Category Archive

What is the Swedish Right of Public Access?

Allmansrätten, or “Every Man’s Right”, is an important part of Swedish cultural heritage, a unique freedom of access to Sweden’s countryside and wild places, and one of the things which makes Sweden such an attractive destination for the outdoor enthusiast.

Where does the Swedish Right of Public Access come from?

The origins of the Right date back to the local laws and customs of the Middle Ages, and it is of enormous importance in Sweden both to individuals and to groups, clubs and tour operators (such as ourselves). Clubs and companies are permitted to take advantage of the Right of Public Access when conducting activities in the Swedish countryside, although in essence the Right is limited to individuals.

What is its general principle?

The Right of Public Access has a number of parts, which are discussed in more detail below, but in essence it can be summed up in the phrase “Do not disturb, do not destroy”. With the considerable freedom and right to roam afforded by Allmansrätten comes the burden of care and responsibility, and the principles of the Right are there both for the enjoyment of outdoor activities in Sweden and for the protection of its rich flora and fauna.

Why is it necessary?

With a growing global population and increased pressure on natural areas everywhere for recreational purposes, the principles of the Right of Public Access are more important than ever, providing an important framework for the sustainable enjoyment of Sweden’s countryside and wilderness areas. If these areas are used without care or respect, irreparable damage can occur to the natural environment, which may include:

- litter and toilet waster

- erosion of paths and soil

- depletion of natural resources such as wood for fire making

- damage to fragile ecosystems and removal of rare or vulnerable species

What controls are there to ensure that companies follow the rules?

The Swedish Environmental Code requires organises of outdoor activities in the countryside to demonstrate a knowledge of and respect for the natural environment of the area in which their activities take place. They are also obliged to inform participants in their experiences of the principles of the Right of Public Access and how the natural environment of the area can be conserved and protected.

At Nature Travels, we work exclusively with small-scale partner companies in Sweden. All these companies are members of the Swedish Ecotourism Society and most have passed through a strict quality-control system to receive a quality mark for their high standard of environmental commitment. Among the many criteria that must be met for certification, they must provide a detailed analysis of how their activities impact the local environment and what measures they have to manage this impact. For more details on this, please see our previous blog article on Ecotourism FAQs.

On any of the experience pages on our website at www.naturetravels.co.uk, you will see a button near the top of the page labelled “Full Details”. This link opens a PDF file giving further information on the experience, and in each file you will find a section titled “Common Sense and the Right of Public Access”. If you have any questions about how this applies to your chosen experience, please don’t hesitate to ask and we will be happy to discuss it with you.

Can I walk or ski anywhere in Sweden?

Within certain guidelines, yes. Following the principle of “Do not disturb, do not destroy”, you may not walk or ski on cultivated ground or in the grounds around someone’s house. There are no limits or distances defined in law, but people engaged in outdoor activities in Sweden are required to exercise common sense and consideration. For example, a newly-planted section of a forestry plantation would also be considered “off-limits”, even though it may not be seen as cultivated ground as such. Common sense also allows you to interpret the Right sensibly – you should not cross a crop field where crops are growing, but if the ground is hard and snow-covered in winter, there is no reason why you should not be allowed to cross.

What about cycling?

The Right of Public Access also allows great freedom for cycling in Sweden. Again, you must use your discretion to judge whether or not your presence will disturb or destroy, but you are allowed access to all private roads, and it is not permitted for a landowner to put up a sign prohibiting you from cycling on the road or path.

You should ensure that you choose the correct cycling style to suit the area and the environment. Avoid places or times or weather conditions when your tyres could cause erosion, keep off fragile areas such as those covered in moss or lichen, and if cycling on a trail intended for hikers or joggers, cycle slowly and show consideration for other uses of the paths, giving way to joggers and walkers.

There are exceptions to the freedoms afforded to the cyclist in Sweden. Local authorities may decide to introduce “No Cycling” restrictions on some paths, while inside National Parks and other protected areas, cycling may be banned completely.

Can I ride a horse in Sweden?

Again, horse riding in Sweden is permitted in most areas under the Right of Public Access. Because of the great potential for riders to damage ground and cause erosion, there are a number of things you should bear in mind when riding your horse in Sweden.

You should avoid trails specially intended for hikers, joggers or skiers and avoid sensitive ground such as bogland or moss-covered areas. You should also be careful not to damage young trees and be especially cautious when the ground is wet around spring and autumn. If riding in the same area on a regular basis, it is advisable to ask for permission from the local landowner. You should also avoid cultivated ground and the grounds of houses as you would if walking or cycling.

