The last days of summer on the Swedish west coast in Hunnebostrand!
85A month ago this was a tourists paradise! This very tiny little Island located in Hunnebostrand at the Swedish west coast has the great name; St Gorans Island, or in Swedish; St. Görans Ö. This beautiful little island is a very popular place for tourists and local residents during summer. The Hunnebostrand marina is located next to this Island and since the island is connected with the mainland by a small bridge it is easy to access the island.
Hunnebostrand, Sweden
Hunnebostrand, Sweden - Hunnebostrand is located on the Swedish west coast
St.Gorans Island
St. Göransö - St Göransö is a paradise on Swedens west coast!
Some facts about Hunnebostrand
Number of inhabitants is a little more than 2000 people.
The name Hunnebostrand can be derived back to the 15000s when it was called Hundebostrand.
The archiepelago area was once a safe resting place while waiting for better weather and a chance to get past Sote Head on their way south.
Hunnebostrand is a community that originally came with the first quarry on the west coast. The first quarry was opened in 1864 and the red and grey granite was distributed abroad as well as within the country. Nowadays, the quarries are closed and the community has transformed into a tourist paradise during summer and a fantastic community for the people living there. Much of the old authentic buildings are preserved and the old houses tell their story. Personally I am totally in love with these old genuine buildings.
As soon as I enter this Island I get the feeling of being out in the archipelago. In my mind this island has something for everyone! For those who just want to walk in a beautiful environment there are paths leading around this little island with small stairs and bridges where it is needed so it is possible to get around also with a pram or a wheelchair. Benches made of wood or stone are placed along the walking path so everyone has a opportunity to sit down and enjoy the view of the sea. During summer there are sunbathing people everywhere in rock crevices, on top of the rocks as well as on the small beaches.
Facts about the channel, Soten Channel in Sweden
Max depths 4,5 meter
Max båtbredd 15 m
Max max höjd 7,2 m
The channel was made by stone workers that dug and used explosives.
The Soten Channel. Soten kanalen
St. Gorans Island is located near the narrow passage Soten Canal that has very lively boat traffic during summer. The length of the channel is 4,8 km and with the fairways the length will stretch to 6,0 km. The Fjord outside, Sotefjord, is completely open to Skagerrak’s storms so the channel was built in 1935 in order to facilitate the passage of vessels. It is a very popular passage among sailors and boat- owners and for us on land it’s like a show of all sorts of boats. Since St Gorans Island is located in the north end of the channel the boats are all visible from the island when they leave the channel heading north.
This is what it is like during the summer months. But now, in September when the summer is ending and autumn is close, a visit to this Island is something quite different! It is quite and peaceful, almost devoutly. It feels like we are totally alone and the Island has again been taken back by nature. The only sound that can be heard is the gentle sound of waves hitting the rock.
A couple of seagulls decide to supervise us while we eat our food sitting on one of the wooden benches. One of them comes close and stair at us with one of his eyes as if he wants to hypnotise us to drop some of our food in his direction. They persistently stay on and don’t leave us until they are absolutely sure we have eaten it all and then they slowly move on to search for something else.
It is a special feeling to be on an abandoned and empty island that normally is full of laughing and screaming children that run around on the smooth wooden planks on the piers and their admonishing parents chasing after them or shouting from their selected spot for the day.
Now there is no one apart from us and an elderly couple taking a late swim in the sea.
I can not help but feeling a bit melancholy over the fact that the short sweet summer is over. It seems inconceivable that winter once again will wrap this beautiful and lively landscape in totally silent covered with snow, cold and ice.
I decide to take one last swim in the salty warm water to keep the feeling of being one with the sea in my memory. I will keep it there until next year.
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I want to go there, one day. My friend-technician who went onboard our ship said that they have many unique and beautiful coastlines during summer. Thanks for sharing.
I am a fan of your articles. They are not only very informative but also you put your feeling in it. Plus I love Scandinavia. I can't travel to Scandinavia but I will do as soon as I put some money aside. Keep on writing about your beautiful country! You really catch the spirit. Great hub
I love boats, fishing, the north, and the water. Excellent Hub.
Hi lifeisabeach and what a fantastic hubname! I agree on that:)) Thank you so much for reading,
Tina
Hi Tina, It sounds as though September is the best month to visit, the photos are fabulous, it looks and sounds so peaceful and tranquil.
Thank you for sharing, brilliant!
thesailor, it is nice meeting you! Yes of course I agree with that:)) There are many beautiful places along the coast! The special on the west coast is that all the old buildings are still there and gives the small communities a very special atmosphere. It is my favourite spot during summer! Thank you so much for reading!
Tina
Myket bra! :-)
Laral, you are so kind! But I do love both summer and this place. The west coast is very special to me and it is a sad feeling to know that it will take such a long time until next summer. I hope you will visit Sweden some day and if you do, come during summer!
