PORT CUTTER

Hamneskär - with Paternoster lighthouse as a pearl in the sea band

Have you ever dreamed of visiting a small island in the archipelago, where you can enjoy nature, history and the sea? Then Hamneskär outside Marstrand is a perfect destination for you. Here you can read more about what awaits you at this charming place.

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Short story about the place

Hamneskär is a small island located approximately 15 kilometers west of Marstrand. The island has been a lighthouse since 1886, when the famous Paternoster Lighthouse was built on the island's highest point. The lighthouse is still in operation and is one of Sweden's most famous lighthouses. The island also has an exciting history that includes shipwrecks, smugglers and royal visits.

Overnight can take place at Hamneskär

If you want to stay overnight on Hamneskär, you have only one option – Pensionat, which was started up again in 2020 by some zealots. Here you can feel at home in the maritime environment. The guesthouse also has its own boat that picks up and drops off guests at Rönnäng and Marstrand.

If you don't want to or there is no available accommodation at Hamneskär, then a good alternative is to book in Marstrand Sea Hotel, Grand Hotel or Nautical Hotel. From there you can easily take a day trip out to Hamneskär. On Marstrand there are many different activities that you can also do, apart from the visit to Hamneskär and Paternoster lighthouse.

You can hike, but not that far

Hamneskär is not that big, but it is still possible to walk around the island and discover its beauty. You can follow the marked trail that takes you around the entire island in about an hour. On the way you can see different plants, birds and rock formations. You can also go up to the lighthouse and enjoy the fantastic view of the sea and the archipelago.

You should bathe, but think about where.

It can be a bit difficult to swim on Hamneskär, because it is deep and current around the island. But inside the small harbor it is shallower and calmer, and there is a bathing ladder that you can use. If you are staying at the guesthouse, you can also borrow a rope ladder that you can hang from the rocks. It's healthy and fresh water so far out in the ocean strip, so it's a refreshing experience to take a dip.

Another tip is to check out bathing spots via the website badkartan.se

Advice on what to do

A must when visiting Hamneskär is to visit the Paternoster lighthouse. It is open to the public during the summer, and you can climb the tower and see how the lighthouse works. You can also see an exhibition about the island's history and the lighthouse's importance to shipping. The view from the lighthouse is absolutely incredible, and you can see as far as Denmark on a clear day.

There are restaurants, but not many

If you get hungry on Hamneskär, there is a small café and a restaurant that serves delicious food from the sea. The café is open during the day and offers coffee, sandwiches and ice cream. The restaurant is open in the evening and serves three-course menus with ingredients from local producers. You can choose between fish, seafood or vegetarian, and enjoy the food in the beautiful dining room or on the terrace overlooking the harbour.

This is how you get to Hamneskär

If you have your own boat, you can get to Hamneskär by following the chart and docking in the small harbor. If you don't have your own boat, you can get to Rönnäng or Marstrand by car, bus or train, and then book a place on the guest house's boat, which runs several times a day during the high season. The journey takes approximately 40 minutes from Rönnäng and 20 minutes from Marstrand.

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