Unlike for cyclists, landowners can erect a “No Riding” sign in areas where there is high risk of damage to the ground. Local authorities and National Parks and nature reserves may also have their own restrictions.

Can I fish without a licence in Sweden?

No, not generally. As a non-Swedish citizen, you are required to have a licence unless fishing with hand-gear in public waters. In all other cases, you must obtain a fishing permit. Fishing is prohibited within 100m of stationary fishing equipment and fish farms. You are permitted to fish from a private jetty on an occasional basis (though not one next to someone’s house), but must of course give priority to the owner of the jetty if they require access for a boat, etc.

Can I pick mushrooms, berries and flowers in Sweden?

One of the great joys of being out in the forests of Sweden is the rich carpets of flowers and berries which cover the forest floor, and the wide variety of mushrooms available at different times of year. Looking for and gathering this forest bounty is a popular activity for Swedes and visitors alike. If you are particularly interested in this forest pastime, you may wish to take a look at our Autumn Forest Gold experience.

You are permitted to pick flowers, berries and mushrooms for private use, but must avoid protected species and should also use your discretion for other fragile species which may not yet be formally protected. There may be local restrictions in place if a particular species is vulnerable in that area. Protection for plants and animals is usually absolute – you are not permitted to disturb them in any way, even within the grounds of your house. In other cases, protected may be partial, so that certain flowers can be picked for private use, but not dug up by the roots. If a property is abandoned and there are no standing buildings, it is permitted for you to collect fruit, e.g. apples, raspberries, gooseberries, etc. from the abandoned orchard.

Live wood is also protected, and you may not chop wood from a growing tree to make a fire or otherwise cause damage to it (e.g. by carving in the bark).

As with many other aspects of the Swedish Right of Public Access, National Parks and protected areas may have their own restrictions on the collection of berries, flowers and mushrooms.

Can I take my dog on holiday to Sweden?

Many Swedes own dogs themselves, and dogs are generally very welcome in Sweden. There are certain restrictions designed to protect wild animals during the most vulnerable times of the year and to prevent harm to livestock.

Between 1^st March and 20^th August, it is important that dogs are not allowed to run loose in the countryside. In practice, this means that dogs should be kept on a lead in areas where there are wild animals, livestock or game. Outside this period, dogs should be kept under close control, and if you are in an area which practices reindeer husbandry, dogs not used for reindeer herding must be on a lead at all times.

Once again, National Parks and other protected areas will have their own regulations, and in some National Park areas dogs are prohibited.

If you would like to take your dog on holiday to Sweden, Nature Travels offers a number of dog-friendly experiences which are ideal for dog owners. Please contact us for details. You should be aware that Sweden that the regulations for bringing a dog into Sweden are usually tighter than for other EU countries. Please don’t hesitate to contact us for advice or assistance.

Can I light camp fires in Sweden?

Yes, lighting fires is permitted under the Right of Public Access, but you must follow certain precautions to minimise damage and the risk of an uncontrolled fire.

Many people do not think of Sweden as a hot country, but in fact during the summer, the forests and heathlands can become extremely dry and large forest fires are a very real danger.

You must site your fire whether there is no risk of the fire spreading and where the fire will not cause damage, such as on sandy ground or gravel. Avoid mossy and peat-bog areas, as the fire is likely to spread and can also burn underground unnoticed long after you have left. You should also not light your fire next to a rock, as this can crack and scar the rock. Wet stones may crack and even explode when heated. You are permitted to collect cones, fallen branches and twigs for your fire, but must not gather live wood or use fallen trees. Dead trees are extremely valuable habitats for wildlife and must be left intact.

At times where there is a high risk of fire, a ban may be imposed by the local authority. In this case, you are not allowed to light fires, but may still use designated grill spots and a camping stove with care.

Don’t forget that National Parks and nature reserves in Sweden may have their own regulations regarding camp fires.

I’ve heard that you can camp wild anywhere in Sweden. Is this true?

Up to a point, yes. The freedom to camp wild is one of the great joys of an outdoor holiday in Sweden. You should not pitch your tent on farmland or near a house, and stays in any one location are limited to a night or two.

Groups of friends pitching two or three tents do not need to obtain permission from the landowner, but as always, you must respect the privacy of anyone living nearby and take care not to damage the natural environment.

