Kapellskärs camping i Riddersholms naturreservat

Kapellskär's campsite is beautifully located in the Riddersholm nature reserve, with the coast and the Åland Sea just outside. We drove here on the first "proper" motorhome trip of the year and had a wonderful day in the Swedish nature.

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Kapellskärs camping in Norrtälje

We have been to Kapellskärs camping with the motorhome once before. It is a long time ago now, but the memory was positive and therefore it had to be here we went on this year's first motorhome trip with overnight stays and electric bikes. And we always remembered correctly! Kapellskär's campsite is fantastically located, enclosed by the Ridderholm nature reserve and with a short walk to the coast.

Kapellskärs camping i Riddersholms naturreservat

Kapellskär Camping is located by the sea in Norrtälje municipality. Right next to it is the ferry terminal, where Viking Line, Finnlines and DFDS Seaways, at least usually, depart with ferries to the east.

Pitches for motorhomes at Kapellskär campsite

A new feature of the campsite is that there are now 24 pitches on gravel, specially designed for motorhomes. This is a good place to stand, and you also have water and electricity directly at the site. In addition to these pitches, there are also regular camping plots, and of course you can also stand there.

READ MORE: Things to do in Norrtälje - the capital of Roslagen
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Good service and a ferry trip in the price

When you check in, you get a card that works for electricity and water, service centres and if you want to empty and clean the toilet cassette in a CamperClean machine. Really good!

Above all, we were pleased with the personalised treatment. The couple who run the campsite told us that they took over the operation five years ago. They have put a lot of work into refreshing the facility, and have really succeeded. At the moment, it was mostly Swedish guests, but usually there are also Germans, Dutch and Swiss.

The foreign guests are impressed by staying in the middle of a nature reserve, and hardly believe it when the owners tell them that a cruise with Viking Line Rosella to Åland is included in the price of the campsite (well, when it's not corona time of course). "Do you mean that a boat trip abroad is included? And it costs nothing extra?" Yes, that's actually the case!

Kapellskär hostel and guest harbour

Kapellskär's campsite also includes a hostel and guest harbour. The hostel is nostalgic for me (Helena). When I was in junior high and high school, I used to come here for theatre camps, sometimes for several weeks every summer because I was sometimes a camp participant and sometimes a camp leader for younger children. It's still nice here! The windmill that stands here is one of Sweden's largest preserved post mills, from 1772.

Right next to the hostel is Riddersholm Manor, which belongs to the parish of Rådmansö. In the Middle Ages there was a village here that was divided into two parts, Väster and Öster Sidö. In 1719 there were 14 farms, all of which were burned during the so-called "Russian ravages" in the same year. In 1720 Riddersholm Manor was built, although the current building was probably constructed later.

There is also a guest harbour on the waterfront that is run under the same auspices as the campsite and hostel.

Kapellskärs camping, vandrarhem och gästhamn

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What can you do at Kapellskär campsite?

The campsite has a mini-golf course as well as a boules pitch, volleyball court and football pitch.

If you go down to the water you can swim, depending on the weather of course, or maybe do some boating or water sports. We saw a group kite-surfing in the strong winds.

Those who wish can take a day trip with Rosella to Åland for the day. You can also choose to continue the adventure to Naantali in Finland or Paldiski in Estonia.

And of course you can discover the Riddersholm nature reserve! This is exactly what we did, except that we also snuggled up in the camper van and tinkering with electric bikes.

Riddersholm Nature Reserve

Riddersholm Nature Reserve is beautifully situated on the Åland Sea. The nature here is characterised by coastal life, and at this time of year it is also wonderfully green.

There are also two nature trails: Kvarnuddens and Eknäsets nature trail. Together these cover a distance of around 3 kilometres, and along the way there are various information signs telling you about nature or historical events.

READ MORE: Bogesund Castle in Vaxholm - and the Great Castle Tour.
READ MORE: Vikingabyn Storholmen - open-air museum in Roslagen.

Kvarnudden nature trail

We first went around the Kvarnudden nature trail. This path is 1.6 kilometres long and we had electric bikes so it should have been quick, but when you stop and read all the signs and look for flowers, it still takes a little time. On this route we learnt about everything from trench pits to barnacles and special plants.

One plant that we read about when we got home was tufted saxifrage, which is apparently found nowhere else in Sweden but here. It is also found in Ukraine, so it is believed that it was the Russians who brought it here during the "Russian ravages" in the 18th century.

