Vårdö

Vårdö sits northeast of the main island across a short free ferry from Prästö, a group of wooded islands with the Hummelvik terminal at its far end where the northern archipelago ferries leave. It has walking trails through pine forest, sheltered inlets and a stone church of the fourteenth century. The name refers to the beacon system, the vårdkasar, that was kept on the heights to signal along the coast.

What you actually see

• The free ferry - the short crossing from Prästö that carries the road.
• The church - the fourteenth-century stone building on the island.
• The forest trails - the walking routes through pine and rock.
• The beacon name - the signal fire system the island is named for.

When to go

June to September is the season with services open. Winter reduces everything and the trails are snow covered. The ferry runs year round.

Honest expectations

There is little in the way of services and most close outside summer. It functions largely as the route to the northern archipelago. Trails are lightly marked.

Nearby

Bomarsund is southwest, and Kumlinge is northeast.