Generally, a good rule of thumb is to ensure that you pitch your tent out of site of people’s houses and do not stay more than two nights in the same spot. Don’t forget to take all your litter away with you (including food scraps –orange peel, for example, can take many years to degrade naturally!). If no other option exists, make sure you bury your toilet waste properly. Choose a spot at least 50m from houses, camping spots, water sources, etc. Dig a hole 15cm deep for your waste and then fill in soil on top. Do not bury non-degradable items such as children’s nappies or female sanitary products.

Can I recycle my rubbish in Sweden?

Yes, most areas of Sweden have very good facilities for recycling. In addition to the standard containers for glass, paper and cans common in the UK, many small towns or village supermarkets will also have stations to recycle batteries and plastics. If you buy drinks in aluminium cans or plastic bottles (“PET-flaskor” in Swedish), a few kronor of the price you pay will be a deposit, or “Pant”. Many shops will have a station near the entrance where you can return these bottles and reclaim your deposit. Just ask the shop assistant for help. If you want to recycle your cans, be careful not to crush them, as the deposit machines will only accept non-crushed ones.

I’d like to take my caravan or motor-home to Sweden. What freedoms will I have?

Along public roads, you may stay for 24 hours in lay-bys and designated public parking areas, or until the next weekday at weekends or on public holidays. You must not drive your vehicle off-road, e.g. to park in a field or on a beach.

What about sailing, boating and swimming in Sweden?

As with other aspects of the Swedish Right of Public Access, provided you show suitable care and consideration, a great deal of freedom is allowed. You should ensure you are aware of local regulations which apply to you and demonstrate good seamanship at all times.

It is permitted to temporarily moor a boat off the shore, to swim, to cast anchor and to go ashore, as long as you are not within the grounds of a private house or in a protected natural area. In the same way that you should not camp in the same spot for more than two nights, you should not moor your boat in the same place for more than two nights before moving on.

Be especially careful around bird or seal sanctuaries, where you are not permitted to go ashore. Make sure you look for the signs for advice in local areas.

A final thought…

The Swedish Right of Public Access is a wonderful cultural institution, providing unique freedoms to Swedish citizens and visitors alike. As long as its principles are respected, and common sense exercised at all times when judging what is or is not possible, there is no reason why everyone should not continue to enjoy these freedoms long into the future. With increasing pressure on all our natural areas and the rise in popularity of outdoor recreation, it is now more important than ever that its ideas of fair and sustainable use of the countryside are observed. If we “Do not disturb, do not destroy”, the valuable natural environment of this vast and beautiful country can be enjoyed by all for many years to come.

Best regards

The Nature Travels Team

Many of the outdoor holidays in Sweden offered by Nature Travels include wild camping, such as our canoe tours, sea kayaking experiences, wilderness hiking tours and our Go Camping by Dogsled and Ice Fishing and Dog Sledding experiences.

Sweden has something of a reputation when it comes to mosquitoes – but which stories are really true? We have tried to answer some of the questions we are frequently asked below:

What is a Swedish mosquito?

Confusingly, the Swedish work for mosquito, “mygg”, sounds less like “mosquito” and more like the English word “midge”, those small, fast-flying clouds of biting insects which have been the bane of many a camping trip in Scotland. Swedish “mygg” are larger, slower, and much easier to catch, and what is more they do not share the tendency of their smaller cousins in Scotland to mount kamikaze attacks on your dinner cooking quietly over the campfire…

Some areas of Sweden, particularly the north, do also have midges, or “knott”, but mosquitoes are much more widespread, distributed in varying densities throughout the country.

Are there a lot of mosquitoes in Sweden?

Yes, and no. The density and number of mosquitoes varies greatly depending on the time of year, the part of the country you are in and the degree of rainfall during the breeding season in spring and early summer. They generally appear around mid-June and disappear again towards the end of September, with numbers lowest at the beginning and end of the season. Since mosquitoes like water and birch forest they are not often found on the high plains away from the mountain stations. Although mosquitoes are present throughout Sweden, numbers are highest in the north of the country.

Mosquitoes go through four stages in their lifecycle: from egg to larva to pupa before finally becoming an adult. Water is essential for mosquitoes to breed, as mosquitoes spend the larval and pupal stages of their lifecycle in water. Most mosquitoes will become food for a wide variety of animals, but those that are not may live for 2-3 months.

Do Swedish mosquitoes bite?

