In front of me stretches a forest of pillar-like pines. These trees, some of the oldest among them bearing deep grooves and various holes in their thick bark, stand strong and steadfast like ancient guardians. In a Finnish pine forest, there’s a feeling of being at home, with nothing to fear. There’s lots of light, […]
Article by Jonna Saari Torronsuo is a famous, ruggedly beautiful bog in southern Finland, where many go to seek the atmosphere of the northern wilderness bogs. Whenever I visit Torro, I always miss one thing: bodies of water. I want to see a landscape where lakes and ponds glimmer in blue, swirl mysteriously in the […]
The darkest days of the year are upon us in Finland, and weekday evenings after work are pitch black. It’s easy to be tempted to curl up on the couch instead of going out. While darkness affects at least some of us negatively in the form of seasonal depression, nature and being outdoors have good […]
I walk into the forest wearing a twenty-year-old jacket, old torn sweatpants, and rubber boots. I have no measuring devices, snacks, time limit, or any specific plan other than to spend a moment in the nearby woods. I’m there for as long as I happen to be this time, basically doing nothing. And you know […]
Advert: Visit Hämeenlinna In the landscapes surrounding the medieval Häme Castle, the delightful Vanajavesi lakeside route winds along the shores of Lake Vanajavesi—a must-discover for every visitor to Hämeenlinna city. This 5.7-kilometer (3,5 mi) loop is largely accessible and runs almost the entire way in close proximity to the water, so much so that the […]
I leap over a ditch from the roadside into the forest. The gentle energy of the trees’ embrace wraps around me in an instant. Although the sound of the road still reaches my ears, an invisible wall—a protective force field—has appeared between me and the mundane human world. On the forest side, with each step, […]
When you drive between Helsinki and Turku on the motorway, you pass through the over 2-kilometer-long Karnainen tunnel. Few would guess that above the motorway lies an entire hiking destination with ponds and lean-tos. Once you cross the small hill from the Karnaistenkorpi parking area and step into nature, you immediately find yourself in a […]
Advert: Visit Raseborg The parking area at Fiskars Ironworks is completely empty. I smile with delight as I see the text on the local bus passing by in the village: Ha en bra dag, ‘Have a good day’. Oh, yes. The ironworks, adorned in autumn colors and tranquility, feels in early October as if it […]
Advert: Visit Hämeenlinna Evo hiking area is located in Southern Finland, less than a two-hour drive north of Helsinki, in the Hämeenlinna and Padasjoki region. Evo is known among Finnish hikers for its forests, which are dotted with numerous forest ponds. Evo is suitable for both beginner and more experienced hikers in Finland, as it […]
Accessible trails are a wonderful solution, especially when not all members of your group are fit or agile enough for more demanding paths. Of course, accessible trails suit many other situations, such as walking with a stroller or just enjoying a relaxing little outing for anyone, like us on this trip. One of the most […]
