Swedish High Coast
The High Coast between Härnösand and Örnsköldsvik is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because the land is still rising after the Ice Age. The region links fishing villages, viewpoint mountains and Skuleskogen National Park.
- Region
- Västernorrland, Sweden
- UNESCO
- 2000 (extended with Kvarken in 2006)
- Start / end
- Härnösand / Örnsköldsvik
- Best season
- Summer to early autumn
What should you know before visiting Swedish High Coast?
No motorway tolls or vignettes expected for a car.
- The land still rises by about 8 mm a year. At Skuleberget the ancient shoreline lies about 286 m above sea level.
- The Swedish right of public access does not extend to motorhomes. Parking is allowed only on roads and in car parks, not off-road, on beaches or on meadows.
- Setting out a table, chairs or an awning counts as camping. That usually needs the landowner's permission or a campsite or designated pitch.
- Skuleskogen National Park has the Slåttdalsskrevan canyon and the Slåttdalsberget viewpoint. Motor vehicles are not allowed in the park; Naturum Höga Kusten lies nearby.
The drive
The High Coast stretches from Härnösand in the south to Örnsköldsvik in the north, with Kramfors in between. The High Coast Bridge, Högakustenbron, crosses the Ångermanälven river. Typical features are flat-topped mountains, boulder fields and inlets cut off from the sea. Well-known places are the fishing villages of Norrfällsviken, Bönhamn and Rotsidan, the island of Mjältön (236 m, Sweden's highest island) and the islands of Ulvön and Trysunda. Boats to the island of Högbonden, with a former lighthouse, leave from Bönhamn.
Camping
The Off-Road Driving Act bans motor vehicles off-road, including on beaches, pastures and meadows. Parking overnight is possible where parking is allowed, without damaging land or obstructing traffic. Near houses, ask the owner first. Rest areas usually allow up to 24 hours, and municipalities may set their own rules. Campsites and designated motorhome pitches are the simplest choice; in Skuleskogen National Park motor vehicles are banned and tents are allowed only at designated sites.
FAQs
When is the best time to visit the High Coast?
The sources name no fixed season. Summer to early autumn usually suits hikes and islands. Check island ferry times and campsite opening times beforehand.
May I park a motorhome on the beach?
No. Beaches count as off-road terrain, and the Off-Road Driving Act bans motor vehicles there, even with the landowner's permission. Use signed car parks or designated pitches.
Why is the High Coast on the World Heritage List?
Because of the land uplift after the last Ice Age, which was especially strong here. It was inscribed in 2000 and extended in 2006 with Finland's Kvarken Archipelago, under a geological criterion.
