Roslagsleden section 7: Penningby - Vigelsjö

The seventh stage of the Roslagsleden offers a rural feel and views of both lake and sea bays. You hike in the ancient routes of the Vikings and the stage ends in Norrtälje with its pleasant selection of restaurants, shops and accommodation.

The stage starts at Penningby Castle and continues in the castle avenue behind the castle with a view of the castle park.

The Roslagsleden has had a temporary stretch since 2021 due to landowner issues and therefore the trail follows the heavily trafficked road 276 for 3.5 kilometers before it turns off towards Lönsvik onto small roads again. Norrtälje Municipality is working on a solution and safer routing of stage 7. It is recommended to take the bus between the Penningby Castle and Gläntan bus stops for a safer trip.

In Lönsvik, the trail goes through the cottage community and is peppered with several ancient remains that testify that you are hiking in the ancient shipping routes of the Vikings.

Troll forests surround you as you turn off and move on the steep slopes next to Kyrksjön. Here you can make a short detour to the rest area with a view of the lake. There are benches here and if you have sharp eyes you can see the remains of the ancient castle from the Iron Age on Borgberget on the other side of the lake. At that time there was a 175 meter ring wall around the ancient castle.

The hike then continues to Frötuna where you can make a short detour to Frötuna Church, where the oldest parts date back to the 12th century.

The trail takes you on to Norrtälje where there is a wide range of restaurants, accommodation, shops, activities and events.

On the way into the city you pass the villa area in Kvisthamra and Kvisthamrabacken, where there is a rest area with a fireplace next to the ski slope. At Kärleksudden you get sea view and can take a dip from the sandy beach or visit Borgmästarholmen where there is a fireplace. The trail then follows the promenade into the city center and further along the Norrtäljeån to end in Vigelsjö next to Lommarbadet. There is also a campsite here for those who want to spend the night.

Norrtälje has a rich history, the city received its city privileges in 1622, here was, among other things, a rifle factory. Large parts were burned down in the Russian fortifications in 1719. 18th-century architecture can be found at Lilla Torget with the Wallinska gårdarna and the Town Hall on Stortorget. During the 19th century, Norrtälje was known for its beneficial mud and was one of the Baltic Sea's most popular seaside resorts.

Detour to Länna Church

The old stretch of Roslagsleden went through Länna and Fägla. It is nice to make a detour to the sights along the former route.

In Länna Church, from the 14th century, there are choir walls with Gothic paintings that are among the oldest murals in the county. At the church pier there is a church boat and on the shore of Kyrksjön you will find Nils Ferlin's poet's cottage, the cottage that was the author's residence in the village in the 1940s.

At Länna Old Rectory you can take a cultural historical journey from 1703 to 1959. Next to the rectory is the octagonal "Silverdasset", with stained glass windows. Through the door you enter the three-bay secret house, built in 1916 by the vicar Carl Silwer for the visit of Archbishop Nathan Söderblom.