Nyckelviken Nature Reserve in Nacka is a popular outdoor area that offers beautiful nature, lovely views of the water and a fine manor house. The nature reserve is great for those who want to enjoy nature, and there are also a lot of activities for families with children.
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Key Bay Nature Reserve
Nyckelviken Nature Reserve is located on the shores of Saltsjön in Nacka, just outside Stockholm. Here, wild and wonderful nature meets, and yet it is so close to the city that from the cliffs you have a view of Djurgården, Lidingö and Fjäderholmarna.
A day in Nyckelviken Nature Reserve
We took the car to Nyckelviken nature reserve one day last week. We parked and started walking down towards the water. The first thing we noticed were the superfine the rubbish bins.
Stora Nyckelviken - Nyckelviken Manor
We then shortly came down to the manor house Stora Nyckelviken, which you can also see in the top picture. The mansion was built in 1743 as a summer residence for Herman Petersén, a director of the East India Company. In the 1760s, the "billiard wing" was built for the new owner, French ambassador Louis Auguste le Tonellier de Breteuil. Today it houses a café and conference and banqueting facilities.
The manor also has two red wings, stables, a barn, a garden and a small octagonal gazebo. One of the wings now houses the Nacka local history museum. On the shore of Saltsjön there is also a small 18th century property called "Lilla Nyckeviken".
Family activities in Nyckelviken Nature Reserve
We saw quite a few families with children in the nature reserve, and it's not hard to understand why. Various activities for children are sometimes organised here, such as pony rides and an agricultural school. There is also a playground and nice places to sit down and eat your own packed lunch.
Nyckelviken - lovely view of the water
One of the best things about this nature reserve is the view. Absolutely stunning! Standing by the steep cliffs and watching the seabirds circle around you, you feel like you're in the middle of the countryside. In fact, you're not far from the city at all.
Hiking trails and nature
There are two different exercise trails in Nyckelviken. The yellow trail (5100 m) is an unlit loop between Nyckelviken and Skuru. The blue trail (5700 m) is a slightly more demanding hiking trail with height differences and beautiful viewpoints.
We started on one trail, but then we ended up taking slightly different routes. I don't know if it's because we are inexperienced hikers, or if we just don't have enough discipline to stick to the same trail. Anyway, it was nice everywhere!
At one point we came down to a lovely little sandy beach. What you see on the other side, very close, is Fjäderholmarna.
There are plenty of birds in the nature reserve and there should also be frogs. We didn't see any, but maybe it's the wrong time of year to see them now?
Ravines in Nyckelviken Nature Reserve
There are two gorges in Nyckelviken Nature Reserve. We followed the path down through the Rosendal ravine, and it really felt like walking through a fairytale forest. A small stream runs in the centre of the ravine and huge deciduous trees rise all around. If you don't look up, you can stumble on gnarled roots and here and there you can see huge fallen tree trunks.
There is also another gorge, or rift valley, which has the dramatic name "Hell Hole". We didn't make it here, so this place is left for you to discover!
A nice day at Nyckelviken Nature Reserve
We had a really nice day in Nyckelviken nature reserve, with fantastic weather. The picture shows us on a rock in the reserve, with Fjäderholmarna and Stockholm in the background.
Have you visited the Nyckelviken Nature Reserve in Nacka? What did you think?
Facts about Nyckelviken Nature Reserve
- Size: 134 hectares
- Formation: 1990
- Municipality: Nacka municipality (Sicklaön district)
- Location: The nature reserve is bordered to the west by Jarlaberg and Bergs oljehamn, to the south by Värmdöleden and to the east by Skuru.
Animals and nature
- Nature: Hilly cultural landscape with forest, park, meadows, hayfields, cliffs and ravines.
- Trees: Hardwood forest with oak and linden, among others. There are also spruce, pine, birch, aspen, glass birch and holly.
- Plants: These include the "plague crow" which was used as a medicinal plant in the Middle Ages and the protected orchid Adam and Eve.
- domesticated mammals: Horses, cows, pigs, sheep, chickens and rabbits.
- Birds: Barn owls, wood pigeons and others.
Services in Nyckelviken Nature Reserve
- Raststuga: At the stables there is a heated picnic hut where you can eat your packed lunch.
- Rest areas and barbecue areas: There are several picnic and barbecue areas in the nature reserve.
- Serving: Nyckelviken Manor has a café and lunch, with certain opening hours.
Activities in Nyckelviken Nature Reserve
There are many activities for adults and children in Nyckelviken Nature Reserve. See Nacka municipality's website or the manor's website for current opening hours.
- Hiking and exercise: There are plenty of footpaths and two jogging tracks, the yellow track (5100 metres) and the blue track (5700 metres). There is also an outdoor gym.
- Cultural promenade: One of Nacka municipality's cultural walks is in the nature reserve. Can be found via the app "Nacka's nature map".
- Local history museum: The local history museum shows how people lived in the past. Admission is free.
- Dog walking: You can walk your dog, and there is also a dog park.
- Cycling: There are cycle paths.
- Pony rides: With leaders, on weekends.
- Horse hire: Ponies can be hired on certain days of the week.
- Little Agricultural School: Activity for pre-schools and primary schools.
