South by Cycle: Kouvola-Hanko

The route can be ridden at different paces, depending on your preference and on whether you want to spend nights in nature or in guesthouses, or perhaps combine the two. In the Trail notes below, there're tips equally for camping as well as using the guesthouses.

The daily riding distances are usually defined by locations of campsites and guesthouses, most days are pretty laid back, but there are a couple of little longer days as well. The pace here is quite relax for someone used to spending days on the saddle, so especially with some rest days, it should be quite doable first timer as well. Here the route is divided into nine cycling days, but a fitter tourer could easily combine some of the shorter days to cut a couple of days off .

Day 1, Kouvola–Sippola (67 km, elevation gain 783 m)

The first day of cycling starts at the Kouvola train station, from where it continues via cycling paths and hiking trails in boreal forests to the vicinity of the Tykkimäki amusement park and then to the Paaskoski lean-to. Gravel roads via Karhula village bring the trail to the cycling path next to Highway 6, for a while. The Utti Fortress, built by the Russian Empire in the 18th century, is located along the trail little before the Utti ABC service station.

From Utti, the route continues on gravel roads and easy single track in an esker landscape all the way to Kaipiainen village. This 15-km section is among the most challenging on the route, but more than worth the extra effort. If you left Kouvola with rock-hard tyre pressure, this is a good time to let some air out to make cycling easier and more comfortable for this terrain.

The Mankki open wilderness hut, originally built for canoeists, is a couple of kilometres off the trail, but it is well-suited for taking a break on a rainy day or spending the first night. The cabin is located only around 25 km from Kouvola, though. The specialty of the hut is, that there is only river access and it has no access road or trail. There is a grain field in front of the cabin, private houses on both sides, so access can be tricky or impossible. I ended up scraping off kgs of mud from my bike after having pushed my bike across early june, before the growing season had started. Another suitable place for a break is found right before Kaipiainen on the small and attractive beach of the Rautjärvi lake, where there is a hut and, if necessary, also enough space for putting up a tent.

Reaching Kaipiainen marks an end to the challenging, but rewarding single track section. From here onwards, the route gets significantly faster on smooth rolling gravel roads.There is a grocery store in Kaipiainen, where a stock-up is necessary, if you're planning to camp the following night. There is a fantastic and great value accommodation, as well as grocery store, in the artist village of Sippola. The camping spots, three lean-tos, are located south from the main route and getting off the route to reach them adds 9-17km to the routes total distance.

If you're camping the night, an option is also to continue past Sippola to Karjärvi beach, which has a lean-to and a sauna. The sauna can be booked in advance from the Mämmälä village association for a little fee. Day 2, Sippola–Strömfors (64 km, elevation gain 360 m)

From Sippola, the route continues along gravel roads, first to the Korjärvi beach and then through outdoor trails to Inkoo. From here, those on an overnight trip continue north back to Kouvola for 24 km along the Kymijoki culture tour route.

The services of the villages of Inkoo and Anjala are probably reached by lunchtime, and these villages also feature the last grocery shops of the day considering evening camping. The crossing of the Kymijoki River takes place in an industrial cultural landscape along the Ankkapurha dam.

After Ankkapurha, the route zigzags along the edge of the village on a gravel road cutting through grain fields. About 10 km of fast gravel road is followed by a stretch of approximately 5 km of asphalt, from which the route continues amidst forests and fields towards Ruotsinpyhtää and Loviisa. Along the way, you can stop to cool off at the Antinniemi beach, which has a campfire spot and a beach. After the beach, the landscapes of fields continue, first on 16 km of gravel roads, followed by just over 8 km along the edge of the road. An alternative route option is to go around Lake Teutjärvi on the western side via Ruotsinkylä - if an extra five kilometers of larger paved road is not a problem, in which case you'll also pass by Ruotsinkylä's shop and Gulf bar.

The distance from Sippola to Ruotsinpyhtää totals a reasonable 64 km with a relatively easy 360 meters of elevation gain. For those in a hurry and in good shape, you can push further, as there are only 26 additional kilometers to Loviisa from Ruotsinpyhtää. A logical stage for those utilizing guesthouses on the second day is to ride from Sippola to the services of Strömfors Ironworks in Ruotsinpyhtää, just remember to make your lodging reservation well in advance.

