Nav | Garpahamnen, Hasslö

Garpahamnen is one of ARK56’s hubs. The hubs are where different trails intersect, making them a good place to start or end your adventure – or to swap mode of transport and continue exploring the Blekinge Archipelago by bike, kayak, boat, ferry or on foot.

Through the mainland or Aspö, you reach the delightful and culturally historic island of Hasslö. On foot, by bike, or through guided walks, you can experience the intriguing history and unique nature of Hasslö, in the interplay between the rather rugged west coast and the more sheltered east coast. Why not bring your bike on the ferry and go island-hopping! Take the opportunity to rent a kayak and explore the kayak trail that stretches from Kuggeboda on the mainland to Hasslö and Aspö.

The name of this harbour on Hasslö comes from garpar, an old term for Germans, and dates back to the era of the Hanseatic League in the fourteenth century, when the harbour was full of trading ships and herring fishing was big business. x000D x000D Hasslö has been connected to the mainland with a bridge via the Västra Hästholmen fort since 1964. If you are in a kayak, you can paddle your way through the protective canal, blasted in the early twentieth century. Hasslö was out of bounds for foreign citizens until 1998, and military police checks were a common sight on the Hasslö bridge.

Far from mass tourism, Hasslö is an oasis where you can find peace and tranquility—or as one resident put it—serenity. Here on “Little Hawaii”, ARK56 and the Blekinge Archipelago stretch out before you. Round the cape or headland, a unique environment awaits, shaped by nature, animals and people for thousands of years. Come and explore.