Vanaf Kobba Klintar, een voormalig loodsstation bij de ingang van de haven van Mariehamn, kun je de grote veerboten de haven in zien varen vanaf de open zee. On the way you cross two fairways, so you must keep a lookout and get out of the way in time. You paddle through an exciting archipelago landscape with both open bays and tight, narrow straits between the skerries. This is an ideal area for kayak paddling where it is too narrow in many places for larger recreational boats. A suitable day trip.

Start and finish: The floating dock at SGU kayak rental, the small boat harbor in Lervik.

Afstand: 14 km

Map: Terrain map L 233 Mariehamn

Moeilijkheidsgraad: Easy

This text is a continuation of the earlier article Paddling in the Åland Archipelago around Mariehamn.

From the floating dock in Lervik you paddle straight south through the strait out into Styrsöfjärden where you turn to starboard, right, and pass the strait between Styrsö and Svinö. Follow the outer side of Styrsö southward. Along the southern part of the shore there are two small islets; the northernmost one you can round on the inside through a narrow channel. Ahead of you now lies the open and wide Korsfjärden. You cross the bay in a southwesterly direction toward Äskskär, which you round on the south side through a narrow passage. Round Vattskär on the north side and Ärtskär on the south side. From here you can see Kobba klintar ahead of you. It is actually a cluster of small skerries with narrow passages between them with lots of rocks and shoals. On the northern end there is a small, well-sheltered harbor. With a kayak, you go ashore on the north side in the harbor. Here there are tables and benches to rest at. During summer there is a cafe.

On the return, round Yttre Korsö on the south side. That way you avoid any wake waves from passing ferries. Paddle up toward Jungfruskär where you can rest at tables and benches on the island's west side. The island has the Baltic Sea's largest stand of yew trees. A nature trail leads through the stand. Cross Korsöfjärden once again and follow the west side of Svinö if no ferries are approaching and the weather is calm. Otherwise paddle the same way you came, into Styrsöfjärden and follow the east side of Svinö up to the starting point.

At Kobba klintar there is an old pilot station, established in 1862 and manned until 1972. The old pilot cottage dates from 1862 and the new pilot house with its foghorn from 1910. On the balcony of the pilot house stands a wooden statue of a pilot made by the artist Juha Pykäläinen, gazing out over the sea. On a rocky knoll nearby stands a statue of a painter with his easel, in the act of painting the view over the island.

Lervik (alt Dragsvik on Järsö) – Nyhamn – Stora and Lilla Båtskär – Lervik

In calm weather, as a paddler you can make your way out to the outermost skerries in this archipelago. The solitude, the exposed location, the open sea, and the barren island landscape provide an overwhelming nature experience. The birdlife at Båtskären alone is worth a visit. You can start from Lervik or launch at Dragsvik dock at the far southwestern end of Järsö. With the latter option, the distance is half that of the former.

Start and finish: The floating dock at SGU kayak rental, the small boat harbor in Lervik; alternatively at Dragsvik dock with a boat launch ramp on Järsö. At Dragsvik you launch the kayak at the innermost part of the small boat harbor at a narrow grassy slope toward the water.

Distance: 28 km. From Dragsvik 14 km.

Map: Terrain map L 233 Mariehamn

Difficulty: Medium. In windy weather, difficult.

From Lervik you follow the west sides of Styrsö and Nåtö. Note that a well-trafficked fairway for small boats runs here. Larger vessels may occur but are uncommon. After Gåsö you turn off toward Idskär and Gloskär. Here there are several alternative places to take a break. Via the small Fjärdskär you paddle across Nyhamnsfjärden to Nyhamn. On the north side there are fine rock slabs to rest on. The strait between Södra Nyhamnsklubben and Nyhamn provides shelter from many winds. Here there is a narrow shallow passage that kayaks can get through. Just before the passage there is a sandy beach on the right. Here there are grazing sheep so avoid disturbing them. The crossing from here to Båtskären passes a fairway used by the large ferries, so keep a lookout and get out of the way well in advance. On Båtskären you can already see from a long distance a tall tower. It is a remnant from the mining operations on the islands. All such activity has, however, been discontinued long ago. On Lilla Båtskär there was also formerly Nyhamn pilot station. On Stora Båtskär there is a residential building, and on Lilla Båtskär there are several buildings. There are no permanent residents here but several large wind turbines that are visible from a very long distance and therefore easy to navigate by. Stora Båtskär can be difficult to approach while Lilla Båtskär has a proper harbor on the north side and is much easier to approach. Around Båtskären the birdlife is intense; large colonies of common murres and razorbills usually breed here. On the return you paddle the same way you came, unless you want to paddle south of Askö through Pungö strait for some variety.

Olle Persson