European sailors share their top-pick secluded cruising destinations
Discovering Hidden Gems: Northern Europe's Secret Sailing Spots
For those seeking a peaceful and off-the-beaten-path cruising experience, Northern Europe offers a wealth of hidden gems. Here are some lesser-known sailing spots that are worth exploring.
Lake Vättern, Sweden
This large inland lake, often likened to a forgotten sea, is a unique and tranquil option for sailors. With crystal-clear water and steep granite shores, Lake Vättern offers calm, often solitary anchorages where you can spend nights completely alone. The lake is fully accessible from both the Baltic and North Sea via the Göta Canal, making it a unique and tranquil option. The absence of tides allows for easy direct mooring to the shore, even in tight, wild spaces. The real magic is in finding little unmarked anchorages, offering total silence and nearby forested landscapes.
Helgeland Archipelago, Norway
Located just south of the Arctic circle, the Helgeland archipelago is a lesser-known gem on the Norwegian coast. Dutch cruiser Wietze van der Laan finds it one of his favourite places to sail to, praising its rugged beauty and peaceful nature. The archipelago is known for its steep, rocky islands and crystal clear water. There are plenty of anchorages or small harbors to moor, and you can even sail to a glacier, Svartisen, if you're feeling adventurous.
Harstad, Norway
Another northern Norwegian location, Harstad is prized for its quiet anchorages and natural beauty, offering solitude and raw landscapes for sailors seeking less trafficked waters.
Marker Wadden, Netherlands
Although not elaborated in detail here, the Marker Wadden islands are listed among Northern Europe's secret cruising spots worth exploring.
These spots stand out for their combination of natural beauty, calm waters, and fewer tourists or boats, allowing a peaceful sailing experience in secluded environments. Particularly, Lake Vättern offers a unique inland sailing option with excellent nautical charts and an array of unmarked bays perfect for solitude and exploration.
In contrast, the Mediterranean and Adriatic sailing spots focus on different regions and are not within Northern Europe. So, for Northern Europe specifically, consider secret anchoring along Sweden's Lake Vättern, Norway's Helgeland Archipelago and Harstad, or exploring the Marker Wadden islands for a quiet and off-the-beaten-path cruising experience.
To embark on a unique cruising adventure, one may explore the fashion-and-beauty of Sweden through Lake Vättern, where sailors can discover crystal-clear waters, steep granite shores, and hidden anchorages. Alternatively, the sports-analysis of Norway's Helgeland Archipelago, located just south of the Arctic circle, offers a rugged beauty and calm waters, perfect for those seeking solitude and raw landscapes. For those seeking even more tranquility, the lesser-known gem of Harstad, Norway, is an excellent choice. For enthusiasts of the Netherlands, the Marker Wadden islands present a secluded cruising experience, providing a contrast to the Mediterranean and Adriatic sailing spots, which focus on different regions.