Yes, they do. Sweden has 47 species of mosquito, 45 of which are the biting kind, though not all of these will bite humans. Only female mosquitoes bite humans, as they require the protein to breed.

Some people are particularly sensitive to insect bites and develop itchy red spots, while others seem to be little affected. Mosquitoes in Sweden can be a nuisance, but with some simple precautions the problem can be managed.

How can I avoid being bitten?

Generally, mosquitoes in Sweden are only a particular problem during dusk hours, and more in the north of the country than elsewhere. Wear long-sleeved (bite-proof!) shirts and trousers, and use a repellent if you wish. Cover your head with a hat or scarf. If you are particularly bothered by mosquitoes, you may find a net for your face helpful.

Do Swedish mosquitoes carry malaria?

No. Malaria was present in Sweden until the 18th and 19th centuries, when people lived in much closer proximity to their cattle, but disappeared from the country in the early 20th century.

Are mosquitoes all bad?

While most humans consider them a curse, there are a number of positive sides to the presence of mosquitoes:

• Mosquitoes provide an important source of food for many animals, from the tadpoles and fish which eat their larvae to the birds and bats which hunt for adults on the wing.
• In some countries, mosquitoes assist in the pollination of certain plant species, including Cattleya orchids. These plants in turn have leaves which collect small pools of water and host mini ecosystems of their own containing frogs, newts and toads.
• Spreading disease may seem like a negative, but maintaining the flow of bacteria and viruses around an ecosystem builds immunity and helps to strengthen populations as a whole by culling weaker animals.
• Finally, it is sometimes said that without the deterrent that mosquitoes provide to human settlement, some of our wildest and most beautiful places would have been colonised and developed to a far greater degree. So mosquitoes are actually powerful conservationists!

Mosquitoes are present in Sweden, and in some cases they can be a nuisance. But with simple precautions there is no reason why they should be more than a minor annoyance or spoil your enjoyment of some of the world’s most spectacular wild places. The Nature Travels Team feels strongly from personal experience that if you can survive a camping trip on the west coast of Scotland and live to tell the tale, you will have little difficulty dealing with Swedish mosquitoes!

Best regards
The Nature Travels Team

Nature Travels offers a wide range of outdoor holidays in Sweden, from canoeing to dog sledding to romantic log cabin breaks, for independents, families and groups of all ages and levels of experience.

There are two main misconceptions about the climate in Sweden: that it is always dark, and that it is always cold!

While there are certainly times when it is both dark and cold, the weather in Sweden is as varied as its landscape, as varied as the possibilities it offers for outdoor activities at any time of year.

Overall, Sweden has a very temperate climate given its northerly location. The North Atlantic Current warms air which is brought up from the southwest by low pressure winds in the Atlantic. From the east, high pressure zones bring bright, warm summer days and clear, crisp and cold winters, while the high mountains of Norway and the plateaux along the western edge of Sweden provide shelter from the mild, wet winds blowing in from the west. Levels of precipitation in Sweden are relatively low – the wettest period is in late summer and early autumn, while across large tracts of the country much of the winter precipitation falls as snow.

Summer

From late in May until mid-July north of the Arctic Circle, the sun never sets. About 15% of Sweden lies within the Arctic Circle - the Land of the Midnight Sun. Summer in the far north of Sweden is a magical time, with the long days making the possibilities for activities out of doors literally endless, plus the extra daylight means that somehow sleep feels almost unnecessary. You may be surprised to find that you are still fully energized for a hike in the mountains even in the early hours of the morning!

But you do not need to travel to the far north to experience many of the advantages of the long Swedish summer days. Even in Stockholm (only about 1/3 of the way up this vast country), there are only a few hours of semi-darkness during the summer months.

Summer in the north of Sweden is a short but beautiful period, and people make the most of the long days and milder temperatures. In the northeast, there are usually more days of sunshine and less cloud compared to the mountainous regions near to the Norwegian border in the west. In the far north, average temperatures in July are likely to be around 15 degrees C, though the long hours of daylight can lift temperatures surprisingly high. In the centre and south of the country, bright, warm summer days are common and the lakes and coastal waters offer the chance for idyllic bathing. In general, summers in the Stockholm area have similar temperatures to the south of England, but more days of sunshine. Out among the 24,000 islands of the Stockholm archipelago, it is commonly clear and sunny even when it may be cloudy just a few miles away in the heart of the capital.