- 4H club: The Nackaviken 4H club operates on Saturdays.
- Farmhouse: Farmhouse with animals, open at weekends.
- Display garden and greenhouse: Herb garden, orchard and more. Best viewed in summer. Adjacent is a greenhouse
- Playground: Playground available.
- Bath: Swimming from cliffs or small sandy beaches.
- Events: Various events are organised in the nature reserve. The biggest celebration is the Midsummer celebration, but there are also events at Christmas, May Day and Key Bay Day.
- Conference and party: At Nyckelviken Manor, Christmas dinners etc. are organised, and you can also book conferences or private parties.
Rules in the Nyckelviken Nature Reserve
Visitors to the area must follow the rules and regulations. It is not allowed to:
- Destroying or damaging fixed natural objects
- Damage trees, shrubs or other vegetation
- Disrupting wildlife
- Bringing an off-leash dog (except in the fenced-in dog park)
- Horse riding (except for organised pony rides)
- Camping
- Fires (except in designated barbecue areas)
Find the Nyckelviken Nature Reserve
- Car: Take road 222, exit towards Nacka centrum and turn left at the roundabout. Follow signs for Jarlaberg and Nyckelviken. Parking is available along Nyckelviksvägen.
- Bus: You can travel from Slussen to Jarlaberg and Ektorp. The nearest stop is Bråvallaplan. You can also get off at Ektorp centre or Nacka hospital, and walk from Ektorp school.
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Lena - good for the soul says:
But a frog was seen on the beach 😉 😉 😉 😉
Another great reserve for us to discover! The fact that you did not follow one and the same loop may have been because it was poorly labelled. We have noticed that this is quite often the case. It is very variable how easy it is to follow the trail. But then, to some extent, you need to be a bit observant as well. And it took a while for me to get used to it.
Hug Lena
07 April 2020 - 7:05
Helena says:
Haha ... yes, I missed the one on the beach! 😉 I'm not sure how clearly marked the trails were, because I don't know if we were paying enough attention ourselves. Have been to one more place after this, when we really tried to follow a trail, but missed and went wrong, haha, so yes, we are starting to learn that you have to look carefully!
07 April 2020 - 7:50
Liniz Travel says:
When were you there? We were there on Sunday. Hugs
07 April 2020 - 7:41
Helena says:
Saw your post, funny that we were there almost at the same time! But I'm not sure which day actually, all days go together now and are so similar ... It was probably a weekday last week.
07 April 2020 - 7:52
Lisa / let's go explore says:
I'm glad you liked my home reserve! My neighbourhood is directly adjacent and from the school and kindergarten they go under a road and are there - 50 meters. So yes we are there the whole family many times a week. Love it! Never get tired of the forest, the rocks, the pastures and everything. Do not tell anyone else 😉 haha
07 April 2020 - 8:14
Helena says:
Yes, you live there! Lovely to have this reserve right next door, super nice! Haha, will not tell more, only for those who read the blog 😉.
07 April 2020 - 17:23
Ditte says:
Glad that you have also been here and enjoyed it. There are so many nice nature areas around Stockholm.
We were there a couple of weeks ago and cycled. We go here from time to time. Fun with the different hiking trails and that the area is so varied. Doesn't feel very crowded either. Sometimes we have also walked here from Nacka beach. A very nice way to go.
07 April 2020 - 9:48
Helena says:
Yes, there are indeed many great areas! We take the opportunity to discover several of them now. Otherwise, we are just at home, so we need to get out!
07 April 2020 - 17:23
diana's dreams says:
Looks cosy hugs
07 April 2020 - 11:36
bmlarstravellingblog says:
We knew there was quite a lot of nature around Stockholm, but we had no idea there were so many wonderful areas and maybe there will be even more in the future.
There are so many people out in the countryside here that the small car parks at hikes and nature reserves are overcrowded.
07 April 2020 - 17:37
BP says:
I haven't visited Nyckelviken yet, but it's beautiful! The fun thing about walking and not following trails is that you are often surprised by things you did not expect. Only if you have some local knowledge that you can find your way back to where you parked the car;-)
The rubbish bin is probably the nicest and funniest I've seen! It really fits into the neighbourhood.
07 April 2020 - 19:51
Lena in Wales says:
I have actually been there with my son and grandchildren, playing and having coffee.
Beautiful!
Wasn't it there that the soap opera Separate Worlds was filmed? I think I just heard this on a podcast. I think Kalle Lind did it wrong.
Happy Easter! Pasg hapus!
08 April 2020 - 11:17
Ann-Louise Paulsson says:
How nice it looks! Unfortunately, I have not been there but William has been there several times with both preschool and school.
09 April 2020 - 22:01
Annie says:
I was there at the beginning of the year for the first time, very nice and easily accessible nature reserve. Will probably be more trips there in the future 😀.
18 April 2020 - 10:28
Gertie says:
Absolutely wonderful memories! I lived a stone's throw from here and did my five kilometre morning run almost every day for eight years, before we moved further out, to Värmdö. Nyckelviken has forever a big place in my heart and not least Herrgården, where our best friends had their wedding party. Thank you so much for reliving sweet moments!
25 April 2020 - 21:04