Sweden - Becky Ohlsen [218]
HIGHLIGHTS
Hire a canoe and paddle to Norway from Rogen Nature Reserve
Hit the slopes on skis or mountain bikes in Åre
Wander the footbridge across Östersund’s big lake to Frösön, keeping an eye out for the sea monster, Storsjöodjuret
Explore some of the pretty fishing villages around Sundsvall
Catch your breath as you survey the dizzying height of the Höga Kusten suspension bridge
Dig into local history and liquorice at Gävle’s absorbing Länsmuseet Gävleborg
AREA: 76,193 SQ KM
POPULATION: 667,049
HIGHEST ELEVATION: HELAGSFJÄLLET (1797M)
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Orientation
This chapter covers four regions (landskap) along the Bothnian coast (Gästrikland, Häl-singland, Medelpad and Ångermanland) and two along the Norwegian border (Härjedalen and Jämtland).
Just to make things complicated, each region is part of a larger county (län) but the borders don’t always match up: Gästrikland and Hälsingland form Gävleborgs län. Medelpad with most of Ångermanland forms Västernorrlands län.
Härjedalen and Jämtland form Jämtlands län.
And don’t worry – there won’t be a quiz. People generally use the region name, not the län.
Information
Visitors can contact the following agencies for more detailed information on the area:
Gästrikland Turism (026-66 00 26; www.gastrikland.com) The regional tourist office serving Gastrikland.
Hälsingland Turism (0278-62 40 08; www.halsingland.com; Collinigatan 12, 82143 Bollnäs) At this tourist office’s website, you can download information about the region in English, plus watch a short film online.
Jämtland Härjedalen Turism (063-14 40 22; www.jamtland.info; Rådhusgatan 44, 83182 Östersund) This office covers the Jämtland and Härjedalen regions.
Mitt Sverige Turism (0611-55 77 50; www.upplevmittsverige.nu; Norra Kyrkogatan 15, 87132 Härnösand) This office covers Ångermanland and Medelpad.
Getting Around
BUS
The following companies provide regional transport links, and if you’re planning to spend much time in any of these counties, it’s worth asking about monthly passes or a sommarkort for discount travel from Midsummer to mid-August. Websites have information on routes, schedules, fares and passes; they’re often in Swedish, but if you call the telephone numbers listed you’ll reach someone who can help you in English.
Länstrafiken i Jämtlands Län (063-16 84 00; www.lanstrafiken-z.se, in Swedish)
Länstrafiken i Västernorrland (020-51 15 13; www.dintur.se, in Swedish) Also commonly known as Din Tur.
X-Trafik i Gävleborgs Län (0270-741 00; www.x-trafik.se, in Swedish)
Ybuss (0771-33 44 44; www.ybuss.se, in Swedish) Express buses daily between Stockholm and Sundsvall, Östersund and Umeå.
Regional services link destinations in this chapter with those further north. Handy routes include Länstrafiken i Västerbotten bus 100, which runs several times daily between Sundsvall and Luleå (Skr423, 8½ hours) via the major towns along the E4 motorway; and bus 45, which runs daily between Östersund and Gällivare (Skr465, 11 hours).
Länstrafiken i Jämtland bus 45 runs twice daily between Mora (Dalarna) and Östersund (five hours).
TRAIN
A historic railway, Inlandsbanan (0771-53 53 53; www.inlandsbanan.se), runs for 1300km through Sweden’s interior from Kristinehamn to Gällivare via Mora and Östersund, Storuman, Arvidsjaur and Jokkmokk (see boxed text). Today the route is covered by a combination of rälsbuss (railcar) and steam train, but only from late June (just after midsummer) to mid-August. Travel on the line is slow as the average speed is 50km/h – it takes six hours from Mora to Östersund (Skr395) and 12 hours from Östersund to Gällivare (Skr795), including stops – but you can break your journey in any of the small towns en route. Prices are based on a rate of Skr1.23 per kilometre. You can buy tickets for certain legs of the journey or a card that will allow you two weeks’ unlimited travel on the route (Skr1395). ScanRail, Interrail and Eurail passes all apply. Up to two children aged 15 years and under can ride free with a paying adult. Those aged between 16 and 19 years, and