Winter

Sweden is a very long country (around 2000km from north to south), and this, coupled with the higher altitudes of the mountainous regions to the north, makes for a great deal of variation in winter climate. Northern areas may experience snowfall for eight months a year, with temperatures that can drop to -40 degrees C and around 184 days a year with an average temperature of below zero, compared to 120 days in Stockholm and just 71 in the south.

In the depths of winter, the Stockholm area has only around five and a half daylight hours, while in the north of Lapland, the sun peeks above the horizon to give just 4 hours of twilight and almost 20 hours of complete darkness.

But the darkness is short-lived. Towards February/March the light returns, bringing with it an uplifting combination of the majesty of winter with the warm glow of early spring sunshine and longer hours of daylight. This “spring winter” is a wonderful time to be in the Swedish mountains. Even in deepest winter, the darkness is offset by the glow of the thick blanket of snow which covers the land throughout the winter months. Not only does this make the landscape brighter than one might expect, but it creates a cosy and welcoming atmosphere and a real feeling of winter. What’s more, the winter landscape in the far north is regularly illuminated with the spectacular displays of the Northern Lights (see our recent blog article here) in the night sky.

In the southern part of the country, winters are milder and less predictable. In southern Sweden, average temperatures in January may be just around freezing, and it is less common for the sea waters around the coast to freeze.

On the east coast of Sweden, the coastal waters of the Baltic Sea, which contained between Sweden on its western edge and Finland to the east, regularly freeze. The sea ice, as well as the thousands of lakes dispersed throughout the interior of the country, offer excellent opportunities for ice skating. Ice skating on natural ice, or “trip skating”, is a hugely popular pastime for all ages in Sweden and offers a truly unique way to experience the winter landscape.

An outdoor paradise in any season

One of the great advantages of the country as a holiday destination is that travelling to Sweden is a totally different experience depending on the season you visit, with enormous variations in climate and landscape as the seasons change. The Sami, the indigenous people of the vast northern mountain plains of Lapland, divide the year into eight seasons, not four:

• spring winter, when the pregnant reindeer females cause the herd to leave the forests and head for the mountains
• spring, when the snow melts and the reindeer give birth to their calves in the foothills
• pre-summer, when Sami livestock graze on the fresh growth carpeting the mountains
• summer, with its endless daylight hours, the time to mark the new-born calves
• pre-autumn, when the autumn colours begin to spread through the landscape and the reindeer bulls are slaughtered
• autumn, a season for fishing for the Sami and mating for reindeer
• pre-winter, when the reindeer herds are brought down from the mountains to more sheltered grazing in the marshlands
• winter, when the herds are moved into the protection of the forests to ride out the harsh winter until spring-winter arrives once more

Whenever you choose to visit, Sweden has something to offer in all its seasonal guises, from the deep snows of winter, through the meadows carpeted with flowers in spring, to the long lazy days of summer, and finally into the blazing glory of autumn as the forests turn and prepare for winter once again. Browse our full range of outdoor holidays in Sweden at www.naturetravels.co.uk!

Best regards
The Nature Travels Team

If you find yourself in northern Sweden during the winter months, there is a very good chance you will step out on a cold, clear night and witness one of nature’s most spectacular and ethereal displays – the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights – a sight that many consider to be the most beautiful thing they have ever seen.

The term is a combination of Aurora, the Roman goddess of the dawn, and Borealis, from the Greek word for North Wind. As the name suggests, the Aurora Borealis is only visible in the northern hemisphere – the southern hemisphere has its own version, the Aurora Australis.

What causes the Northern Lights?

It may look like magic, but there is some relatively simple science behind this unique phenomenon. Charged particles in the Earth’s magnetosphere called ions collide with atoms in the upper atmosphere. Energy from the collisions is emitted as light, which due to the dominance of atomic oxygen tends to be a greenish or dark-red colour. These colours persist for a relatively long period, while the blues and purples caused by molecular nitrogen vary much more quickly.

What does a display look like?

An instance of the aurora may look like a soft, diffuse glow in the nighttime sky or like multi-coloured “curtains” running east to west, each made up of parallel rays aligned with the lines of the Earth’s magnetic field. You may even see a kind of corona of diverging rays if a magnetic line runs directly overhead.

How often do the Northern Lights occur in Sweden?

