Hike Roslagsleden Stockholm County

The Roslagsleden leads you over 190 km from the southern Danderyd to the northern Grisslehamn.

Stage 1: Danderyd to Karby Gård (15 km)

The start of the hike is the church in Danderyd. From there it goes through the Rinkebyskogen to Lake Rösjön. There is also a daily open camping site with cabins and even a restaurant. Behind the campsite the path leads you through the Rösjön leisure area. From the Edsvikens coast to Hagby Gård the trail follows an old Viking trail. Around Hagby Gard you can admire very old stone collections. You will then arrive at the southern end of Lake Vallentunasjön and shortly afterwards you will arrive at Karby Gård, a village consisting mainly of old farms. Here you can rest in a cafe or learn about the history of the place through an exhibition.

Stage 2: Karby Gård to Örsta (13 km)

Behind Karby Gård, Roslagsleden takes you through the Stolpaskogen forest to a beautiful picnic spot at Gullsjön Lake, where you can take a break. After successful strengthening you reach the 58 m high Löttingekullen, the highest point of the village Täby. There is also a special stone on which one of the oldest farms of Täby is marked. From Löttinge Gård the Roslagsleden runs through a large and untouched forest towards Angarn. After the path leads towards Skavlöten Friluftsgård, you will pass Fågelsångsmossen - one of Stockholm's most well-kept peat bogs. Near Åsta you can see a stone created by Öpir, a master stonemason and one of the most successful rune stone artists. If you like his works, you can see seven more stones in Vallentuna. These stones are special works of art because they are surrounded by stone animals. In Angarnssjöängen you should definitely take the time to observe birds. About 25 different species live along the seacoast and another 75 in the surrounding areas. For centuries, the area around the lake has been transformed into a beautiful reed-covered moorland landscape, providing an ideal habitat for birds.

Stage 3: Örsta to Lövhagen (16 km)

In Örsta you will find a 3.65 m large stone structure from the Bronze Age. You can see two ships and above them two horses pulling a wagon. In this area you will still encounter several of these stones, as this area used to be the centre of a large settlement during the Bronze Age. After you have left Örsta and Angarnssjöängen, you will reach the Össeby IP sports centre relatively quickly. There you can take a shower and also have the possibility to fill up your water supplies. A few hundred metres from Roslagsleden lies the ruin of the Össeby church, the ninth parish church of Vallentuna from the Middle Ages. The exact year of construction of the church is not known, but it is assumed that it was at the end of the 15th century. Today the ruins are only used for weddings. The bridge at Brottby crosses the Låanghundraleden. The waterway was formerly used by the Vikings and connects Uppsala with the Baltic Sea. Today the waterway is one of the most beautiful and longest routes for canoeists. There are a number of picnic and camping sites along the watercourse

Stage 4: Lövhagen to Domarudden (12 km)

At Lövhagen the Roslagsleden again crosses the old post road between Stockholm and Turku. A few kilometres to the south, along the old Norrtälje road, lies the village of Ösby. There the Posthaus is still located at the Poststraße. Behind Lövhagen, Roslagsleden follows an asphalted road for a few kilometres. As soon as you leave the road, you continue on forest paths to the Domarudden leisure area at Drängsjönsee. At Lilla Harsjön Lake you can take a break. The hut there is the perfect place for that. Swimming is also allowed at the lake. The area around Lake Tärnan includes many other smaller lakes and old trees. Meanwhile it is a nature reserve and invites you to relax and unwind. At the end of the day tour you will reach the Domarudden recreation area in the middle of the nature reserve around Lake Drängsjön. You can end the evening with swimming and fishing. For fishing you need a Linz, which you can buy in Domarudden.

Stage 5: Domarudden to Wira bruk (20 km)

The daily stage from Domarudden to the iron works of Wira Bruk takes you through woods and free terrain and past lakes. About five kilometres from Domarudden lies Oppsjön Lake. There is a picnic area where you can take a break. A few kilometres before Wira Bruk you will pass the Virensee, where it is allowed to swim and fish... It is also possible to spend the night there. Wira Bruk itself is an idyllic spot consisting of well-preserved forges and red huts. The iron forges were built around 1630 by Admiral Claes Fleming and were the first swordsmiths at that time. Between 1646 and 1775 the village owned the exclusive rights to produce swords, sabres and bayonets for the Swedish royal family.

Stage 6: Wira Bruk to Penningby (22 km)

The route from Wira Bruk to Penningby always leads through forests and past cultural places. You can see some of them in Old Bergshamra, for example the water mill from the 1760s. Legend has it that there lived a water spirit called "the Neck", who often made charming sounds at the Kvarnforsen waterfalls. The village also has a miller's house, in which there is a café and exhibitions and events take place. Between Bergshamra and Grovsta there is a very special place. There meet the borders of four villages. The cabin there used to be an outpost of the Countess of Penningsby's estate. So that you cannot overlook this place, the interface of the borders is marked and it is possible to stay overnight in this hut. The last stretch to the stage finish takes you along road 276 to Penningby. There is also a supermarket where you can replenish your supplies. The rune stone there indicates that the place dates back to the Viking Age. The village also has a castle from the late 15th century. The building has not been changed until today and is said to be the home of a well-known spirit - the woman in white.