Thanks for the great comment. I so appreciate your visit!
Tina
Hi Will, I am glad you liked this hub and I am sure you would enjoy to take a tour in the Soten Channel as well. It is like a parade of all sorts of boats!
Thanks for your visit and for the excellent,
Tina
Movie, if the weather still is warm in September it is a wonderful time in Sweden but to be sure I recommend August! The big tourist period is over but there are still many tourists here and also many things to do and the weather is warm. Our last visit on St Goranso was very peaceful and I knew I had to save the memory in some way so I made a hub! Thanks Movie, for reading and for leaving such a great comment!
Tina
Hi DDS and Tack så mycket! I imagine that you speak Swedish but to be on safe side I say it in English too; Thank you very much!
Tina
Thanks, Tina, this was a lovely outing to Hunnebostrand. The name reminded me of some of our own sea towns - Melkbosstrand, Bloubergstrand....
Great well written hub about a beautiful place, enjoyed reading it ! Loved the photos you used to highlight this hub .
Have a great weekend my friend !!!
Hi Martie, I enjoyed that day so much that I had to share it with you all! It is a special feeling to experience those last days of summer and it always makes me a bit melancholic:) How interesting, that sound just like the names of our sea town! It would be interesting to know what "strand" means in your language? Strand in Swedish is beach/shore in English. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Tina
Hi Tom, I am glad you like this! It is so important to enjoy those precious summer days and sort of charge the batteries with wonderful memories in order to endure the long and cold winter. I must say that I don't look forward to it. We took a tour to St.Goranso again today and it was just as lovely as the day in the photos here. Today it was full activity because the premiere day for Lobster fishing is now on Monday. Everyone was busy preparing boats and the cages because early on Monday morning, the boats leave the shore heading out for the gold of the sea!
I wish you a very good weekend to Tom, and thanks for always reading my hubs. You are a great hubfriend:)
Tina
Tina, 'strand' in Afrikaans also means beach/shore, and 'bos' means bush/woods.... We really have many words rooted in the same etymon.
I love learning about Sweden by reading your hubs and seeing your photos, Tina. St. Gorans Island looks like a lovely place to visit. It is sad to think that it will soon be covered by snow and ice, but there is always next year to look forward to!
Martie, isn’t that fascinating! I had no idea that there where similarities between our languages. Suddenly the distance between us on Earth doesn't seem to vast after all:) Great to know! Thanks for coming back and tell me,
Tina
Hi Alicia! Yes it is one of my favourite places:) About the snow and ice, it is almost unbelievable how nature can change in such a short time. Maybe I should go there in winter too? Even though I don’t like winter maybe the beauty of the coast can make me more sympathetic towards winter season. But on the other hand why destroy a beautiful memory! No I think I vote for your suggestion and wait until next year! Thank you so much for reading my hubs, your comments are so appreciated!
Tina
Wow...this was so beautiful place to visit on Summer. Tina, I love your review. I can't blink my eyes to see all stunning pictures you gave to us. You have done a great job here. I hope I can visit this place one day. I'll press all buttons, expect funny. Top RATED UP!
Blessing and hugs,
Hi Prasetio, I hope you can visit Sweden and Hunnebostrand too! It is a wonderful place with lots of charm. I am so glad you liked this one Prasetio and thank you for reading, pressing buttons and for being such a supportive friend. Take care and have a wonderful weekend!
Tina
Tina, you have written a very beautiful tribute to "Hunnebostrand" and have captured everything that makes this small island so very special, by your excellent writing. This island with its picturesque charm and beauty, definitely deserves to be called Paradise. I'm fortunate to have visit "Hunnebostrand", and everything is actually so pretty and idyllic, that you have described for us. Thank you Tina. Well done!
SanneL! Hunnebostrand is one of my favorite places on the Swedish west coast and it feels special to know that you have been there too! It is great to have a Swedish HP friend and I am glad you think I made this place justice with this hub. Somehow it is difficult to describe the feeling of this place in words, but hopefully, the pictures gives more. I look forward to the summer season and the next day in Hunnebostrand!
Thank you so much for your positive feedback, I am so glad to know you!
Tina
Wow, all the photos make me miss the beautiful, Swedish summer. In a few weeks we can enjoy it again. I have only been to the west coast once and have never heard of this Island. It looks beautiful and very "Swedish". Thank you for writing this interesting hub!
Hi Made, Yes, I can hardly wait for the warm summer and it is close now! I am glad you liked this and that it brought back some memories for you. St Görans is one of my favorite places during summer! Thanks made, I always appreciate your visits!
Tina
lifeisabeach 8 months ago
Very nice photos. Thank you for letting us know about Hunnebostrand.