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Ontica Cliffs, klipporna i Ontika

10 July 2019 / 17 Comments

The cliffs of Ontika in Estonia - and Oru Park in Toila

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In co-operation with the Estonian Tourist Board

The cliffs of Ontika in Estonia are dramatically steep rock faces that plunge 55 metres into the sea. It's hard to see them properly as they plunge too steeply downwards - but we've taken photos with drones! Just east of the dramatic cliffs is the beautiful Oru Park in Toila.

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We continue our motorhome journey in Estonia

We started our Motorhome holiday in Estonia in Tallinn. Then we continued eastwards along the northern coastline to Lahemaa National Park and to Rakvere Fortress. Most roads in Estonia are perfectly good and fine.

vägar i Estland, vid klipporna i Ontika

Sometimes Peter chooses to drive into the smallest roads that can only be found. Usually he has a reason for doing so. For example, it could be because he wants to drive his drone!

Husbil i Estland, vid klipporna i Ontika

The cliffs of Ontika in Estonia

The Ontika cliffs are a long stretch of coastline in Estonia, also known as the 'Ontika cliff coast'. Here, 55 metre high rock walls plunge straight down to the sea. When viewed from the air or from the sea, it looks almost unreal. In reality, it is a little more difficult to actually see what it looks like.

Klipporna i Ontika

If you walk towards the edge, all you see is ... an edge. The slope is very steep and there are no fences, so it's important not to get too close. The best way to see what it looks like is to use a drone or come from outside by boat.

Klipporna i Ontika

If you come by land, it is best to go to Valaste, which is just east of Ontika. Here there is a staircase so you can walk along the cliff edge down to the sea.

Valaste waterfall and hiking

When you stop in Valaste, you will find a car park, some information signs and an ice cream kiosk. Here you will also find the steep staircase down to the sea along the dramatic cliff face. You can then walk along the beach and take the same route back, or take a staircase further away.

Klipporna i Ontika i Estland

I (Helena) am afraid of heights and can't exactly say that I am beloved this staircase, but at least I managed to get both down and up. And yes, both the nature and the view are fantastic!

Trappa vid klipporna i Ontika
Peter vid klipporna i Ontika

On the way down you pass the Valaste waterfall. Once down by the sea you come to a rocky but nice sandy beach. We walked for a while along the water, but decided to go up the same way we came, instead of walking to the stairs that should be further away.

Oru Park in Toila

After the visit to the cliffs of Ontika, we drove on to Oru Park, fifteen minutes east along the kusteh.

This park once housed a magnificent castle built by the wealthy merchant Grigori Yeliseyev. In 1935, the castle and park were bought by three Estonian industrialists who gave it to President Päts as a summer residence. Unfortunately, the entire castle was destroyed during the Second World War. What remains today is a large and beautiful park where you can stroll around.

The park is wonderfully green, and the best thing about walking around here is simply the beautiful green nature.

Helena i Oru Park i Estland

Where the castle once stood there is still a beautiful castle park. The Estonian flag flies over hedges, flower beds and fountains.

There are a few places in the park that are marked with signs. The signs point a bit here and there and the park is big, so it's really not easy to find. On the other hand, it feels more important to have a nice time in the park than to find all the marked places. We had a really nice day in the Estonian nature!

Oru Park i Estland
Nõiametsa pavilion overlooking the sea
Grott i Oru Park i estland
Peter at the "Grotto"
Silver spring in Oru Park i Estland
"Silver spring cave"

Video from Ontika

All our top tips for Estonia. Click on the image!

Facts about the cliffs of Ontika

  • Geology: The cliffs of Ontika are the highest part of the more than 1100 kilometres long Baltic Cliff, which starts on Öland and ends at Lake Ladoga. A cliff is a mountain with steep walls.
  • Stretching: The limestone coastline of Ontika stretches from the village of Saka to the bay of Toila, over nearly 23 kilometres, which is the longest uninterrupted stretch of the entire cliff.
  • Find here: Drive to Valaste for the best viewpoint. It takes less than two hours to drive here from Tallinn. It takes about 45 minutes to drive from Narva.
  • Service: At Valaste there is a car park, information signs and an ice cream kiosk.

Facts about Oru Park

  • Find here: Oru Park is located in Toila. It takes about two hours to drive here from Tallinn and about 40 minutes from Narva.
  • Attractions: The park includes a castle park, a pavilion (Nõiametsa Pavilion) overlooking the sea, grottos (rock formations popular during the Renaissance) and the Silver Spring Cave. Above all, the park contains beautiful nature.
  • Other activities in Toila: Toila has a long sandy beach and a large spa.
  • Camping: Very close to Oru Park there is a large campsite called Camping Männisalu. There are both cottages and pitches for motorhomes and caravans.

Programme "Promoting Estonia as a Tourism Destination" is supported by European Union Regional Development Fund.

You might also like:

Things to do in Estonia - 30 sights and experiences Igelbäckens naturreservatIgelbäckens nature reserve in Sundbyberg. Stendörrens naturreservatStendörren nature reserve - with suspension bridges between islands Dalby Söderskog naturreservatDalby South Forest - Europe's smallest national park Fredriksdal i HelsingborgFredriksdal in Helsingborg - museums and gardens

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10 July 2019 6:00
Estonia
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Narva in Estonia - on the border with Russia

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Rakvere fortress in Estonia - history and spectacle

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14 Comments

Add yours →

  1. Solan says:

    What a delicious picture to start with!
    Those are your wheel tracks in the field, aren't they?
    ?? Peter probably likes off-road driving too...

    10 July 2019 - 9:32

    Reply

  2. Ama de casa says:

    Incredibly beautiful, but I am NOT going to tell Anders about those rocks... 😉.

    Keep up the good work!

    10 July 2019 - 9:55

    Reply

  3. Britt-Marie Lundgren says:

    What a wonderful day with cool nature and beautiful views. We can buy it straight off!

    10 July 2019 - 16:08

    Reply

  4. Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:

    Nice picture it gets when you take pictures from above. You seem to have a fantastic time

    10 July 2019 - 20:28

    Reply

  5. Lena - good for the soul says:

    Imagine how powerful nature can be sometimes. So beautiful and cool with those rocks.

    How sad about that castle that no longer exists. I can imagine that it looked a bit strange with all the "accessories" around a castle, but without a castle, as well.

    Hug Lena

    10 July 2019 - 21:32

    Reply

  6. BP says:

    What pictures! Love the photos of the rocks. So good with a drone, right! WOW I just say. So very professional!

    10 July 2019 - 22:22

    Reply

  7. Mickey says:

    Cool place and nice pictures! The motorhome is visible, but it has shrunk! And has become a tiny one! 🙂 Is it good? Better than Freedom? Will there be a text about Freedom vs Inspire?

    12 July 2019 - 8:56

    Reply

  8. Elisabeth says:

    So beautiful. We will probably have to add Estonia again to our future travel destinations. You have shown some places that we missed when we were in Estonia.

    15 July 2019 - 11:23

    Reply

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  1. Impressions from our motorhome trip in Estonia | FREEDOMtravel
  2. Lahemaa National Park in Estonia - nature and mansions | FREEDOMtravel
  3. Narva in Estonia - on the border with Russia | FREEDOMtravel

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