Cherry blossoms are blooming in southern Finland right NOW. Hanami, the Japanese tradition of admiring flowers, has quietly taken root in Finland. After months of darkness, cold, and snow, Finns greet spring with open arms and hearts. The fleeting bloom of the cherry trees coincides with the moment spring begins turning into summer, and Finns […]
One of those spring Sundays that remind you why you bother going outside. Sun out, a gentle breeze in the trees, and Lake Iso-Valkee looking exactly as good as ever: clear water, forest all around, not a building in sight. Iso-Valkee trail info It was one of the first properly warm spring days when I […]
The sun peeks out from behind the bay, and the crisp morning air is filled with the intense raucous calls of a black-headed gull colony. Up in the bird tower, a couple of spotting scopes are already visible with birders in tow – the crack of dawn is the best time for birdwatching. The photos […]
It was a cold, dry morning in Lauhanvuori national park without the same dusting of snow that coated the forest on the previous morning. While tucking into my porridge, cheerful birdsong tingled my ears. What bird is entertaining me so sweetly? Not long after I finish my porridge, I see the singer in a small […]
On a chilly afternoon in early May, when spring sunshine competed with passing clouds for dominance, I arrived at Kivajata carpark in Lauhanvuori national park. Through the trees, I could see a mass of stones and boulders. I lifted my camera rucksack on to my back and strolled to find the start of the trail. […]
Late winter in Finland is perhaps the most mysterious of all seasons. As the sun finally begins to warm, yet the ground remains covered in snow and ice, nature seems to hold its breath. We wanted to make the most of this exact atmosphere when we headed to Latokartanonkoski trail in Salo. I was accompanied […]
Located in Eastern Lapland, Salla is home to Finland’s newest national park, Salla National Park. The park offers a variety of excellent walking trails, and the area also features relatively easy-to-access weather shelters built especially for those wishing to watch the Northern Lights. The grey weather and snow-covered ground painted the landscape in their own […]
Ramsholmen in Åland is a fairytale-like grove best visited in late spring, when waves of woodland flowers—especially wild garlic—transform the landscape. Follow an easy trail beneath hazels and ancient trees, and experience a timeless escape into nature’s quiet magic.
Finnish Wild Herbs
At the tip of Porkkalanniemi, a peninsula stretching into the Baltic Sea in Kirkkonummi, you’ll find the Porkkalanniemi recreation area maintained by Uuvi (Uudenmaan virkistysalueyhdistys). The area offers several parking areas, marked trails, and rest stops—provided you’re willing (hopefully without motion sickness!) to navigate the winding, narrow road that demands constant attention. Last week, we […]
