Stenskär

Stenskär (65.134695, 21.718469) means the "Stone Island". The island is equipped with a floating pontoon in borderline conditions that provides good shelter unless strong northwest winds. Stenskär is a very popular destination in nice summer days, because of its extended sandy beaches, lagoon type bay and picturesque fishermen cottages. Even though we are at the end of June, we are the only boat and visitors on the island. The stone pier has been prolonged by two floating pontoons over the years because of the land uplift. The connexion between the pontoons has been destroyed by some winter storm, making it challenging to get on land. A few hundred meters from there is a small concrete pier for tour and taxi boats.


For centuries, fishermen came to Stenskär for fishing herrings, trouts, white fish and salmon. There are twelve houses and boat houses on the island, but all now at a distance from the sea because of the land uplift (1 metre per century).

Stenskär is a natural reservation and part of the EU protected areas under the programme Natura 2000. There are couple of endemic grass species in this part of the Bottenviken.

Long sandy beaches on the southern side of the island

We were told that by hot sunny summer day, quite a few people would come from Piteå and around to bask on the sandy beaches.

Dry toilets, like on most of such islands
The seal fat cooking pot.
Stenskär village, and sauna.
The fish smoking places
Jacuzzi and sauna, once close to the sea shore

Getting there

Open location in Google maps

By commercial transport

XXX

By own boat

We accessed Stenskär in the peak of the season on the basis of the Svenska Kryssar Klubben and were the only boat at the pier. We therefore assume that the pier would be available in most circumstances for cruising boats passing around...

Stenskär

  • Coordinates: 65.134695, 21.718469

Useful links