Gullholmen and Hermanö - two gems in Bohuslän
If you want to experience the genuine archipelago feeling in Bohuslän, you should visit Gullholmen and Hermanö. These two islands are close to each other, but have different characters. Hermanö is the larger island, with more buildings and activities, while Gullholmen is the smaller and more picturesque island. Here are some tips on what to do in these beautiful places.
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Overnight stay several variants.
If you want to stay overnight at Gullholmen or Hermanö, you have several options. Most of it takes place through private rental of cottages, rooms or apartments. You can find more information about this at Stugsommar, which has good range of options for living in houses and apartments. Hotels.com also has some interesting ones house to rent, check price if available to rent here.
You can hike of course.
If you like hiking in nature, you will love Hermanö nature reserve. It is one of the larger nature reserves in Bohuslän, and has a varied and exciting terrain. You can choose between different hiking trails, which are marked with colored dots. Some trails are easy and flat, while others are more advanced and hilly. On the way you can enjoy the fantastic view of the sea, the rocks, the forest and the meadows.
Bathing is best done in these places
If you want to take a dip in the salty water, you have several bathing spots to choose from at Gullholmen and Hermanö. Here are some of them:
– The steamboat bridge's bath. This is a popular bathing spot on Gullholmen, which is located behind the ferry quay. Here there are bathing ladders that make it easy to get in and out of the water.
– Rock bath on the northwest tip. This is a more adventurous bathing spot on Hermanö, which is at the far end of the island. Here there is a bathing ladder that leads down into the sea, but it takes a little courage to jump in from the rocks. It's also a bit of a walk over a hill to get here.
– Gullholm baths. This is a holiday resort on Hermanö, which offers accommodation and swimming. Here there is a long jetty with sunbeds and umbrellas, as well as a small sandy beach for the younger ones.
– Grindebacken's Badplats. This is a favorite for families with children, as it has a shallow and sandy beach. It is located on the south side of Hermanö, near Grindebacken harbour.
Tips on what you can do.
In addition to hiking and swimming, there is much else to see and do on Gullholmen and Hermanö. Here are some suggestions for what distinguishes Gullholmen and is worth mentioning.
– Nature. Both Gullholmen and Hermanö have fantastic nature, with cliffs, sea, forest and meadows. You can hike in the Hermanö nature reserve, which is one of the largest in Bohuslän, and enjoy the varied and exciting terrain. You can also swim at one of the many bathing spots, which have different characters and locations. Or just sit and look at the beautiful view of the archipelago from the Lots view.
– The culture. Gullholmen and Hermanö have a long and rich history, which you can learn more about at the two museums Skepparhuset and Stenstugan. The skipper's house shows how life was for sailors and fishermen in the past, while the Stenstugan shows how stonemasons worked with granite from Hermanö. You can also stroll on Gullholmen among all the small houses that are scattered among the noise, and feel the unique charm of Sweden's oldest fishing village.
– The food. Gullholmen and Hermanö have a few restaurants and cafes that serve good food and drink, with local ingredients and flavors. You can eat fish, seafood, meat or vegetarian, as well as coffee or drink something good. You can choose between simpler or finer options, depending on what you fancy. No matter what you choose, you will have a culinary experience in an archipelago environment.
– Stroll on Gullholmen among all the small houses that are surrounded by noise. Gullholmen is Sweden's oldest fishing village, and has a unique charm with its narrow alleys, white houses and blooming gardens.
- Visit The skipper's house and Stenstugan. These are two museums that tell about the history and culture of the islands. The skipper's house shows what life was like for sailors and fishermen in the past, while The stone cottage shows how stonemasons worked with granite from Hermanö.
- Enjoy The pilot's view. This is a nice place to look out over Bohuslän and the archipelago. It is located on a hill on Hermanö, and has a viewing platform with information boards.
The restaurants at Gullholmen
If you get hungry or fancy something good, there are a few restaurants and cafes to choose from on Gullholmen and Hermanö. Here are some of them:
– Gullholmen harbor café. This is a simpler restaurant located behind the ferry quay at Gullholmen. Here you can eat sandwiches, salads, pies, ice cream and coffee.
– Gullholmen Tavern. This is a slightly nicer restaurant located by the harbor at Gullholmen. Here you can eat fish, seafood, meat and vegetarian food, as well as drink wine and beer.
– Hermanö Sea veranda. This is a modern and elegant restaurant located by the water on Hermanö. Here you can eat gourmet food with local produce, as well as enjoy the beautiful view.
This is how you get to Gullholmen.
If you want to go to Gullholmen or Hermanö, you can take ferry 382 from Tuvevik. The ferry runs several times a day, and takes about 20 minutes to Gullholmen and 25 minutes to Hermanö. You can see the timetable here: https://www.vasttrafik.se/farja/382/. To get to Tuvevik, you can take bus 371 from Ellös or Varekil. The bus also runs several times a day, and takes about 15 minutes from Ellös and 25 minutes from Varekil. You can see the timetable here: https://www.vasttrafik.se/buss/371/. If you come by car, you can park it at the Tuvevik ferry terminal. There is both short-term parking and long-term parking, but keep in mind that it will be cheaper if you park your car further away from the ferry.
Hope you have gained some inspiration to visit Gullholmen and Hermanö. There are really two gems in Bohuslän that are worth a visit!
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