Auroras occur more frequently near the poles, since the particles needed for the displays are attracted by the Earth’s magnetic field. Displays do in fact occur year-round, but it is in the deep darkness of the northern winter nights that they can be seen most easily and are at their most spectacular. Calm conditions are best, and the most intense part of a display will last between 10 and 30 minutes. In Sweden the most active auroras tend to occur before midnight, and during peak activity displays occur on average every other clear night, perhaps even more frequently.

What cultural significance does the Aurora Borealis have in Sweden?

The scientific explanation is of course not the only one, and certainly not the most colourful. Such an other-worldly display has clearly had a profound effect on the culture and folklore of Scandinavia. An old Swedish name for the lights, “sillblixt”, translates as “herring flash”, and it was thought that the display was created by the reflections of huge shoals of herring swimming in the oceans. The Finnish word, “revontulet”, means “fox fires”, and comes from the ancient belief that Lapland was home to fire foxes, whose fur emitted sparks and caused the aurora.

One tale from the Nordic region describes the aurora as light from the fires surrounding the Earth’s oceans reflected in the sky (when the Earth was believed flat and itself surrounded by water). Another says that the sun could throw its rays above the horizon even after sunset, while a third attributed the display to powerful light energy absorbed by glaciers.

The Sami people, the indigenous people of Lapland, believe that when “observed” by the lights, you should be quiet and respectful. In particular, to make jokes or sing about the lights is to invite disaster – the lights may descend from the sky and kill the mocker. Many elderly Sami still remember that, as children, misbehaving during the aurora was very serious indeed. The lights were thought to be inhabited by the spirits of those who had died an early or violent death. Other indigenous peoples of the north, such as the Inuit in Greenland, also believed that the lights were inhabited by the dead – but that the display was caused by the spirits playing football with the skull of a walrus across the nighttime sky.

Further down, in the southern parts of Sweden far from the wild plains of Lapland, the aurora still occurs, though less frequently and usually less intensely. Here the people believed that the lights were caused by the Sami people in the north searching in the mountains for their lost reindeer herds!

How can I see the Northern Lights in Sweden?

Whatever explanation you choose to believe, there is little doubt that for many the Northern Lights are near the top of their “things to see before you die” list, and Sweden is a magnificent area to experience this beautiful sight. Swedish Lapland is a wonderful place to observe the aurora, and though a display can never of course be guaranteed, chances are good during the winter months, particularly around March and April.

Photo: Nils Torbjorn Nutti

Our Reindeer Sled Safari takes you out into the Lapland mountain wilderness for 6 days in one of the best areas in Sweden to see the Northern Lights, while Experience Lapland gives you an opportunity to try dogsledding, reindeer sledding and snowshoeing in a 4-day multi-activity adventure.

Photo: Peter Grant

Take a moment tonight to stand beneath the stars and imagine yourself wrapped in the enveloping darkness and silence of a winter night in northern Sweden. Picture the cold clear air pricking at your skin, the ground shining from horizon to horizon with reflected light from the snowfields, and all around you the sky filled with a swirling mass of spectral colour.

The skies are darkening, and winter is just around the corner…

Best regards
The Nature Travels Team

Nature Travels is proud to announce our new cutting-edge Interactive Map tool, giving an aerial overview of all Nature Travels wildlife, outdoor and adventure holidays in Sweden at a glance.

From My Maps to embedded maps

For some time now, Google Maps has had an enormously useful additional feature – the facility for users to customize maps with placemarks of their own. This My Maps feature has allowed users to interact with the Google Maps interface in a completely new way, creating personalised maps of everything from a world travel tour to the best places to buy ice-cream in London.

Various content can be added to each placemark, including text, pictures and even video. A pop-up displays the content when the marker is clicked. Being able to combine the enormous power of Google Maps with the ability to add personal customised content has proved hugely popular, but only quite recently has it become possible to embed My Maps in a website or blog, and only very recently has it become possible to do so reliably and easily. With this development the tool has become extremely useful to both tour operators and travellers. Where before users were forced to leave a site to navigate a map through the Google Maps interface, customised maps can now be embedded directly in web pages and blogs, giving the full functionality of Google Maps without the need to navigate away from the site you are viewing.

The Nature Travels interactive map feature

Sweden is a large and beautiful country, but its enormous range of outdoor holiday opportunities is surprisingly little-known. While some of our clients have a very clear idea what kind of experience they are looking for, many others are seeking inspiration, and our interactive map is an ideal and fun way to browse the wide variety of wildlife, outdoor and adventure holidays in Sweden we have available, with the ability to zoom in right down to street level with a choice of map, satellite or hybrid views. Clicking on each placemark will show a brief summary of the experience available at that location, including dates and prices. For full details, a complete list of links to the experiences is available down the left hand side of the page.