The Eknäset nature trail

We continued around the "Eknäset nature trail", which is 1.3 kilometres long, and where you can keep an eye out for a "curious ferret". This trail might have been better suited for walking than cycling, but you have to have some challenges!

Nyfikna illern i Riddersholms naturreservat

All in all, it was a really nice trip, and we can highly recommend an excursion here! Have you been to Kapellskär Camping or Riddersholm Nature Reserve? Please tell us about your experiences!

Facts about Kapellskär Camping

Address: Fiskarängsvägen 8, 760 15 Gräddö.
Location: In the Riddersholm nature reserve, just next to Kapellskär harbour, in the municipality of Norrtälje.
Camping plots: 24 motorhome pitches with electricity and fresh water and 48 camping pitches with electricity.
Cottages: 12 camping cabins with 2-4 beds. There is also a hostel with 31 beds in 8 rooms.
Service: Service building with toilets and showers, kitchen, grey water drainage, automatic emptying of the cassette toilet in CamperClean and reception with mini-lives and ice cream.
Activities: Miniature golf, playground, boules court, volleyball court and football pitch. The camping fee includes a gift voucher for Viking Line Rosella and free bus transfers to and from the Viking Line terminal.
Opening hours: Open seasonally from 24 April to 27 September (2020).
Prices: We paid 295 SEK for a motorhome pitch with electricity during the high season 2020. For a complete price list see the campsite's website.
More info: You can find more information at www.fritidsbyn.se

Facts about Riddersholm Nature Reserve

Address: 760 15 Gräddö
Size: 650 hectares
Formation: 1998
Municipality: Norrtälje municipality
More info: You can read more at Archipelago Foundation website

Nature in the Riddersholm Nature Reserve

Nature: Meadows, deciduous and coniferous forests
Plants: Hazel, tufted saxifrage, cowslip, great nunwort, meadow-grass, crabgrass, wild garlic, nettle, woodland bells, woodland nettles, common ragwort and many other flowers.
Birds: Cormorant, greenfinch, mute swan, lapwing, common tern, white-tailed eagle, eider, grey gull, herring gull, laughing gull and others.

Services at Riddersholm Nature Reserve

Information: There are information points at all car parks and at Kapellskär harbour.
Toilet: Bajamaja is located at Kapellskär harbour and at the Södersundet marina.
Food service: There is an ice cream parlour at the marina and at the campsite in the summer. There is a restaurant and café in the terminal in Kapellskär. There is also a café at Kvarnudden on Gräddö, 6 km from the reserve.
Shop: There are mini-markets at the campsite. The next shop is Gräddö Skärgårdshandel, 6 km from the reserve.
Accommodation: You can stay at Kapellskär's campsite, in the hostel or in simple cottages overlooking the water.

Activities at Riddersholm Nature Reserve

Hiking/walking: There are 19 kilometres of well-marked trails.
Cycling: You can cycle in several places in the reserve. Bicycles are also available for hire at the campsite.
Bada: There are bathing areas on the shore of Furusundsleden in Mimmi Bay, Skärholmsbryggan and Kapellskär beach.
Go boating or surfing: You can kite surf here, for example, or go out on a leisure boat or canoe.
Bird watching: If you want to go bird watching, you can do it here.
Visiting places of interest: You can visit Kapellskärsudden with the Estonia Cross and a carving from 1752 when King Adolf Fredrik was here with his fleet. There is also a small boatman's village here, which is a local history museum.

Rules in the Riddersholm Nature Reserve

In addition to general regulations and prohibitions in laws and regulations, it is prohibited in the Riddersholm Nature Reserve to:

Destroying or damaging rock, soil or stone by drilling, hacking, blasting, carving, digging, painting or the like.
Breaking branches, felling or otherwise damaging living or dead trees and shrubs or otherwise damaging vegetation by digging up plants such as rice, herbs, mosses or lichens.
Disturbing wildlife (e.g. climbing trees, catching or killing mammals, birds, reptiles or amphibians).
Bring an unleashed dog.
Camping for more than two consecutive days.
Fire other than in a designated area.
Riding or cycling other than on constructed roads.
Parking other than in a designated area.
Setting up a caravan or mooring a boat. However, boat storage may take place within the area of the marina.
Put up a sign, poster or similar or make an inscription.

