Jomalaleden runs through Gottby. Nearby are the Kungsö Coastal Battery, a hiking trail, and an observation tower offering views over southwestern Åland. In the wider destination of Jomala, you’ll also find a Stone Age settlement site and one of the oldest preserved stone churches in Åland and Finland. The local route, the destination at Kungsö, and Jomala’s historic sites are distinct themes in their own right.

Hiking on Jomalaleden

Jomalaleden is 40 kilometres long in total and runs through Gottby. This length refers to the entire route, not to a 40-kilometre section within the locality. In the wider area of Jomala, the trail can be divided into shorter or longer stages and walked in different directions. When planning, you can therefore choose between the full route and an individual section.

In Jomala, Jomalaleden also passes through the Ramsholmen nature reserve. The stretch through Gottby and the section through Ramsholmen are two specific points along the trail in the wider destination.

Kungsö: Coastal Battery and Views

Near Gottby, a three-kilometre hiking trail loops around the Kungsö Coastal Battery. A tall observation tower stands at the highest point of the fortification, offering views over southwestern Åland. The trail and tower offer different experiences: the trail leads around the site, while the tower opens up views across the region.

Kungsö Coastal Battery Hill is also located on Jomalaleden in the wider area of Jomala. This attraction includes a three-to-six-kilometre hiking trail and the remains of a Russian military battery built between 1916 and 1918. The site thus combines a connection to hiking with a tangible trace of military history.

Gottby’s Farmhouses and Jomala’s History

Gottby has beautiful farmhouses dating from the late 19th century onwards. The wider area of Jomala offers a different historical perspective at Sankt Olofs kyrka in Jomala. The church is considered one of the oldest preserved stone churches in Åland and all of Finland.

A dendrochronological analysis of the tower and an AMS-14C analysis of the mortar both date Sankt Olofs kyrka to the 1280s. The two studies concern different parts of the building, but point to the same period. The church is used primarily for worship services and church ceremonies, but also for concerts.

Jettböle is also in Jomala. This Stone Age settlement site is one of Finland’s most significant sites for Scandinavian Pit-Comb Ware. Unlike Sankt Olofs kyrka, the focus here is on a prehistoric settlement, while the church offers a different perspective on history through its dating and use. The timeline spans from the Stone Age at Jettböle, through the 1280s, to the farmhouses dating from the late 19th century onwards and the battery built between 1916 and 1918.

Discover more destinations: Lemland, Lumparland, Geta, Eckerö, Markusböle, Hammarland, Finström, Ödkarby

Return to the wider travel guide: Åland’s countryside.