Sweden - Becky Ohlsen [36]
Svenska Sjöfartsverket (Swedish Maritime Administration; 011-19 10 00; www.sjofartsverket.se) can send you information on harbour handbooks and sea charts. For charts you can also try Kartbutiken (Map; 08-20 23 03; www.kartbutiken.se).
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SKATING
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IN THE DRINK
Like the human body, Sweden seems to be mostly water, and its inhabitants take full advantage. Swedes need no encouragement to go leaping into lakes, rivers and the sea, whether to swim, surf or dive. Swimming and fishing are popular within the waterways of Stockholm itself, and equally so in the rest of the country.
The white-sand beaches on the west coast south of Göteborg are some of Sweden’s finest. Many campsites have outdoor swimming pools. There are numerous family water parks and, for winter, indoor municipal swimming pools.
Also on the west coast, the area around Varberg is the premier spot for windsurfing.
There are around 10,000 wrecks lying off Sweden’s coastline; those in the Baltic Sea are often in a miraculous state of preservation, thanks to the low salinity of the water. The Kulla Peninsula also has good diving. Sweden’s national diving body Svenska Sportdykarförbundet (08-605 60 00; sportdykning@ssdf.se) can help with queries.
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Whenever the ice is thick enough, skating enthusiasts take to Stockholm’s lake and canal system seeking the longest possible ‘run’. When the Baltic Sea freezes (once or twice every 10 years), fantastic tours of Stockholm’s archipelago are possible. The skating season usually lasts from December to March. Stockholms Skridskoseglarklubb (Stockholm’s Ice Skate Sailing Club; www.sssk.se) has some information in English on its website, but its services are for members only.
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DOGSLEDDING & SNOWMOBILE SAFARIS
Organised tours with huskies pulling your sledge are increasingly popular in Lappland, as are snowmobile excursions. For details see destinations in Lappland & the Far North, Click here.
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BIRDWATCHING
There are many keen ornithologists in Sweden, and there are birdwatchers’ towers and nature reserves everywhere; Click here for details of the best birdwatching sites. For further information, contact Sveriges Ornitologiska Förening (Swedish Ornithological Society; 08-612 25 30; www.sofnet.org, in Swedish).
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Sweden has two indigenous horse breeds: the north Swedish horse and the Gotland pony.
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HORSE RIDING
Sweden’s multitude of tracks, trails, forests, shorelines and mountains make for some fantastically varied riding. Everything from short hacks to full-on treks are on offer (around Skr350/550/850 per two hours/half day/full day) on Swedish or Icelandic horses. Trips can be arranged through local tourist offices or online through www.inatur.se (in Swedish).
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FISHING
There are national and local restrictions on fishing in many of Sweden’s inland waters, especially for salmon, trout and eel. Before dropping a line, check with local tourist offices or councils. You generally need a permit, but free fishing is allowed on parts of Vänern, Vättern, Mälaren, Hjälmaren and Storsjön lakes and most of the coastline.
Local permits for the waters of a kommun (municipality) can be bought from tourist offices, sports or camping shops, and some boat or canoe-hire outfits, and typically cost Skr60 to Skr120 per day, depending on season and location.
Summer is the best fishing time with bait or flies for most species, but trout and pike fishing in southern Sweden is better in spring or autumn and salmon fishing is best in late summer. Ice fishing is popular in winter.
An excellent web resource for fishing in Sweden is www.cinclusc.com/spfguide (in Swedish),