Day 3, Strömfors–Loviisa (27 km, elevation gain 273 m)

The third day of cycling is quite easy, so you can start the morning by leisurely exploring the old industrial milieu of Strömfors. The area boasts several cafes and restaurants, making it easy to spend a longer while there, admiring the charming ironworks area and visiting its shops and workshops. After Strömfors, a short but beautiful section of paved road runs along the waterfront, followed by gravel roads that allow for a swift journey towards Loviisa. A detour via a forest road in the village of Tesjoki adds flavor to the otherwise straightforward remainder of the day to Loviisa, where you can find a pleasant range of services from camping areas to luxury.

Day 4, Loviisa–Porvoo (68 km, elevation gain 591 m)

The trail continues from Loviisa between colourful wooden house blocks to the port of Loviisa and then along the shores towards the village of Valko. From there, gravel roads will take you to the pine forests of the Loviisa Peninsula and via rocky hiking trails to the rock church of Korsvik, a natural formation where gigantic glacial erratics form a church-like structure with a view over the Gulf of Finland. After this, the journey continues towards the historical village of Pernaja, where there are two small summer cafés, ocean beach and a historical church.

From Pernaja, the trail continues towards Koskenkylä mainly on a gravel road; the village features a shop, pizzeria and a service station cafe. In Koskenkylä, the trail passes by the Koskenkylä manor (stone castle – privately owned) and ironworks that dates back to 1683. After Koskenkylä, the trail continues straightforward, varying between gravel roads and paved road and back to gravel again. The tiny Postimäki museum is an excellent place for a break and visit before the trail continued on the road to Porvoo. For those staying the night in a guesthouse, the Sannäs Manor is an alternative to accommodation in Porvoo, which is 11 km away. For those continuing to Porvoo, the Lake Tervajärvi beach and the Brunberg sweets factory shop are along the journey before arriving in the Old Town of Porvoo.

Similarly to Loviisa, Porvoo offers a charming range of accommodation options ranging from a camping site to places in the Old Town. The Old Town boutiques, idyllic alleys and trendy cafes and restaurants on the waterfront make Porvoo an excellent place for spending the night or two and resting.

The M/S J.L. Runeberg steamship carries passengers on the Helsinki–Porvoo–Loviisa route in the summertime. By taking the ship, you can cycle the Loviisa-Porvoo-Helsinki part of the trail as a weekend trip or Porvoo–Helsinki as an overnight trip. Day 5, Porvoo–Ängesböle lean-to (61 km, elevation gain 724 m)

From Porvoo, the trail continues for 12 km, following first a river and then the seaside, which is a great start to the fifth day of cycling. Pub Lättähattu next to the old Porvoo railway is located suitably 25 km from the start of the day, nourishing the body and the mind. From Lättähattu, trail continues to the hilly backroads of Porvoo, mainly on gravel, until reaching bicycle paths for a few kilometres leading towards to Sipoo. The arrival in the village of Söderkulla in Sipoo takes place through the backdoor via a gravel detour. The Söderkulla Manor is home to the Kakkukartano café, where you can indulge your sweet tooth, sitting for a moment under the terrace shadow and admiring the garden.

If you are planning to spend the night at the Ängesböle lean-to in the Sipoonkorpi National Park, the shops in Söderkulla can provide you with the provisions for the evening and morning. After crossing the Sipoonjoki River, the trail to the lean-to is paved road in a landscape of fields before a few kilometres of gravel road inside the conserved forest to the Ängesböle campsite area.

Those seeking a guesthouse for the night are now in for a treat, because the Sipoonkorpi National Park is only a stone’s throw away from the edge of the metropolitan area. After the fifth day of cycling, it might also feel nice to visit the Kuusijärvi smoke sauna at the edge of the Sipoonkorpi conservation areas; it is located approximately 14 additional kilometres from the Ängesböle lean-to.