How to find Kapellskär campsite and Ridderholm nature reserve

Car: Drive towards Norrtälje and turn off towards Kapellskär.
Parking: Parking is available at the green path, the marina and at Kapellskär harbour.

All our top tips about Sweden! Click on the image

READ MORE: Campsites and pitches in Uppland

14 Comments

Add yours →

Solan says:

It seems to have happened a lot since we were there with the old motorhome in the 90s! Was a dedicated jogger at that time, incredibly nice and many trails to choose from.
But it will be a memory, nowadays I skip campsites. There are so many new smaller sites to discover. ?☘

09 June 2020 - 7:48

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Yes, we are going to look for nice places to park as well. Any good tips for us?
  
  09 June 2020 - 10:37
  
  - Solan says:
    
    Hållnäs, northern Uppland. There are some new things there. Ängskär, not the campsite but out on a long narrow peninsula nearby. There is a fishing village there. You can also check out Älvkarleby.
    You may have to google, sitting on the commuter train and swaying! Continue to have a cosy trip. We pick up ours on Monday!
    ???☘
    
    09 June 2020 - 18:40
    
Matts Torebring says:

We have not stayed at Kapellskärs Camping, we slept one night in the car park for the boats. We walked up to the campsite and admired it. As a campsite, it is certainly one of the best, small-scale, in the middle of nature and close to the boats. It looked really nice, although we did not visit the place.

09 June 2020 - 8:17

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Yes, we like this type of campsite. Personalised and with nature all around.
  
  09 June 2020 - 10:38
  
Seija Viitamäki-carlsson says:

A full description of this campsite

09 June 2020 - 8:55

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  🙂
  
  09 June 2020 - 10:38
  
Ditte says:

What fun that it was so successful. Have seen the sign in to the campsite when we travelled from here to Åland. (As for the ship that goes to Mariehamn / Åland from Kapellskär, it is the Viking Line's Rosella. Mariella goes from Stadsgården/Masthamnen to Helsinki).
I understand that there are many people from the campsite who are happy with their tickets and take a trip.
We have been to the Riddersholm nature reserve, but you can go there many times.
Thanks for the ride!

09 June 2020 - 9:05

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Of course it's Rosella! (Had written it in two places but Mariella in one, confusion. Thanks!)
  
  09 June 2020 - 10:39
  
Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:

Then I guessed wrong thought you were at Nickstabadet-Nynäshamn. But is there no caravan camping Kapellskär?
But it looks like a nice campsite you ended up at.

09 June 2020 - 13:33

bmlarstravellingblog says:

What a cosy campsite and in the middle of the nature reserve.
These smaller, family-run campsites are great.
You got some exercise when you took your bikes around the hiking trails... HA, HA!

09 June 2020 - 17:20

BP says:

What a large and beautiful campsite. Hope it goes well for the owners this summer where all the home stays. Wonderful pictures that Peter took with the drone:-)

09 June 2020 - 20:41

- Leif Klaar says:
  
  We are seasonal campers at the campsite and enjoy it very much peaceful and nice campsite refreshed last years and nice host couple can really be recommended.
  Regards /Leffe and Agneta
  
  11 June 2020 - 17:52
  
Lena - good for the soul says:

How nice and well-kept it looks. I have not been to the campsite, but have friends in Brevik which is a few kilometres ahead. Nice area!

Hug Lena

10 June 2020 - 6:16

Kapellskär campsite in the Riddersholm nature reserve

Kapellskärs camping in Norrtälje

Pitches for motorhomes at Kapellskär campsite

Good service and a ferry trip in the price

Kapellskär hostel and guest harbour

What can you do at Kapellskär campsite?

Riddersholm Nature Reserve

Kvarnudden nature trail

The Eknäset nature trail

Facts about Kapellskär Camping

Facts about Riddersholm Nature Reserve

Nature in the Riddersholm Nature Reserve

Services at Riddersholm Nature Reserve

Activities at Riddersholm Nature Reserve

Rules in the Riddersholm Nature Reserve

How to find Kapellskär campsite and Ridderholm nature reserve

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14 Comments

Solan says:

Helena says:

Solan says:

Matts Torebring says:

Helena says:

Seija Viitamäki-carlsson says:

Helena says:

Ditte says:

Helena says:

Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:

bmlarstravellingblog says:

BP says:

Leif Klaar says:

Lena - good for the soul says:

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