Stage 7: Penningby to Vigelsjö (22 km)

The seventh stage takes you through the history of the years 1703 to 1959. In Länna, near the parish, there is the famous octagonal "Silwer lavatory". The toilet consists of three earth holes and glass windows. It was built in 1916 by Carl Silwer in honour of the visit of Archbishop Nathan Söderblom. Behind the turn-off to Lännaby the path leads you further to Fägla. You can take a break at the nearby Fäglasjönsee. After your rest, you must head towards Norrtälje, the capital of "Roslagen". In Kvisthamra you will pass beautiful houses. If you feel like it, you can make a small detour across the wooden bridge and visit Borgmästarholmen, a small island. You will also come to Norrtälje, which during the 19th century was one of the most popular destinations for wellness holidays in the Baltic Sea. Today it is an idyllic little town with impressive houses. The shops there are open all year round and are therefore ideal for replenishing stocks.

Stage 8: Vigelsjö to Roslagsbro (14 km)

Vigelsjö represents a significant point of Roslagsleden. This is where the route from Danderyd ends and the second route to Grisslehamn begins at the same time. Vigelsjö is an ideal spot for leisure activities. Besides walks on beautiful nature trails you can swim in the Lommarensee or go by boat. Or you can simply enjoy the beautiful landscape of the nature reserve. After you have left Vigelsjö, the path leads you to Färsna 4H-Gård. There is the Vintage Tractor Club, where you can visit well-preserved old tractors and agricultural machinery. Your hike takes you further on asphalt and gravel to Roslagsbro. The church there dates from the 13th century

Stage 9: Roslagsbro to Bagghus/Gasvik (25 km)

This section runs far away from roads through the beautiful landscape of Roslagen. Behind Roslagsbro you reach Lake Brosjön before reaching Bro Vasby. There is a bird watching tower about 400 metres from the path. From up there you can see very well the flora and fauna of the lake and the surrounding landscape. Between Brölunda and Vik you get to a waterfall, Kvarnfallet. In former times there was still a water mill, which led the water river to the coast. A unique Viking boat and a church bell were found there. The boat, Viksbåten, dates from the 11th century and can now be seen in the Erikskulle Folk Museum. The museum is also one of the oldest and largest open-air museums in the district of Stockholm. On the west coast of Lake Rådasjön there is a toilet, a changing room and a car park. Your day ends at the Bagghus bridge near Gåasvik.

Stage 10: Gåsvik to Sandviken (9 km)

In Gåsvik the Väddö Canal begins. The original water course was natural, but over the centuries the water flow was changed, straightened and extended until the present course was created. The island on the other side offers great places to relax and can be reached by boat. From the Bagghus Bridge, Roslagsleden first follows the canal to Älmsta. In the meantime you reach the maritime museum of Roslagen in Kaplansbacken, which can give you a lot of information about the history of Roslagen and is worth a visit.

Stage 11: Sandviken to Grisslehamn (20 km)

The last part of the route takes you over 20 km to Grisslehamn along the Väddö coast, from where you have a great view over the Åland lake. Old Grisslehamn used to be an important place. The town was situated on the Queen Kristina Post Road, which around 1638 ensured postal traffic between Stockholm and Åland. When trying to deliver the mail, many people lost their lives crossing the lake. To honour them, an annual boat race is held on the lake, where lime and marble are mined to the south of Nothamn. The limestone deposits in the nearby forest make it very valuable for nature conservation. Nothamn itself was once one of the largest fishing centres on the Väddö coast.

The route can also be walked in reverse order. Due to the numerous places, overnight accommodation and parking spaces along the route, it is also possible to shorten the total distance and select a different start or end point.

The route of the Roslagsleden changes again and again the path condition and often carries outthe Weld, so that you can get on both hard and soft and partly wet groundshould set. Therefore, sturdy footwear and, if necessary, walking sticks must be wornrecommend.

Travelling by plane

Danderyd is best reached via Stockholm and here again by plane. Stockholm has three airports, Stockholm Arlanda, Stockholm Skavsta and Stockholm Bromma. The latter is mainly served by domestic flights and is a good choice if you are making a stopover in Sweden, as the airport is right inside the city. Arlanda is the best choice from an international point of view, as it is north of the city and therefore close to the starting point.

Arrival by car

If you arrive by car you should plan enough time and patience. First you drive to Rostock or Kiel and take a car ferry to Sweden. When you arrive in Sweden you have to take either the motorway E4 or E18 to Stockholm, depending on your starting point.

Arrival by ferry

Since Stockholm is a port city, a ferry journey is a good idea. The Silja Line operates, for example, between Stockholm and Helsinki, Tallinn, St. Petersburg, Rostock and Turku - the Viking Line only moors in Helsinki and Turku.

If you want to take your own car with you, you should take the car ferry that runs between Newcastle and Gothenburg.

Arrival with public transport

Stockholm is very easy to reach internationally by rail. The main train station is located on Vasagatan and also offers luggage storage facilities.