Vikingaleden - Stage 5

Stage Description

Stage 5 runs from Sanda to Harg and offers a pleasant walk through typical Roslagen nature with alternating pine and mixed forest, sandy and tree-lined paths. Along the way you pass Hargshamn — a historic port town where iron was loaded onto ships. At Hargshamn the trail follows the streets before turning off towards Järnboden, a well-preserved building from the 1700s. Near Hargshamn lies the village of Braxenbol with charming old houses. The stage also passes the well-preserved Hargsgrundsten, a runestone along the trail.

South of Hargshamn the terrain transitions into a beautiful coniferous forest belt on the way to Harg. Near Hargshamn you can watch for sea eagles, especially when the trail opens towards the bay. Along the stage you may also encounter roe deer and moose.

Pilgrimage Tradition and History

Vikingaleden is the Swedish section of the St Olav Waterway, the pilgrimage route from Turku in Finland to Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim. Hargshamn was an important export port for iron from the Uppland ironworks during the 1700s and 1800s — a legacy that reminds us how these rural areas were connected to trading networks far beyond the region. The pilgrimage trail runs through a landscape shaped by both nature's and people's movements over centuries.

Practical Information

The trail is marked with Vikingaleden's rust-red markings and the St Olav Cross. Parking at Sanda farm. Stock up on supplies at Hargshamn (campsite with shop, open in summer) — there is no similar shop until Gimo. Accommodation is available at Hargshamn campsite and in Harg. More information and maps can be found at paxwalk.se and stolavwaterway.com.