Skarpö

Pass by Vaxholm Fortress (Vaxholms Fästning) dating back to the 1500s and built by King Gustav Vasa. Located between Vaxholm and Rindö, was used to defend Stockholm. Pass by Norrhamn with traditional fishing cottages located in the north harbor on Vaxholm. Don’t miss also museum about fishing history of Vaxholm and summer cafe Hembygdsgården known for its homemade cakes and pastries. Unlike the rest of the route, traffic on Rindösundet between Skarpö and Rindö is low. There might be some private motorboats but for sure no ferries and bigger vessels.

If you are planning picnic and swimming there is nice sandy beach on northeast side of Rindö as well as a public jetty on southeast side of Skarpö.

Oxdjupet

Once you reach with your kayak the east side of Skarpö, you will see the strait called Oxdjupet. Oxdjupet is a narrow, deep strait between Rindö and Värmdö that has been one of the main routes into Stockholm since ancient times. The views here are stunning and spectacular! The green, lush hill of fortress Oskar Fredriksborg and the passenger ferries passing by the narrow water channel.

The strait Oxdjupet was also used by the country’s enemies, prompting King Gustav Vasa in 1549 to make the channel so shallow that all ships heading to Stockholm had to take the route via Kodjupet and the heavily fortified Vaxholm instead. This depression was maintained until 1876, when a new strong fortress was built on the eastern cape of Rindö. In 1876, the first clean-up was carried out and more have been done since then. 

Byviksfortet

It is worth taking a break to stretch your legs and visit fortifications on Rindö. Byviksfortet, also called 8:e batteriet, is an older defence facility on Rindö in the municipality of Vaxholm. The fort was built in 1897-1903 to prevent an intrusion through the Oxdjupet, which was deepened in the 1870s after Vaxholm Fort was condemned for defence purposes. The fort was located just northeast of the Oskar-Fredriksborg fortress and was part of the so-called Vaxholm Line. The fort was blasted into the primeval rock inside deep trenches in the shape of a triangle and equipped with 12 cm and 57 mm cannons in the armoured turrets and flank galleries.

Plan your route according to your skills and weather forecast. You are responsible for conducting proper behaviour according to the traffic rules.