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Rummelö–Harrbåda nature trail

—•Hiking Trails

4 km

Route

Description

City of Kokkola – Rummelö-Harrbåda+

Description

The Rummelö–Harrbåda nature trail is about 4 km along Kaustarinlahti bay in Kokkola, Central Ostrobothnia, a short hop from the city centre. City of Kokkola publishes parking, nesting-season rules, maps, and service notes on its Rummelö-Harrbåda trail page; Luontoon.fi lists the same route in the national outdoor service. The 236 ha bird wetland is part of Natura 2000: shallow water, muddy shores, reedbeds, coastal meadows, and leafy land-uplift forest line the path, and summer grazing sheep help keep the meadows open. The trail is a strong birdwatching walk. Soon after the start you reach Harriniemen lintutorni above reed and scrub; farther along, about 2.9 km in, Rummelön lintutorni sits on a short spur through the reeds with a viewing platform nearby. Toward the Elba end, Elban lintutorni and Villa Elban laituri sit close together on the shore—good spots to scan the bay and pause before returning. The separate Villa Elba youth-centre loop (about 0.7 km) is being upgraded in 2026; during work, access to this main trail and Rummelön lintutorni is kept open from the car park past the cottages on the sea side. Underfoot you move from wide duckboards through the reedbed to broader sandy paths with some roots and soft sand toward Harrinniemi; a narrower duckboard branch is an alternative toward the headland. Green arrow posts are frequent in the terrain. The route can be walked as a circuit. In the same shoreline network, Vanhan Kallen kinttupolku links toward Santahaka, laavu, Elba-Harrbådan offers a shorter hiking connection between the towers, and Sannanranta talvipolku is the winter walking line when snow covers the ground—plus several ski tracks (for example Latu Santahaka-Harrbådan and Latu Trullevi-Harbåda) share sections for skiers. Retkipaikka’s walk-through by Luontopolkumies adds practical detail on wet coastal woodland, optional spurs to the beach and towers, and how quiet the route can feel early in the day. For the latest on boardwalk repairs, Villa Elba café and accommodation, and any temporary closures, check the city’s trail page.

Length & route

The trail is about 4 km as one line on our map. City of Kokkola describes the main Rummelö–Harrbåda nature trail at 4 km and notes you can also walk it as a circuit; optional spurs to the towers, viewing platform, and beach add distance, and one experienced walk with side trips measured about 5.5 km. Allow roughly 1–2 hours at an easy pace without long stops, more if you watch birds or swim. From Rummelön lintutorni the line continues with wide duckboards, then broader sand paths toward Harrinniemi; a narrower duckboard alternative heads toward the headland. Markings use green arrows in the field.

Getting there

The usual start is the Nuorisokeskus Villa Elba car park at Sannanrannantie 59 (signs also list Sannanrannantie 60 in trip write-ups). Enter through the wooden gate from the parking area. A second option is the car park at the end of Harrinniementie by Harrinniemi, near the old concrete beacon. Local buses reach Meritulli, about 2 km away, with onward signs toward the area. An outdoor map layer for the trail is linked from the municipal page.

Good to know

Bird nesting season runs from 15 April to 31 July: stay on marked routes only during that period. Waterproof footwear helps on wet meadow and reed sections, especially after rain. Villa Elba offers a café, accommodation, and accessible toilets; pick up after dogs on the youth-centre nature loop. Boardwalk maintenance and route diversions are announced on the city trail page. The separate Villa Elba accessible nature loop is being refurbished in stages through 2026; check the city page for how access to the main trail is routed during work.

History

The concrete beacon on Harrinniemi dates from 1953; it is no longer a staffed lighthouse and now serves as a navigational mark. Local storytelling links it to a shipwreck tale. Harrbåda headland is described as the northernmost visible part of a long esker chain stretching over 200 km.

Managed by

Kokkola

Official Maintenance

+358 40 8065075

Trail info

Can be walked as a circuit; direction is flexible.

Route direction

Recreation Area

Lake

green

Route Signs

Wheelchair Accessible

Accessibility

Dogs (On Leash)

Dogs

Stroller Friendly

Accessibility

City of Kokkola – Rummelö-Harrbåda

Activities allowed

Run

Activity

Hike / Walk

Activity

Terrain & conditions

4 km

Distance

about 1–2 hours

Est. Time

Duckboards / Dirt / Sand

Surface

Single Track, Wide Track

Route Type

Light Traffic

Traffic

Partial Shade

Shade

Location

63.87820°N, 23.07625°E

Approximate location

FinlandCountry

Central OstrobothniaRegion

KokkolaCity

Hiking TrailsCategory

Explore nearby

Villa Elban laituri

313 m

Free

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Answers to your questions

Our data was researched from Kokkola, and other trusted sources, in March 2026. Our route / place GPX data comes from Metsähallitus / Lipas, last updated March 2026. Always check their official website for safety-critical updates.

Finland Central Ostrobothnia Kokkola Hiking TrailsRummelö–Harrbåda nature trail