Gryt: Archipelago, Paddling and Culture

Gryt offers several distinct travel themes: the nature reserve and its islands, a paddling tour, a rose garden, a bathing area and cultural sites associated with the church. If you’re looking for a hotel in Gryt, you can first decide what you want your trip to focus on. The Grytstriangeln provides a framework for a multi-day tour; the garden, bathing area and churches each offer their own natural, recreational or cultural highlights.

Archipelago and nature reserve

The Gryt Nature Reserve is one of the archipelago’s gems in the Östergötland archipelago. Its seven sub-areas represent most of the archipelago’s habitats that are particularly worthy of protection. The access conditions for the islands are also important for planning your trip: they can only be reached by private boat. If you plan to visit these particular islands, factor in the need for a boat early in your planning.

Grytstriangeln: three days on the water

Grytstriangeln is a three-day paddling tour through the Gryt archipelago. It includes overnight stays on Harstena and Häradskär. Depending on the route you choose, the tour covers a total paddling distance of 40 kilometres. Duration and distance provide two different points of reference: the tour lasts three days, while the total distance depends on the route you choose. Seasonal conditions can vary, so take them into account when planning your tour.

The two archipelago experiences involve different planning considerations: for Grytstriangeln, duration and route choice matter; for the islands in the nature reserve, access by private boat is essential.

Church, chapel and art

Gryts kyrka stands on Kyrkön in Gryt, which was once surrounded by water. The sacristy of the former church has been preserved and now serves as S:t Olofs kapell. A large altarpiece by Pehr Hörberg is a prominent feature of the interior of Gryts kyrka. This offers two distinct starting points for a cultural focus: S:t Olofs kapell links the present-day use of a preserved part of the building with the former church; the altarpiece draws attention to the artistic design of the interior.

Roses and sculptures in Lilla Vik

Kärlekens Trädgård is located in Lilla Vik in Gryt. The garden has thousands of roses of more than 450 varieties and features life-size sculptures by Karola Messner. This brings together a botanical and an artistic focus: the variety of roses and the life-size artworks. If you’re interested in plants and sculpture, this combination offers a specific theme to consider when planning your trip.

Sandgärdets havsbad

Sandgärdets havsbad in Gryt has a sandy beach and a lawn for sunbathing. It also has a diving tower and jetties that separate deeper and shallower water. The bathing area is adapted for people with disabilities and has a ramp into the water. If the accessibility of a bathing area is important to your travel decision, these adaptations and the ramp are useful points of reference.

Grytstriangeln offers a clear timeframe for a trip focused on paddling. Roses, swimming and church-related culture appeal to different interests; for the islands in the nature reserve, access by private boat is essential. Use these differences to shape the focus of your trip and start your search for a hotel in Gryt.

Discover more destinations: Lövbäcken, Östra Ed, Ringarum, Skeppsgården, Valdemarsvik.

Back to the main travel overview: Valdemarsvik.