Autumn in Åland
Is there any season of the year that is as cosy as autumn? It’s the time of the year when you can huddle together for hours with your friends in a snug café, or lace up your hiking boots and go on a long walk in the crisp air among the colourful trees. Åland has a lot to offer in the autumn, both for city people and outdoor types, on land and at sea.
Harvest festival Skördefesten
The harvest festival is the absolute highlight of autumn. Farms in the Åland countryside are accessible to visitors for three days in September so you can visit farms, learn about life in the country and buy freshly picked apples, fresh vegetables, locally produced meat, homemade bread and a wide range of artisan food products.
The harvest festival has something for everyone, but children particularly enjoy being able to jump into piles of straw, ride on a tractor and stroke the farms’ sweetest animals.
Autumn half-term is another favourite for children. That’s when there are plenty of entertaining activities to suit kids, and there are masses of fun things to do to fill those days off school.
Open Studios art event Konstrundan
During the Open Studios art event Konstrundan, you can meet Åland artists in their work environment. A wide range of visual arts, artistic arts and crafts, and traditional craftsmanship is on display in the studios.
Combine the experience with visits to some of Åland’s art galleries or museums and learn about even more interesting and beautiful Åland art. Keep an eye on the events calendar as well – there’s usually a lot of culture to be explored in the form of theatre performances and concerts.
Rich outdoor life
Hiking, cycling and paddling are enjoyable activities for those clear autumn days when the air is fresh and the colours beautiful. Conditions for outdoor recreation are good in Åland and there are over 30 hiking trails and paths in total for you to explore.
The sea is still warm so having a sauna and then taking a dip after a long day out in the wild is lovely on a moonlit September evening.
In addition, Åland is a great destination for golfers even in the autumn since the mild archipelago climate keeps the greens in good condition well into October. Did you know that the Slottsbanan course in Kastelholm is one of the absolute top courses in the whole Nordic?
If you like to run, sign up for the Kanonloppet and the Åland Marathon, two events that over the years have become real street festivals. The Åland Swimrun is another challenge with different categories to suit experienced sportspeople, keen fitness enthusiasts and happy beginners.
High season for hunting and fishing
A hunting and fishing trip to Åland provides excitement and great experiences of the outdoors. The chances of having a good day’s hunting are high owing to the plentiful supply of roe deer. Contact a hunting organiser and choose between meditative tower hunting, eventful hunting with hounds or thrilling bow hunting. You can also hunt seabirds with the use of decoys.
Autumn is definitely the high season for anglers. The perch are nice and plump, having fattened up all summer long, and there are exciting pike competitions such as the traditional catch-and-release Getadraget.
The cooler the water gets, the closer the sea trout make their way towards land – an exciting fish to catch either from a boat or from land.
To do on rainy days
In the autumn, rainy days every now and then are inevitable. That’s when you can take the opportunity to go to the cinema, go disco bowling or visit the town library in Mariehamn. Relax bathing and enjoy the sauna at the bathhouse Mariebad and Åland’s Sports Centre swimming pools.
Spend time in the museums to learn more about the exciting history of Åland. The Åland Maritime Museum, Cultural History Museum of Åland and Åland Art Museum have generous opening hours even in autumn.
Glorious and powerful autumn sea
Many people think that the sea surrounding Åland is at its most beautiful in the autumn. Sunny, breathless days it shines like a mirror reflecting yellow birches, red maples and white wisps of cloud on its clear surface.
On other days it’s all silver-grey foam, polishing the red rocks smoother with every wave that washes up on to the shore. It is at its most awesome when the autumn winds are blowing.
From places like Havsvidden on the Norrhavet Sound you can safely view how the sea’s mighty force has it roaring and crashing onto the beaches. Huddle under a blanket and enjoy the memorable spectacle with a warm cup of coffee.
