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Exploring Sweden’s lakes and rivers

27 Jan 2012 06:38 PM | ancient brit in Tales of an Ancient Brit

Sweden is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe with a network of rivers and lakes in endless forests. The average Briton may imagine that a country so far north has little to offer the naturist, but they would be badly mistaken. In July and August the weather tends to be warmer than in southern England with long periods of settled sunny weather. There are a number of naturist clubs scattered throughout Sweden, which I have always found very welcoming, but the delight of Sweden is the thousands of lakes where the naturist will always be able to find somewhere to strip off without causing offence.

The best way to explore the countryside is by open canoe. Sweden is covered with ‘kanotleden’, canoe trails ranging in length from a few kilometres to several hundred kilometres. On the kanotleden, occasional sections of track where you can pull your canoe on a trolley link lakes and rivers. The trails often have designated campsites with shelters and barbecues, but you can camp virtually anywhere beside the lake or river.
There are countless spots where it is possible to swim and by July the water temperature will be 20-25°C. In addition there are many official bathing places with sandy beaches and usually pontoons out to deep water, often with diving platforms. Although these are ‘textile’ they tend to be deserted in the mornings and available for unofficial naturist use. As these kanotleden are in remote countryside and surprisingly little used by the Swedes it is possible for the naturist to spend most of their time canoeing, swimming or sunbathing without clothes. Towards the end of July and in August, with the Swedish holidays ending, the main users of the canoe trails are German and Dutch.

The kanotleden are designed for family use. Canadian canoes are so stable that trips would be suitable for beginners. The canoes are designed to take two or three adults with camping gear and would be big enough for two adults and two younger children. There are plenty of firms, which hire all the canoeing equipment (and also camping equipment) that is needed and who would be able to give tuition. Tourist information offices have details of canoe trails and canoe hire companies.

Please feel free to contact the author at ancientbritbrian@btinternet.com