Visit to Källskär (Kökar, Åland)

Posted on by sydolphindance

Källskär is a small island in the southern outer archipelago of Kökar, Åland. Despite being one of Kökar’s most popular excursion destination, this was actually our first visit to this unique island. 

The Källskar itself is a rugged island and exposed to the open Baltic Sea. However, it is the interesting cultural legacy, that makes the island so popular visiting destination.

In 1958, Baron Göran Åkerhielm established a summer residence on Källskär, building a log villa and Mediterranean‑style garden complete with classical sculptures like a Hermes statue originally from Florence. 

The artist and author Tove Jansson visited the island. Her time there inspired aspects of the Moomin stories, and she even painted a picture over the fireplace in the main villa

There’s no designated guest harbor on the island, but on the northern part of the island there is a natural harbour, where you can use your stern anchor and get your bowlines to the shore. However, we opted to use our bow anchor instead.
The island features the iconic “Källskärskannan”, a bowl‑shaped rock formation sculpted by glacial meltwater during the Ice Age, about 3 m high — best viewed by boat
The Witch’s Hut (in Swedish: Häxans hus) is a small, mysterious cabin located on the western shore of Källskär
Wooden trail goes through the rock fields on the western shoreline.
Hermes statue is a reproduction of Giambologna’s renowned “Mercury”