West Coast of Sweden, summer 2004

Stocken

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Climb on the rocks to enjoy the view

I think the best tip for Stocken, and for the whole area actually, is to just climb up those rocks!

I know that most of the time there are no clear trails that lead up the rocks, so maybe it doesn't look so inviting. But as the rocks are quite bare, climbing up them is not so hard to do. Make sure you are wearing some good shoes, so you won't slip off the rocks, and try to find your way to the top. From up there you have the most wonderful views over the sea and the surrounding landscape.

Enjoy the wonderful views

I hope my photo can tell you more than my words can. It is so hard to describe the feeling to be here. But I'll give it a try.

Imagine being here....

The sun is going down slowly, it is nice and warm outside. So calm weather, no wind at all, just the nice warmth of the evening sun. All you see is bare rocks and blue water in the distance. No people around, it's so nice and quiet. The only sound is the shrieking of the seagulls in the distance. Wonderful views. The sky is still blue, but there is already an orange-colour of the evening light reflecting on the rocks....

And watch the sun go down

Sunset at Stocken

One more turn of the head to the right. Aaah, there it is: the sunset! The orange colours are reflecting beautiful in the waters while the sun slowly goes down. But as beautiful as it is, maybe you better not stay up here too long. It might be hard to find your way back down the rocks in the dark ;-)

The sun has set

Sunset over Stocken

After a nice and quiet walk back from the rocks to the campground the sun has set. The sky over the village of Stocken is not orange anymore, the sky has now changed in different shades of pink.

The day is over, and so is this little tour around Stocken. I hope you enjoyed it! I'll certainly be back here, hopefully next year :-)

Tips and trips around Stocken

Gullholmen

As a last little tip I would like to say something about the surrounding area of Stocken. It is not only Stocken that makes this a beautiful area, there is lots more to see and do. Visit the picturesque villages of Gullholmen, Hällevikstrand or Mollösund for example. Or go for a nice round tour on the bike; do some hiking or go on a sailing trip. There are several boats that do tours and if you are lucky you might even spot some seals sunbathing on the rocks.

The West Coast

Area: Provinces of Bohuslän and Halland

The landscapes of the Västkusten (the West Coast) have been formed by the Inland Ice. Inland Ice is the name for the glacier ice that has been covering northern Europe during 100.000 of years, and nowadays only is present in Greenland and Antarctica. The ice has scraped the surface and grinded the landscape into smooth bare rocks. The some times wild sea has helped to wash the rocks clean. Inner parts of the provinces have lots of forests of birch and aspen.

Interesting points to see in the area are:

Stocken: small fishing village on the northwest coast of Orust (Island north of Göteborg), with a good camping place. I've been here in 2004 for the first time, and I've fallen in love with it right away.

Mollösund and Hälleviksstrand: two small picturesque villages at Orust Island.

Käringön: Small island outside Stocken.

Gullholmen: Oldest fishing village in Sweden, 11th century. Very picturesque.

Flatön: small island north east of Stocken known from lyrics by Evert Taube (the in Sweden well known and loved song writer).

Smögen: Nice fishing village that ten doubles its inhabitants in summer.

The beautiful island of Marstrand with its historic Carlsten Fortress

Tanum: Rock carvings, on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

Varberg: Medieval town with a nice beach and tourist area Getterön.

Koster Islands: Swedish most westerly islands with unusual nature.

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