages are interconnected.
Trail markings
Follow the trail marked with ribbons and arrows where blue represents the sea, the yellow represents the sun, and a reflecting center line represents the shimmering horizon. This also makes the trail visible in the light of a headlamp.
The marking of the trail is done in one direction, either clockwise or anti-clockwise according to “How to hike the section?”. Where it is obvious where you should walk the marking is sporadic, where it is unclear or at intersections the marking is much closer together. If you do not see a marking continue straight on the path you are on or check out your position in the digital map.
Accessibility on the trail
On Nåttarö, there are some good options if you have a stroller, limited mobility, or use a wheelchair. At Ångbåtsbryggan, you immediately encounter the archipelago atmosphere. By the quay, there is a lovely beach.
If you are adventurous and strong, you can take the gravel road north (1.5 km) past Drottninggrottan to Nåttarö Storsand. It’s a great place to discover and has shallow waters. Additionally, a gravel and forest road runs from north to south along a large part of the island. The eastern coast is very technical with a narrow path featuring many stones rocks and roots; it is not recommended.
Usual questions about the section
In Östermarviken, at Skarsand, at Nåttarö Storsand, and in Vänsviken, there are fire pits which you can use for cooking. Be aware of fire bans since the entire island is covered with pine trees and there is no fire fighting service on the island.
The technical part, which is difficult, especially on rain-soaked cliffs, runs along the entire eastern coast.
The reward is fantastic, but you should be prepared for challenging terrain.
The forest road to and from the eastern coast is accessible to everyone.
The great thing is that there are many forest roads running east to west, allowing you to reach many beautiful spots.
In the harbor at Nåttarö, you will find the inn and the hostel. There is also cottage rental available. Be sure to book in advance as it is very popular! http://www.nattaro.se
About Nåttarö
Nåttarö is a rugged island with forests, shingle, cliffs, and magical sandy beaches. The island has been mentioned as early as the 1200s, and the farm at Östermar dates back to the 1600s. Around the northwestern tip, you can find Russian baking ovens from the early 1700s.
At the ferry quay, during the summer months, you’ll find a cozy restaurant, a grocery store, cottage rentals, bikes, and kayaks. Here, you will find everything you need for a few magical days on a very special island.
Before Midsummer and after mid-August, you’ll have more or less the whole island to yourself.
Nåttarö is now a nature reserve, well-preserved thanks to the Archipelago Foundation, which owns and manages the island.
Plan your trip
You can travel to Nåttarö from Nynäshamn. During the summer, you can also take the North/South line. Search for Nåttarö in Google’s travel planner below.
Eat, sleep and do on Nåttarö
On Nåttarö, you can stay in the holiday village. During the summer, you can eat, rent bikes, and kayaks at the reception right next to the ferry quay.
Nåttarö is a special place with a captivating east coast. See Explorearchipelago for other 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