Vendelsöarna, Naturreservat

The Vendelsöarna nature reserve includes Vendelsö and six smaller islands. The islands are popular destinations for excursions, especially in the summer when you can swim on one of the islands' fine sandy beaches, snorkel and paddle. Don't miss visiting southern Vendelsö, where there is a fantastic rocky landscape with beach caves and rauk-like formations!

Vendelsö's many ancient remains testify to the fact that there have been people here for over 2,000 years. Cairns from the Bronze Age can be found on some hilltops, and on the north-west side of the island there are half a dozen tomtningar. Tomtningar are simple forms of house foundations that were probably used in connection with herring fishing in the Middle Ages.

For a long time, shipping and fishing were of great importance to those who lived on Vendelsö. Gradually, however, the inhabitants switched from making a living from shipping to farming. The mill, the old fields and the winding stone fences are some cultural and historical remains that bear witness to this.

Possibility to stay overnight

Camping is allowed in the reserve, but not for more than two days. Unfortunately, the hostel in Ludvigs gård is currently closed.

Open land and rare species

Most of Vendelsö consists of open land, heather and grass heaths with some juniper bushes. Various grasses and herbs grow here that have benefited from long-term grazing. Some of the more unusual species are cat's-foot, sedge, maidenhair and the orchid meadowsweet. Along the shoreline you will find rocky areas where herbs such as yellow buttercup, ground clover and lovage add color to the otherwise barren environment. There are fine views of the whole island. There is a good viewpoint if you follow the road from the hostel to the southwest.

On the beach meadow in the north, redshanks, oystercatchers and greater sandpipers nest, and in the shallow strait that separates Vendelsö from nearby Älmö, migrating waders usually rest during spring and fall migration. In the southeast, there are several wide-crowned oaks that show that the landscape used to be even more open. This type of canopy can only grow in open land where there is plenty of room to grow.

Every island is unique

There are six islands around Vendelsö, all used for summer grazing. Each island has its own character: Knarrholmen is flat and home to a white bird colony, up on Ustö there is a nice pond, on the west side of Brattö there are almost only mountains, Norstö has its own cherry grove, on Kidholmen there is a lot of shingle and finally Älmö with its magical sandy headland in the east. The islands can be reached by boat and all six islands have fine sandy beaches!

Diversity under the surface

The waters off the Vendelsöarna have different types of marine environments: eelgrass beds, open clay and sandy bottoms and seaweed-covered rocks. Small fish seek shelter among swaying eelgrass and seaweed during their growth. Larger fish also come here to feed on the smorgasbord of food. Shrimps, crabs, bristle worms, shells, mussels, snake and starfish and sea urchins are just a few examples of the rich wildlife below the surface. The shallow soft bottoms are valuable for flatfish.

Leaflets

Vendelsöarna Swedish Link to another website

Vendelsöarna English Link to another website.

Vendel Islands German Link to another website.