Stensund Guest Harbour in Stockholm Archipelago.

Stensund – A Hidden Gem in the Southwestern Archipelago.

Stensund lies in the southwestern parts of the Stockholm Archipelago, just around the corner from Trosa. From here, destinations like Arkholmen, Landsort, Askö, Fifång and of course Trosa are all within a few hours of sailing.

A high school by the Sea

Stensund Castle is not just a guest harbour. it’s also home to a Swedish “Folk High School”, where tuition is free and students only pay for literature, materials, and food. One of the most exciting courses offered (if you ask me) is a boatbuilding program that runs one to two years. Many of the wooden boats built are proudly displayed around the school grounds. The castle has a rich cultural history that is worth reading up on before visiting.

Arrival by Boat

We spent the previous night at Fifång, and since the forecast called for no wind the next day, we motored slowly to Stensund before lunch. The approach looked a little tricky, so we studied the charts carefully beforehand. Stensund’s website mentioned that free berths were marked with an “L,” but when we arrived we simply took the first available spot, paid via Swish, and reported our arrival to a staff member. He laughed and told us that the “L” system hadn’t been used for years and we were very welcome to stay with a big smile.

Kayaks and Memories

The kids immediately set off to explore the area by foot and dinghy. They tried treasure hunting with a fishing magnet from the bridges, though without luck. Emelie and I sat back and watched the colourful fleet of kayaks practising rescue techniques in the harbour. It brought back memories of my own kayaking days almost 20 years ago including a solo trip straight across the Baltic Sea. But as usual, that’s another story.

Wooden Boat Wonderland

The wooden boats built at the school were a delight to see. In the evening, boat tours were organised where the participants got to row these traditional craft, we enjoyed watching this from the cocpit of Red Line.

As the sunset approached, we sat in the cockpit and watched the navigational buoys light up, each with its own distinctive colour and blinking pattern. On the horizon, Landsort Lighthouse shone brightest, standing out as the most distant light still clearly visible to the naked eye. As the temperature fell, we retired back to the cozy cabin of Red Line and played some games.

Landsort on the horizon through the binocular

More Than Just a Harbour

Stensund itself offers a unique environment: sauna, quaint bridges, a camping area, a disc golf course, and even a restaurant. We weren’t sure whether the dinners there were open to the public or reserved for groups, but if you plan to visit, an email ahead of time will surely sort it out.

Exploring the mini islands

The next morning, we launched the dinghy and paddleboard to explore one of the many mini islands around Stensund. After a nice swim, we returned to the boat, prepped the sails and set course for our next and more vibrant summer stop – Trosa. We were certain we’ll be back to discover more of this hidden gem. If you enjoy quiet, unique, and simple places to explore, you’ll feel right at home in Stensund.