Skärhamn on Tjörn – a pretty fishing village

We had left Hanö Bay on the south-east coast of Sweden in the morning and had since passed Gothenburg heading north. At Stenungsund, we left the mainland and drove onto the island of Tjörn. Three mighty bridges make the journey easy. Their clearance height of over 40 metres gave us a first wide view of the fjords, sounds and islands of the archipelago landscape on the Swedish west coast as a welcome.

In the interior of the island, pastureland still alternated with forest. As we approached the coastline in the west, the landscape facing the open sea became rougher and rockier. Our destination for the day was Skärhamn, the main town on the island of Tjörn. After starting out in the rain, we were greeted here by blue skies and sunshine. A strong wind ensured clear views and pure light, making the blue of the sea and sky, and the house facades in Swedish red, yellow or white, glow intensely. Typically Swedish, but almost cliché-like picturesque. How fitting that the Nordic Watercolour Museum can be visited here. In the harbour, we had delicious fish for lunch at a food truck and watched the guests strolling along the waterfront promenade. A short climb took us to the church and rewarded us with a great view. A lovely place, but today we were looking for a bit more cosiness, seclusion and peace for the night, which is why we headed north-west to Björholmen.