First published: 26/07/18.

Clyde 3.0

High Coast / Kvarken Archipelago

High Coast / Kvarken Archipelago (Inscribed)

High Coast / Kvarken Archipelago by Clyde

I visited this WHS in June 2018. I actually visited the High Coast, the Swedish component of this transnational WHS, over 3 full days. I used Sandöverken as my base and covered most ground by rental car, stopping at different viewpoints and choosing a variety of hikes and trails to explore different aspects of this WHS.

To get a good overview and in-depth information on this WHS, I started by visiting the Naturum Hoga Kusten Visitor Centre in Docksta which is free (another good information point is at the High Coast Hotel reception by Sweden's longest suspension bridge). From here you can get lots of information on different trails, hikes and vantage point and they also have the UNESCO WH certificate on display. If you're adventurous and not afraid of heights, from here you can go abseiling up the Via Ferrata on Skuleberget which is one of the inscribed components of the High Coast. If this is not your thing, you'll be better off opting for the chair lift (FriluftsByn) up to a panoramic viewpoint to the Top Cabin serving ice cold Hoga Kusten beer.

If you choose the latter, you can follow short hikes (O. Bergstigen and Kalottstigen) to see different viewpoints, flora and the world's highest coastline at 286 metres above sea level. The High Coast, together with the Kvarken Archipelago in Finland) has been inscribed for its geological OUV. Nowhere else in the world has the land uplift been so extensive after the latest ice age as here. Since the ice sheet retreated from this area around 9600 years ago, the land has risen 286 metres. Land uplift has been 800 metres in total over the last 18,000 years, while the current uplift is 8mm per year. The yellow signs marked as Varldsarvsleden are the WH listed trails you need to follow and which lead to different geological aspects of this WHS.

The best place to easily view a good example of how the sea and land uplift have formed the landscape after the latest ice age is the Ringkallen peak in Sorleviken. There are different UNESCO information boards that give you detailed information and you can reach this point easily by car too. The High Coast is characterised by a varied landscape with long narrow bays, several lakes and small farms (most of which are in falun red) forming a mosaic between high hills. On the other hand, if you'd like to explore the geological features by the current coastline you can opt to visit either Rotsiden (only 500 metres away from the parking lot), a low-lying shoreline with flat smoothened diabase rocks and small islands in the Gulf of Bothnia horizon (two of which, Ulvon and Hogbonden are heritage listed and reachable by ferry), where its relatively easy to spot the white vulnerable flowers of the Northern Rock-cress, or else the Nordingra pinkish granite coastline at the Norrfallsviken Nature Reserve. Here you only have to go for 2.2km hike along the blue trail behind the mini golf cabin (in summer) which leads you to Fornminnen, Nasamyra and Badamalen. Here you'll be able to see one of the lower stone fields which consists of rocks and boulders which were embedded in the ice sheet. Over time, the sea shaped and polished the rocks into roundish rocks with smooth surfaces.

While driving towards the highlight of my visit, the Skuleskogens National Park (thanks to Peter Loov for his tips), I also managed to spot a pair of common cranes and whooper swans. I drove around 7km on an unpaved road (with a non-4WD car) to the South Entrance of the park. I opted for a 9.7km trail which starts on a wooden boardwalk in the forest and continues on a strenuous rocky surface to get to the iconic Slattdalsskrevan, a 200 metre long, 7 metre wide and 30 metre deep crevice or chasm. It is very easy to spot several ferns here. Do not forget to head left once you arrive here to go on top of the crevice for spectacular views of the high coast with flat rock pine trees, lakes and rock islands (photo). On the way you'll also see huge cobble fields with bright lime lichens some 150 metres above sea level. The world's highest cobble field can be seen at Hogklinten in Mjallom at a whopping 260 metres above sea level.

Overall this was one of the most enjoyable places in Sweden and is mostly visited by locals all year round. If you love trying different foodstuffs, go ahead and try out the fermented Baltic Sea herring, surstromming, which stinks so much that most restaurants that serve it will only serve it outdoors, and Hernö's High Coast Terroir Gin.

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