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On August Bank Holiday, while many in the UK were piling the family into the car and heading to the blustery beaches of the south coast via gridlocked motorways, I was packing my bag and heading to Heathrow … Sweden bound, in search of its Brown Bears and its peaceful and exquisite hills and lakes on Naturetrek's 'Sweden's Bears' holiday.
Brown Bear
It was my first time in Sweden and I was unsure what to expect. I was not left disappointed! The drive from Stockholm airport meandered through pine forest and cornfields, passing the red and white painted wooden buildings which soon became synonymous with the Swedish landscape. The lack of traffic on the roads was a breath of fresh air.
Beautiful lakeside setting
The isolated wilderness lodge that is our base for the holiday was in a picture perfect lakeside setting, and our hosts, Håkan and his wife Eva and their two dogs, couldn’t have been more welcoming. Eva’s legendary cooking left us all a few pounds heavier (and happier!).
The Bears – As appealing as I’d imagined!
European Brown Bears (Ursus arcto) – were the focus for our visit and it was exciting walking through the forest knowing we were in ‘bear country’. We did not have to wait long before two full-grown male bears appeared – and before dusk – delighting us with a daylight show! You can stay up all night in the cabin watching these most endearing of mammals, and there are beds where you can have a snooze … if you can tear yourself away from the bears. It was the first time I’d seen a bear and they were every bit as appealing as I’d imagined.
Woodpeckers & divers …
The views from our wilderness lodge are superb – there are lovely walks all around the lake, and you can even borrow the lodge’s boat and take a row out on it. The bird life is interesting too – roadside Capercaillie, Three-toed Woodpecker and Black-throated Divers in full summer plumage were among the birds I saw during my visit. Beaver and Elk are both found in the area as well. On our final day, a flock of Common Cranes passed overhead, signalling the start of Sweden’s autumn and the end of our holiday in this little piece of tranquillity that Håkan and Eva have created in their corner of Sweden. Their philosophy of simple, sustainable living and passion for the important things in life – good food, good company, the natural wilderness and its wildlife, is truly inspirational. A wonderful experience!
Read more about our 'Sweden's Bears' holiday.