Högsåra by boat – a pilot village and café day in the Hitis archipelago

Pilots from Högsåra have guided ships since the 15th century, and in the 18th century the island was one of Finland's largest pilot stations. Most of the island's farms are still old pilot farms that have belonged to the same families for centuries, which is why the village is unusually uniform.

Emperor Alexander III often visited Högsåra in the late 19th century, and a carving from his summer visits can be seen on the Killingholmen rock at Kejsarhamnen. After the visits, steamboats began calling at the island, and Högsåra grew into a summer resort. The Jungfrusund museum at Kejsarhamnen tells the story of piloting, spar buoy making, the imperial visits and the era of the guesthouses.

The island is about 3.5 kilometres long and nice to explore on foot or by bike. On Bockberget, where women of the Lotta Svärd organisation watched for bombers heading for Turku during the Winter War, there are now three wind turbines named after the village's work horses. The island has several child-friendly beaches, and Sandvik on the west shore is part of the Archipelago National Park.

The trip suits groups and families with children who want a relaxed day in an archipelago village at the end of a long sea trip: a café, a beach, a museum and a walk.

Högsåra has three guest harbours. Kejsarhamnen on the north side of the island is the village association's harbour, with about 40 berths, a grocery kiosk, a sauna to book, a barbecue shelter, a waste point, septic tank emptying and a child-friendly beach. From Kejsarhamnen it is about a ten-minute walk to the village.

Cafébryggan, Farmors Café's guest jetty, has room for about 20 boats, moored to booms or alongside. The harbour has electricity, a toilet, a shower, a waste bin and a place to wash dishes, as well as a small harbour kiosk selling refreshments and snacks. The harbour fee can be paid with the Parkman or EasyPark app, at the harbour kiosk or at Farmors Café.

Lillbacka Brygga guest harbour has about 40 berths, a child-friendly sandy beach, a wood-heated sauna to book and a beach bar in summer. Moor in each harbour according to the harbour's instructions.

Farmors Café is a cosy garden café in a farm setting. It serves home-baked cakes and summer dishes, and it has art exhibitions and a child-friendly yard with a playground and farm animals. The café is open in summer.

The Jungfrusund museum is at Kejsarhamnen and is open in July. Next to the museum are the fish shed and rowing boat of Serafina Lindblad, known as Kejsar-Fina.

Kejsarhamnen has a grocery kiosk that is open in summer, and Rumpan Bar, the beach bar at Lillbacka Brygga, serves drinks and offers music in summer. The village also has Jennys hörna, a small summer shop, and Beatastugan, a museum cottage opened by arrangement.

Plan your refuelling in advance: the guest harbour in Kasnäs sells 98 petrol. The Buster Magnum runs on 98E5.

Opening hours vary by season, so check the latest information on the Högsåra website before you go.

On Högsåra you can stay, for example, at ByVillan, a seasonal self-catering guesthouse about a kilometre from the ferry pier. The house has five rooms and a family apartment, a shared kitchen and a barbecue, and bed linen, towels and final cleaning are included.

Villa Cecilia, built in 1911 by the merchant Fredriksson, is also rented out for accommodation, and Lillbacka Brygga has holiday cottages. The national park's Sandvik has a camping area.

When you rent the Buster Magnum from us for several days or even a week, you can stay the night and continue your trip the next day. Book accommodation directly with the provider.