As transport networks become increasingly complex, a visual mapping system is an ideal way to find your way through the maze of possibilities for international and domestic connections. The Nature Travels map currently gives details of flights between the UK and Sweden, plus other useful connections to/from Norway and Dublin. With the growth of low-cost airlines, routes are being added all the time, and a visual map makes assessing the most convenient options much easier. As the concept develops, we are planning to add ferry and rail connections as well as other features to the map to further increase its usefulness.

Of course, the map is not only a map, but a full-featured route-finding tool, with the facility to display suggested routes and estimated travel times to/from or between any of our experiences. We hope that this will go a long way towards simplifying the planning process for our clients when travelling to and around Sweden.

How to make your own Google My Map

The joy of Google My Maps is that anyone can get involved, sharing information of almost any kind with the world. If you have been on a Nature Travels holiday to Sweden, you’re sure to have some wonderful tales to tell and some eye-catching photos (or even video) to share. Why not create your own Google My Map and share it with friends and family, or tell us about it and we’ll share it with the world?!

If you’d like to have a go at creating your own My Map, here’s how:

1. Go to maps.google.co.uk
2. Click “Sign in” in the top right hand corner.
3. If you already have a Google account, log in as normal. If not, follow the steps to create your own free account.
4. Back on the maps page, click the “My Maps” tab on the left hand side.
5. Click “Create new map”.
6. Follow the online tutorials to help you create your first map!

If you’d like to embed your new map in your blog or website:
1. Click on “link to this page” in the top right hand corner of the map.
2. Choose “Paste HTML to embed in website” or click on “Customise and preview embedded map”.
3. Place the code into your website or blog and you have your very own map!
4. Alternatively, simply choose “Paste link in email” to send a link to your map to a friend.

Google My Maps opens up a world of possibilities for sharing your memories and experiences of travelling. So get exploring!

Best regards

The Nature Travels Team

If you love the outdoors, it is hard to find a country better suited to indulge your passion than Sweden. Sweden is an ideal location for outdoor and adventure holidays, whatever your age, interest or level of experience.

Sweden is a country which constantly challenges your preconceptions, and many first time visitors are amazed by the beauty and variety of its landscape, the overwhelming sense of quiet to be found in its truly wild places (Sweden contains some of the largest and last remaining areas of wilderness in Europe), and the wealth of possibilities the country offers as an outdoor holiday destination.
Within Sweden’s borders you can discover the peace of its huge expanses of forest, the barren beauty of the limitless mountain plains, mile upon mile of quiet beaches and the wonderful, accessible world of the archipelagos, remote yet just a short distance from the cultural attractions of the major cities.

From canoeing in the clear light of early dawn, to trip skating on the frozen sea, to snowshoeing expeditions under endless Arctic skies – Sweden has a great deal more to offer the outdoor enthusiast than you might imagine!

The North

Perhaps the image that springs to mind when many think of Sweden is the majestic mountain world of Lapland, in the north of Sweden. Lapland is certainly well-known as a fairytale winter destination, but far fewer consider the excellent opportunities offered by the area for a summer adventure holiday. With (almost literally) unending daylight during the summer season, Lapland is a wonderful destination for a summer holiday. The well-marked trails and freedom to camp wild make it a paradise for hikers, from novices to seasoned trekkers. And if you would rather explore the wilderness on four legs, Lapland also makes a wonderful destination for a mountain horse-riding holiday!

Northern Sweden accounts for more than half the total area of the country, but just over 10% of its population live in this vast region. It is a world of extremes: extreme beauty, extreme nature, extreme seasons of light and darkness, but despite its remoteness, northern Sweden is easily accessible from mainland Europe – the wilderness is closer than you think!

Central Sweden

The centre of the country is a land of contrasts – the rich cultural heritage of the capital, Stockholm, the economic heart of the country, sits comfortably alongside some of Sweden’s most scenic and wildlife-rich areas. Central Sweden is ideal for canoeing holidays, timber rafting on the wide meandering Klarälven river, or hiking and cross country skiing in the quiet mountains of Dalarna. It is also home to some of Sweden’s most fascinating large mammals, including the brown bear and the wolf.

The South

Southern Sweden has a very difficult feel from the wilder and more remote areas further north. In the south you will find a patchwork quilt of attractive rural landscapes – less untamed than other parts of the country but with their own special charm, and a wonderful area for hiking, cycling or horse riding.

