Stenskär by rental boat – a full day further out in the archipelago

Stenskär is an old archipelago farm that has been in the hands of the same families for several generations since the 17th century. The island of about 39 hectares lies in Nagu (Nauvo), in the western part of Gullkronafjärden near Gullkrona, and its houses and harbour are on the shore of a sheltered bay on the north side of the island.

Stenskär lies close to the outer archipelago. You can combine the day with walking in nature, sea views and a relaxed stop in an archipelago village where you can buy the island's own produce.

In the 19th century the farm was divided into Västergård and Östergård, and today the island has two households. In the past, the main livelihoods were fishing, cattle farming and small-scale farming, and since the 1970s tourism has brought new ways of making a living.

The 20th century brought big steps forward to the island: the first combustion engine arrived in 1917, the island's own diesel generator was acquired in 1945 and the first telephone line was opened in 1948. A power line from the mainland was completed in 1988, which was a cause for great celebration on the island.

Stenskär is not just a historic site but a village that is still lived in. Respect the residents' privacy near the farmyards and be considerate of the islanders and the nature.

The nature trail of about 1.5 kilometres runs through varied terrain and has 15 checkpoints. Along the way you can see traces of the ice age, such as erratic boulders, a pothole and a boulder field. You may also meet sheep on the summer pasture.

The trail climbs high up on the Högskär rock, so the ascent is steep in places. From the lookout tower at the highest point of the island, at about 28.5 metres, there is a 360-degree view of the surrounding archipelago. Wear sturdy shoes for the trail and stay on the marked route.

On the Högskär rock there is a gorge about seven metres deep, Stenskärs smidjon. It resembles a pothole and was probably formed during the ice age, when melting ice and water carried masses of rock down from the cliff. A boulder field runs across the Högskär rock from shore to shore, and there are also old stone walls along the trail.

The island's forests are mainly pine and juniper, with alder along the shores. The wildlife is diverse: a curious seal may come right up to the boat or the jetty, and on a calm spring evening or morning the calls of eiders and long-tailed ducks are wonderful to listen to.

Stenskär bay has two guest jetties. The jetty on the Stenskär shore has about 15 berths with stern buoys. On the other side of the bay, on the uninhabited island of Birsskär, there are about 24 berths with buoy moorings as well as shore power, a Keep the Archipelago Tidy (Pidä Saaristo Siistinä) waste point, a toilet and a barbecue hut completed in 2020. At the Birsskär jetty there are two rowing boats you can use to cross the bay to Stenskär. The Stenskär jetty is popular, so Birsskär is a good alternative if there is no room at the jetty.

Moor your boat according to the harbour's instructions. There are also two red mooring buoys in the bay, and the buoy fee is paid at the shore shop. The harbour also has a shower, septic emptying, a playground and a swimming beach.

A space at the jetty cannot be guaranteed in advance. Before you set off, check the current instructions and services on Stenskär's own website.

In summer, a shore shop operates in a red boathouse more than a hundred years old, selling truly local food: fish from the surrounding waters and vegetables grown in Stenskär's fields.

Next to Stenskär, on Tistronören, there is a rental sauna completed in 2020 in a peaceful spot. Tistronören can be reached on foot over a bridge, and the sauna is booked on site on Stenskär or Birsskär. Family sauna slots are also available. Check the shore shop's opening hours and the sauna prices before your trip.

Stenskär rents out log cottages with shore saunas on nearby islands, some of them on an island of their own, so the area offers a peaceful place to stay on an archipelago trip.

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.