Runnö: Forest Trails and Island History

Runnö is a destination for travelers who want to make forests, water and traces of a long island history the focus of their visit. Several walking trails lead through the forest to the water; archaeological remains and the settlements of Sörgården and Norrgården add a rich cultural history to the natural landscape. When planning your trip, getting there is key: Runnö is accessible only by private boat. The following highlights show which themes shape your stay on the island.

Forest Trails and Landscape

On Runnö, several walking trails lead through the forest to the water. The landscape around Runnö and the surrounding small islands lies in a transitional zone: to the south is the moraine archipelago landscape, and to the north the crystalline bedrock archipelago landscape. The island’s sandstone also tells a story that reaches far back in time. It formed around 600 to 500 million years ago during the Cambrian period.

The trails and the geological background offer different perspectives on Runnö: one leads through the forest to the water, while the other stretches far back into the history of the Earth. If you choose Runnö for its nature and landscape, you can explore these themes separately without losing sight of the historic settlement landscape.

Tomtningar and Early Fishing

The largest group of prehistoric structures known as Tomtningar along the Kalmar Strait is found on Runnö. These are low stone house foundations with simple superstructures, used during seasonal fishing. Most of the Tomtningar on Runnö are in the northern part of the island, within Långgloviken and Nättlevik. Simple buildings there probably served as overnight shelters for fishermen associated with the earlier summer herring fishery. The proposed function of these buildings remains an interpretation; the concentration of Tomtningar in the north is a separate fact.

Other historic traces include old boat landing sites. Runnö was first mentioned around the year 1300 in a sailing description; the island has had a permanent population since at least the Middle Ages. The island’s livelihoods included eel fishing, which was the most important source of income on Runnö, and berry picking, which was an important source of income for women and children.

Sörgården, Norrgården and Building Styles

At the beginning of the 19th century, the buildings on Runnö were relocated. The buildings around Norrgården were moved farther north, and those around Sörgården farther south; the old village site lay between the two present-day settlement clusters. Development is concentrated in these two villages on the western side of the island.

In Sörgården, a linear settlement lies by the water. The boathouses are arranged first along the jetties and shore, with the houses behind them. Barns and hay sheds stand east of the main village street. The overhangs on one gable end of the boathouses are striking: some are as large as the main room of the boathouse itself. The Holkkvarn windmill stands on Kvarneholmen at the entrance to Sörgården harbor and is a landmark visible from far out at sea.

Getting There and Planning Your Visit

Runnö is accessible only by private boat. Sörgården has a public landing for arriving boats. Check the condition of the landing before setting out. Also note the precise seasonal restriction for Runnö Rödskär: access is prohibited there from April 1 to July 10. This rule applies to Runnö Rödskär.

Discover more destinations: Gullabo, Rugstorp.

Return to the main travel overview: Kalmar.