Nature and the Swedes

Nature is very important to the Swedish people – it is part of their heart and soul. Indeed, many common Swedish names are taken from the natural world. For example, “Bergman” (as in Ingmar Bergman) means “man of the mountains; “Björn” (as in Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA) means “bear”. Swedes have a very intimate relationship with the flora and fauna of their country, and most Swedes have a keen interest in the outdoors.

One product of this deep-rooted love of the natural world and the enjoyment of the outdoors is “Allmansrätten”, or the “Every Man’s Right”, system of public access. These laws allow the visitor a unique freedom to explore Sweden’s natural areas, including the freedom to camp wild. Of course, such freedom comes with the responsibility to protect and conserve, and Swedish children learn the principles of the Right of Public Access at a very early age.

At Nature Travels we have a portfolio of experiences which represent the breadth of outdoor holiday possibilities that Sweden has to offer. We work only with small-scale, locally-owned companies in Sweden, all of whom are deeply committed to ecotourism and know and respect the flora and fauna of the regions in which they operate. Sweden is a wonderful destination for wildlife, outdoor and activity holidays, and we feel that by committing strongly to the principles of sustainable tourism, the natural beauty of Sweden can be conserved and enjoyed for generations to come!

Best regards

The Nature Travels Team

A crash course in Swedish geography, climate, flora and fauna…

How big is Sweden?

Covering an area of nearly half a million square kilometres, Sweden is the fifth largest country in Europe and the largest of the Northern European countries, over one thousand miles from end to end. With a population of just over 9 million, Sweden has an average population density of just 20 people per square kilometre, compared to the UK with a density of 246 people per km – more than 20 times as much! This means that if you’re looking for the great wide open, Sweden is the place to be!

Photo: Nils Torbjorn Nutti

So, if there aren’t that many people, what is there in Sweden?

About three fifths of the country is made up of the region of Norrland, with its expansive mountains and vast areas of forest, and about 15% of the total area of Sweden lies within the Arctic Circle. Further south Svealand is an area of undulating hills formed by glaciers and is home to the majority of Sweden’s lakes. Sweden has no shortage of water, and the country as a whole contains over 90,000 lakes, including the two largest Vänern and Vättern. Finally, the southern part of the country is a mix of rocky highlands, forest and rich, fertile plains. Off the east and west coasts lie archipelagos consisting of tens of thousands of islands, rocks and skerries.

I’ve heard it’s cold and dark all the time. Is that true?

No. Sweden has a generally temperate climate in spite of its northerly latitude thanks to the warming effects of the Gulf Stream. While it is certainly true that in the far north temperatures drop well below zero in the winter, in the Stockholm area average temperatures vary from around -3.5 degrees C in the depths of winter to around 21 degrees C in the height of summer. Daylight hours are very variable, and though you need to go north of the Arctic Circle to experience the Midnight Sun, even in Stockholm the days around midsummer seem almost endless and the sun barely sets before starting its ascent once more for a new day.

Photo: Nils Torbjorn Nutti

What kind of flora and fauna are found in Sweden?

More than half of the country is forested, varying from the deciduous forests in the south to coniferous pine and spruce forests in the north. In the far north, the landscape is dominated by the hardy birch.

Wildlife in Sweden is rich and varied. The country has 26 national parks and a large number of nature reserves and other protected areas, and is home to some of Europe’s most exciting large mammals, including the brown bear, the lynx, the wolverine and the wolf. These magnificent, if elusive, creatures, along with the majestic Golden Eagle, make up Sweden’s Big Five.

As well as the Golden Eagle, Sweden is home to many other exciting birds of prey including the white-tailed sea eagle and the osprey, and is an excellent place to spot owls. One of the most instantly recognisable and iconic species must of course be the elk, of which there are about 350,000 during peak season in Sweden.

It sounds wonderful? When can I go?

Anytime! Sweden is an ideal destination for the outdoor enthusiast year-round, and the “Every Man’s Right” system of public access allows travellers intimate experiences with its vast wilderness. Nature Travels is the UK specialist for outdoor holidays in Sweden, with activities ranging from canoeing to dog sledding. Browse our range of experiences at www.naturetravels.co.uk and or contact us to discuss your requirements.

Best regards

The Nature Travels Team

For more general information about Sweden, please see www.naturetravels.co.uk/about-sweden.htm