Skaftö i Bohuslän - Grundsund och Fiskebäckskil

Skaftö, or Skaftölandet as it may actually be called, is a charming island on the west coast, where you can visit Grundsund and Fiskebäckskil. We were a little unlucky with the weather when we were here, and yet we were struck by how cosy and picturesque it is in these places.

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Skaftö in Bohuslän

Skaftö has a history in fishing and shipping, but also as a seaside resort, and is today a popular destination, perhaps especially in the summer. The place is also known from the TV series "Saltön", with among others Tomas von Brömssen and Ulla Skoog, which was filmed here.

Skaftö i Bohuslän, med Grundsund och Fiskebäckskil

Skaftö is located just south of Lysekil, and is also part of Lysekil municipality. Just southwest of Skaftö are the islands of Malö and Flatön, which belong to Orust.

Grundsund on Skaftö - things to see and do

We first drove the motorhome to Grundsund, which is located at the far end of Skaftö. This is where the TV series "Saltön" was filmed, and it is not difficult to understand why this location was chosen for the filming. Even though dark clouds gathered over us (and even though the rain later poured down), the harbour, with all the boathouses and small boats, offered a good dose of charm.

The long, narrow community is divided in two by the canal that separates Skaftö from the small island of Ösön, and you can walk on both sides of the canal.

Here you can stroll along the promenade, shop for seafood or sit down at one of the restaurants, such as Smultron & Tång, Krögens Fisk & Krog or Restaurang Pelles.

It is also charming to stroll through the winding alleyways, where the fine wooden houses are densely packed.

You can also check out the cute little church, built from the chapel originally built in 1799.

More to see and do in Grundsund

Want to experience more in Grundsund? The area around the resort offers beautiful nature, and there is a hiking trail to Vigerna, where you can sunbathe and swim from the rocks.

South of Grundsund you will also find Islandsberg, the southernmost headland of Skaftö. This is a barren and almost treeless area that offers magnificent views. There is a 2.7-kilometre hiking trail that goes to the lighthouse on the headland.

Fiskebäckskil on Skaftö - things to see and do

The next town we visited on Skaftö was Fiskebäckskil, located on the northern end of the island, with a ferry connection to Lysekil. This is also a place that has a history as a fishing community, but in addition, Fiskebäckskil in the 19th century served as a seaside resort for society. Here, too, it is charming to walk in the harbour area, among all the fine boathouses and all the small boats moving on the water.

There are several restaurants in the harbour, such as the archipelago restaurant Brygghuset and Gullmarsstrand Hotell & Konferens.

The harbour is also home to the two-masted schooner T/S Kvartsita, which was built at Holm's shipyard in Råå 1945. Today the ship is operated as a school ship by the association "För Fulla Segel".

As we stood on the quay, Kvartsita came in, with a large group of children and young people on board. Some days in the summer you can also day sail with Kvartsita, when you are also offered a light lunch and coffee on board. A very nice ship!

Moreover, in Fiskebäckskil, just like in Grundsund, it is nice to walk among all the houses and captain's villas, which are seemingly jumbled together in the area around the harbour.

If you climb the hill, you can also see the summer villa and studio that once belonged to the town's most famous artist, Carl Wilhelmson (1866-1928). Close by is a mill built in 1854-1855 by miller Per Olsson.

If you want, you can also check out Fiskebäckskil Church, which was built in 1772.

More things to see and do in Fiskebäckskil

If you want to sunbathe and swim, Bökevik is a popular spot. If you want to go on excursions, you can walk or cycle on the footpath and cycle path that runs from Östersidan to Fiskebäckskil, and then on to Stockevik and Grundsund. You can also take the ferry to Lysekil for the day.

You can also discover Skaftö along the Coastal Path, which runs all the way from Gothenburg to Oslo and is divided into 42 stages.

Where can you stay or park your motorhome?

If you want to stay in a hotel, there are several different options, such as Slipens hotell or Gullmarsstrands hotell & konferens in Fiskebäckskil.

If you are travelling by camper van, there should be a parking space at the marina Lyckans slip, but we never checked it out. We stayed overnight in a small car park by a hiking trail and a tiny petrol station, just before you reach Fiskebäckskil. Here we stood all right while the rain eastern down on us.

Video from Skaftö

Peter has put together a short video from Skaftö, which you can watch here:

More things to see and do in the neighbourhood of Skaftö

Just north of Skaftö is Lysekil where we have 15 tips, including the House of the Sea and the Stångehuvud Nature Reserve. If you're travelling south instead, you can visit the famous the lovely island of Orust where we also manage 15 tips after our stay. Orust offers charming environments in old fishing villages, beautiful nature and boat trips to islands such as Orust. idyllic Käringön.

Have you been to Skaftö?

Have you been to Skaftö? If so, which places did you visit and what did you think? Have you seen the TV series Saltön?

Facts about Skaftö / Skaftölandet

Landscape: Bohuslän
County: Västra Götaland County
Municipality: Lysekil municipality
Population: More than 1400 (2018)
Locations: Grundsund, Rågårdsvik, Fiskebäckskil
Read more: You can find more information at West Sweden website.

Travelling to Skaftö

Car/caravan: Skaftö is connected to the mainland by a bridge at the north-eastern end.
Boat: You can get to Skaftö by boat. A passenger ferry runs from Lyekil to Fiskebäckskil.
Public transport: Buses run from Gothenburg (change buses at Bokenäs skola or change to the ferry in Lysekil). The nearest railway station is in Uddevalla.

The history of Skaftö

16th century: Fiskelägen was founded on Skaftö.
18th century: Grundsund and Fiskebäckskil were important fishing villages, and the successful herring season contributed to the development of the communities.
19th century: Fiskebäckskil developed into a seaside resort with social life. Grundsund remained primarily a fishing community.
The First World War: The canal in Grundsund was dug, dividing the town into two parts, the eastern and western sides. This was done to make it easier for fishing boats to pass through and provide a more sheltered harbour.