On the Sadelinleden

Mariehamn - Skarpnatö (Kattby)

The trail starts in Skarpnatö in the north of the main island "Fasta Aland". After arriving in Mariehamn, you walk from the port to the bus-station in town near the library. You have to take the bus nr. 1 direction "Eckerö" till stopp "nr. 111 Kattby". From here you need a taxi. I didn't reach a taxi, so i started my hike in Kattby.

Kattby - ca. Byttbölä: about 15km

From the busstation you follow some meters the road and turn later in front of the store "Hugo" on the left handside in to the path.

The trail is well signed with white signs, white arrows, or white points on rocks, trees or on the ground. 

Soon you reach the Marsund with some Mökkis and a beach. In the high-season (summer) there might be a lot of people. I was there in may, first week with good wheater, and I did see almost nobody... 

After passing the beach, the trail goes in to the forest and you climb up some meters to reach for the first time the famous "Rappakiwi" - an old red granite. The scenery is very special. You walk on that rocks between some trees and climb down again to follow the trail back in the forest. 

You walk along the ocean again, and have to be carefull that you see the sign which turns left in to the forest. The way goes up thru the forest and again on some great rocks. The scenery is so impressive it's almost like in a dry, quite area somewhere out in the wilderness. And it's true, you are in the wild, but Aland is so small, you can catch quickly a road. 

Later you cross in Hällesby Sand a Holiday-Village. If you head out from Skarpnatö you could for example sleep there. Check the opening-times before...

You go a little bit on the road again and pass again on some small villages.

I put up my tent near to Byttbölä on a lichen-area on some rocks. In Scandinavia you can sleep where-ever you want, but never leave any traces behind you! 

Byttbölä - ca. Torrbolstad (about 20km)

The trail follows again a part on the road and then on meadows. After a while you will cross a famous bridge which was used for the post-transport a long time ago. 

It is nice to walk along birches and again thru some small villages. 

Palsböle is a lovely little village with some nice houses and an immense medieval church called "St. Michael", which you may like to visit... Also a huge windmill is there and an information-sign. There isn't any other information, just this sign with the map. 

Later you climb up a road, and then the path turns on the right side in the forest again. It is great to walk again on some rocks and you arrive on a point where you can climb on a look-out. The view over the landscape is wonderfull! 

Near to the ocean there is a lot of wind, so be prepared to take enough warm clothes with you...

Torrbolstad - Höckböle (about 20km)

You continue the trail along the raid and then it turns on the right side. You cross again some small villages and come in an area where the trail isn't very well prepared. The trail goes stright right up between some fir trees! It's important to follow the trail, because the view on the hill is marvelous! You can sit on the rocks and make a break...

The trail descend again and goes thru meadows and moors. The moor is quite scary but nice to discover, till Höckböle. The end is an other information-sign near the bus-station. You could continue about 7 km to a famous hotel-resort in Havsvidden... Or you could continue to Geta (about 4km) to buy food or anything. Or you just stay like me somewhere in Höckböle with the tent eat dinner and go back the next day by bus.

Höckböle - Mariehamn

Be careful with the busses, they don't drive all the time, normally just 3 or 4 times a day. And if you want you can directly go to the ferry port. Make sure you check that before. Or you stay an other night in Mariehamn, which is absolutly worth it! A very nice little city!!

Tourist Info

If you need other information or a map of the Sadelinleden, I recommend hardly the very friendly Aland Tourist Information: Storagatan 8, Mariehamn. They help you in any way and replay also very quick via mail: info@visitaland.com Tel: +358 (0)18 24 000!