National Geographic Traveller UK - 05.2020 - 06.2020

1

Watch for wildlife
There’s a primordial
allure to Skuleskogen
National Park, with its
flat-topped mountains,
boulder fields and bucolic
countryside. The absence
of roads encourages
wildlife to roam — keep
an eye out for lynx, roe
deer and brown bears, the
park’s elusive residents.
The mighty Slåttdalsskrevan
is a must-see: a 650ft-
long, 130ft-deep canyon
carved by the elements.
sverigesnationalparker.se

2

Take a hike
Spanning the length
of Höga Kusten, the 80-mile
High Coast Trail takes in
soaring cliffs and protected
parkland. Hardy walkers
should dedicate several
days to completing the trek,
beginning at Hornöberget
in the south and finishing
near the city of Örnsköldsvik
in the north. Rustic lodges
along the way are perfect
for resting weary legs.
highcoasttrail.com

3

Soak up the
island life
Red-and-white clapboard
cottages fringe the crescent

bay at Trysunda, a serene

fishing village on an islet of

the same name. Accessible

by boat all year round, the

village’s biggest draw is its

wooden chapel with painted

interiors. Summer days are

best spent on the golden

sands of Björnviken, on the

island’s eastern coast.

4

Reach new

heights

Even novice climbers can

conquer Skule Mountain,

where anchored cables,

rungs and footholds create a

thrilling via ferrata around

the cliff edge. Hire a helmet

and harness before hauling

yourself along one of four

routes. It’s well worth

the effort — the sweeping

vistas from the summit are

breathtaking. viaferrata.se

5

Taste local

delicacies

A must-try for adventurous

eaters is the local delicacy

surströmming, a fermented

herring notorious for its

pungent aromas. The dish

dates back to the 1500s when

fisherman could spare only

a little salt to preserve their

catch, thus causing it to sour.

Late August is when brave

locals start tucking into the

whiffy fish, best served in

the open air on tunnbröd

(flatbread) with a generous

dollop of sour cream.

6

Get in the spirit

Hernö Gin distillery,

in the village of Dala, has

scooped countless awards

for its craft gins, and visitors

can tour the copper stills

before sampling botanical

blends. Further north lies

High Coast Distillery,

a former power station

next to the Ångerman river.

There’s a restaurant and

tasting bar on site, and a

spirited whisky festival

in summer. hernogin.com

highcoastwhisky.se

7

Embrace your

artistic side

In a remote corner of

Höga Kusten, a treehouse

hangs above ground and a

walkway leads over an abyss

— these installations are

the remnants of ArkNat, an

annual architecture festival

that showcases designers

pushing the boundaries

between architecture and

the great outdoors. There’s

a total of nine landmarks to

spot. arknat.com

Getting there: Various airlines

fly from the UK to Umeå with a

connecting flight in Stockholm.

From there, public transport

services reach Höga Kusten.

Alternatively, it’s a six-hour drive.

Essentials

DID YOU

KNOW?

Outerwear brand

Fjällräven comes from

Höga Kusten. As the

story goes, a 1960s

schoolboy created

an alternative hiking

bag with his mother’s

sewing machine. Today,

the Kånken rucksack

is beloved by creatives

and adventurers alike.

fjallraven.com

PARTNER CONTENT FOR HÖGA KUSTEN DESTINATIONSUTVECKLING

To find out more, visit hogakusten.com