The day after Finnhman, I decided to go to Utö, a bigger island south of Stockholm. I had been looking for two typical islands of Stockholm’s archipelago, and I had been well advised. I met deers, which are supposed to be “domestic” if I believe what the guide told us in Skansen zoo, but domestic in the way that they that run away if they see you at 200m, barking like dogs! I had also the opportunity to see swans on the sea, flying geese, and hundreds of birds I couldn’t identify! Of course, you need to take a train, a bus and a boat from Ärsta (more info on my last post), but it’s really worth the effort, as you will totally disconnect from the city and discover a characteristic landscape. Only for nature and animal lovers!
I left the boat at Spränga and walked North following the coast.
I then followed the trail inside the forest, up to the windmill and the mines and there I decided to go to the South-eastern coast following Rävstavik signs.
I hoped I could go up the mill in order to enjoy a panoramic view, but it was fully locked. It may be possible to visit it in the peak season.
It is said that those iron mines are the first of Sweden. Of course they are no more in use, that’s why it is now a lake.
Once I was on the coast, I left the track and walked north on the rocks until Kroka. I suppose that it is because it was still Spring, but I haven’t met anybody for hours.
My first companions in hours!
I finally arrived at the Northern point of the island. I could have avoid this bend as the trail was long and not so interesting as the south-eastern coast.
As I was hurrying up to go South to the medieval town of Gruvbryggan (don’t ask me to pronounce it!!), I had the good surprise to discover two deers at a reasonable distance. I suppose that the wind was with me, as they didn’t notice me at first and it let me time to prepare the camera. I definitely need to buy a telephoto lens as mine is 20-70 and I had to crop the photos so that you could see the animals!
When they finally discovered me; they run away barking like dogs and I had the opportunity to see them jumping above a 3 meter fence.
The male noticed me long after the female, which is something usual among animals and humans 
I followed the signs to Gruvbryggan.
For the anecdote, I met two French girls in this ghost town and asked them where I could find Gruvbryggan. They told me that they had been here for a week, doing an internship in the hotel, and that they had heard about it, but they didn’t know where it was. When I finally met someone else, it turned out that it was in fact Gruvbryggan!!
The good thing with the boat is that you can relax and get warm drinking a hot chocolate on your way back after a full day outdoors! Don’ t forget that even if the weather is fine, the wind is quite cold in May.
