Skeppsgården combines maritime heritage with opportunities for hiking: an approximately 36-kilometre section of the Östgötaleden begins in the village, while the southern loop in Åsvikelandet is about eight kilometres long. This gives you a choice of different trail lengths for your stay, alongside local history that spans everything from waterborne trade to historic buildings. The old loading site, Villa Skeppsgården and nearby Östra Eds kyrka add to the hiking experience.

A maritime village with a long history

From the mid-16th century, Skeppsgården was a major loading and trading site and served as an export point for firewood, pulpwood and timber. The loading site flourished in the 19th century. At the beginning of the 20th century, about ten ships were based in Skeppsgården; a steamboat landing remained in use until the 1950s. Skeppsgården is an old maritime village on Edsviken. The river Vindån also flows into Skeppsgården in Valdemarsvik Municipality.

Villa Skeppsgården: building history and courses

Villa Skeppsgården also brings together a history of its construction and a later programme of courses. K. A. Wallenberg built it in 1908 and gave it to Helge Lybeck and his wife, Nanny Wallenberg, as a wedding gift. Since the 1980s, the villa has offered courses in knowledge and skills related to Levande Föda. Its origins as a wedding gift and its long-running course theme are two distinct chapters in the history of the house.

Plan your hike by trail length

The hiking trail system in Åsvikelandet is part of the Östgötaleden and is marked in orange. Its southern loop is about eight kilometres long; an approximately 36-kilometre section of the Östgötaleden begins in Skeppsgården. The comparison shows two different distances and two types of route: a loop in Åsvikelandet and a longer section that starts in Skeppsgården. When choosing, you can take both the length and the type of route into account.

Accommodation and getting your bearings

Åsvikelandet Nature Reserve is two kilometres from Skeppsgården B&B. There are motorhome pitches in Skeppsgården that can be used during the day and overnight. They are close to Vindån, the bridge, Åsvikelandet and Torrö. Check the latest information about the pitches before your trip.

Church and fishermen’s cottage

Nearby Östra Eds kyrka has a gilded pilot cutter as its spire—a pilot cutter is a pilot boat. After a fire in 1958, the present church was rebuilt on the same site, making use of the old walls. It was inaugurated in 1960. Rebuilding on the same site and reusing the walls also make the history of the previous church part of the present building. Fiskartorpet is Skeppsgården’s historic fishermen’s cottage.

Discover more destinations: Östra Ed, Valdemarsvik, Ringarum, Gryt

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