28 Jun 2021

Ten excursion gems

#3 Stenkusten, northern Öland

fascinating rauks, beautiful fishing villages and unique mills

The stone coast on northern Öland is a unique excursion destination with barren nature, sea stacks and extensive coastal landscapes. Here you will encounter dramatic views, limestone formations and open sea. Perfect for hiking, cycling, photography and picnics.

Visit popular places such as Byrum's rauks and experience one of Sweden's most spectacular stretches of coastline, where the forces of nature have shaped the landscape for thousands of years.

Marcus Carlsson

The Stone Coast on Öland – barren coast, sea stacks and unique natural formations
Dramatic landscape with limestone, pebbles & open sea
Magical sunset over Kalmar Strait

Byrum's rauks – one of Öland's most famous attractions
Perfect for hiking, nature experiences & photography
Rich bird life and sweeping views along the coast
Combination of wild nature, geology and tranquility

Alexander Hall

1. Byrums Raukar

At Byrum there is Öland's finest sea stacks area, which consists of about a hundred sea stacks along a 600 meter long strip of beach. The largest rauks in the southern part of the area are up to four metres high. Just north of the rauks there is also a nice swimming area with a sandy beach.

2. Horn's coastal road and Horn's cape

The road that goes from Byrum, via Alvedsjö bodar and down to Äleklinta, is commonly called the Stone Coast. Here you pass several quarries from a bygone industrial era and here you experience a magnificent view of the Kalmar Strait. At Horns udde, quarrying has been going on since the Middle Ages. The red limestone, the "Öland marble", has been in great demand in the construction of castles and churches.

3. Hornsjön

Hornsjön is Öland's largest lake and has been created by the land uplift enclosing the bay that originally existed here. The lake is a popular bird locality where you can hear reed, reed and marsh warblers. At Klosterholmen there is a bird tower. You can reach the lake from several directions, for example from one of the parking lots at Horns kungsgård.

4. Alvedsjö Bodar

Alvedsjö bodar is a harbour with several wooden boathouses. The sheds are built in timber frame with reed roofs. During the 1900s, the coastline became a summer home for many writers and artists.

5. Earth port

One of the most beautiful views on Öland, regardless of the season, is to look down from the north towards Jordhamn's shed mill and the small fishing huts. The scrubbing mill was built in 1905 to scrub or polish limestone. The mill is today the only one of its kind in Sweden. Next to the mill there is a scouring walk, a forerunner of the mill that was run by oxen.

6. Gillberga village and quarry

In Gillberga village, almost all the buildings are built of limestone. Even the mill in the village has a stone base instead of the traditional wooden base. It is no wonder that the limestone has been used extensively as a building material as the Gillberga quarry is located just south of the village. The quarry's walls are up to 17 meters high and allow you to see 17 million years back in time, as it took 1,000 years for every millimeter of limestone to form.

7. Sandvik

Sandvik is an old fishing community that has long been the center of the stone industry on Öland. Today it is a popular destination all year round with a nice guest harbor. It features restaurants, cafés and a grocery store. Sandvik's mill is a well-known landmark in the harbor skyline. It was built in 1856 and is one of the world's largest windmills.

Alexander Hall

8. Djupvik - Äleklinta

The narrow alvar road between Djupvik and Äleklinta winds its way along the crest of the castle with the alvar and the coast on either side. Just north of Äleklinta is the well-preserved fishing village of Bruddesta. Nearby are also Djupvik and Äleklinta, both of which are old fishing villages with pebble beaches around and today popular excursion destinations with nice swimming spots.

Alexander Hall

Food & drink on northern Öland

Along the Stone Coast, Sandvik, Löttorp and Byxelkrok are perfect stops to replenish your energy with food and drink during the excursion. Here you will find restaurants, ice cream and cozy cafés - everything from simple coffee breaks to hearty meals.

In the list below, we recommend food and drink places throughout northern Öland, where you can also discover local ingredients and visit farm shops along the way.

Cycling and hiking along the stone coast

Experience the Stone Coast on foot or by bike along the more than 30 kilometer long stretch from Äleklinta to Byrum. The road follows the crest of the castle and offers magnificent views of the Kalmar Sound to the west and the open, grazed alvar lands to the east.

For circular trails, Djupviksrundan and Södra and Norra Stenkustrundan are recommended – perfect for those who want to combine nature experiences with activity.