Nature attractions and hiking near your cottage
From our cottages, you can step straight into the forest. If you prefer a marked route and destination, two national parks and a local hidden gem are nearby.
The cottages are in Orivesi and the Lake Längelmävesi region, about 70 kilometres or less than an hour from Tampere.
Isojärvi National Park, Kuhmoinen
Established in 1982, the park covers 22 km². It features rugged terrain, ravine valleys and the clear-water Lake Isojärvi. Old logging cabins tell of forestry work in the 1940s, while beavers have visibly shaped the shores.
- Routes range from about three kilometres to a 20-kilometre circuit. The 3.8 km Beaver Trail is the easiest; the Heretty Nature Trail is about 3 km, Hevosenlenkki 6 km and Savottapolku 10 km.
- The main information point and parking are at Heretty, Kylämäntie 1335, Kuhmoinen. Another car park is at Kaatvuori along Huhtalantie.
- There are several campfire sites. Kannuslahti also has an accessible half-kilometre trail.
- The terrain is covered with roots and rocks, with considerable elevation changes. Wear sturdy footwear.
Helvetinjärvi National Park, Ruovesi
Established in 1982, the park covers about 50 km². Narrow rift lakes lie between rocky cliffs. Its best-known sight is Helvetinkolu, a rock cleft about 40 metres long and a couple of metres wide.
- The most popular route is the 4 km Helvetistä itään nature trail from Kankimäki, Helvetinkoluntie 775, Ruovesi. The starting point has parking, a toilet, water point and restaurant.
- It is about 5.5 km each way from Haukanhieta to Helvetinkolu. Haukanhieta has a sandy beach and campfire site.
- There are approximately 40 kilometres of marked trails.
- Please note: since 2023, the ravine itself has been fenced off for safety and can no longer be entered. The view is from above.
Lake Ruutanajärvi in Talviainen
A small kettle lake in a pine forest, considerably closer than the national parks. The water is exceptionally clear, with horizontal visibility of five to six metres — rare in Finland and popular with snorkellers. Enter the water from a large flat rock; a small campfire site is on the shore.
This is a local destination rather than a maintained attraction: there are no services or marked trail. Ask us for directions.
National park information is provided by Metsähallitus. Check current trail conditions at nationalparks.fi before setting out.
Berries and mushrooms
The cottages are surrounded by typical Finnish forest, which provides plenty of food in late summer.
| What | When | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Bilberry | Mid-July to August | Shady spruce and pine forest |
| Lingonberry | Late August to September | Drier heath forest and rocky areas |
| Raspberry | July–August | Forest edges and clear-cut areas |
| Chanterelle | July–September | Mossy ground beneath spruce and birch |
| Boletes | August–September | Mixed forest, often near paths |
The berry and mushroom season largely coincides with the cottage rental season, which ends in late September. August is the best time for both.
Bring a bucket or basket rather than a plastic bag, and wear boots. Only pick mushrooms you can identify with certainty.
See also
Compare cottages and villas · fishing · the story of Anttila 1697–1997
For international visitors: Everyman’s right — what you may do in a Finnish forest.