If you are planning to ride only the eastern part of the Kouvola–Hanko trail as a trip from Kouvola to Helsinki, there are three different route options from the Kuusijärvi saunas to the centre of Helsinki: 1) Continue the Kouvola–Hanko trail to Pitkäkoski and then through the Helsinki Central Park to the city centre (37 km) 2) Continue the Kouvola–Hanko trail for 7 km to the Tikkurila train station and take the next commuter train to the centre of Helsinki 3) Turn south at Kuusijärvi (Vuosaari is located 23 km away) and from Vuosaari, take a metro to the centre of Helsinki or cycle along the Eurovelo 10 trail.

Day 6, Ängesböle lean-to–Mustalampi campsite (75 km, elevation gain 1,072 m)

The theme of the sixth day of cycling is largely water, now in a flowing form. From Kuusijärvi, the trail reaches the shore of the Keravanjoki River after 23 km, after which you will follow the river downstream along smooth gravel roads to where the Vantaanjoki and Keravanjoki Rivers meet. From there starts a theoretical uphill trip upstream the Vantaanjoki River to Pitkäkoski and the Pitkäkoski hiking lodge. From there onwards, the theme of the route is the Route 2000 hiking and cycling route. Soon after leaving the Vantaanjoki River, the trail travels close to the Louhela train station, so the centre of Helsinki is still less than half an hour away.

When approaching the Nuuksio Lake Highlands, the elevation gains increase and the hills become steeper: over a distance of a little over 30 kilometres, the elevation gain is up to 450 metres, which is a lot in Finland. Fortunately, the hills are short and there are also a couple of lean-tos offering opportunities for taking a break, if necessary. The Luukki recreational area offers a beach and the Laguna restaurant.

After the Luukki recreation area, there are two wet and technical single track sections, which are easy to go around via Nettaa and Pakankylä. The sections are marked on map for clarity. Recommended unless you don’t mind a little hike-a-biking and possibly wet feet!

Cafe Ukén in Pirttimäki, 62 km from Ångesböle, serves as the gateway to the Nuuksio National Park. In addition to a campfire site and cafe, you can rent a sauna in Pirttimäki, although only during the opening hours of the cafe, and preferably with advance booking. The distance from Pirttimäki to the Mustalampi campsites is only 13 km, but you probably will not be able to do it without sweating, as the elevation gain to the heart of Nuuksio amounts to 250 metres.

The Nuuksio National Park is one of the highlights of the South by Cycle Bikepacking Trail Network. In terms of its location and characteristics, it is quite unique even internationally, so you will get a lot for the elevation gain. The trail in the national park is almost fully smooth and wide gravel hiking trails, so at least for those with small gears, cycling through the park is easy – at least technically speaking.

Haltia – The Finnish Nature Centre is located in the heart of Nuuksio, and the exhibition and restaurant are located approximately 5 km before the Haukkalampi and Mustalampi campsites. Haltia Lake Lodge serves those looking for accommodation next to the Haltia Finnish Nature Centre, along with the alternatives Oravankolo rental hut and Tikankolo rental hut with a sauna. Staying in Oravankolo lengthens the day’s distance by some 5 km, Tikankolo about 8 km.

The Mustalampi and Haukkalampi campsites are idyllic places to spend the night with their rocky wilderness pond landscapes, but also some of the most popular hiking destinations in perhaps all of Finland. Fortunately, there are lots of places for tents in a total of three different tent site options, so there should be room for all, even during busy summer weekends. If you still have a little of extra juice in your legs and it is not dark, the Saarilampi campsite is located 6 additional kilometres from these campsites.

Day 7, Mustalampi campsites–Korpudden campsite (84 km and elevation gain 1,030 m)

From the Nuuksio Natural Park, you will ride first gravel and then paved backroads to the village of Veikkola, a good place for filling up before the Veikkola–Lohja leg. The trail will partially follow a busy motor traffic road for some 9 km, which is perhaps the most dangerous section of all South by Cycle routes due to traffic. When it comes to taking cyclists into consideration, the traffic culture in Finland is internationally speaking reasonable, but still, the biggest risk in cycling and bikepacking is due to motor traffic. This is not the best route from Veikkola to Lohja, but along the Vanha Turuntie road, at least the journey is made efficiently.

At 30 km through the day, you will finally reach the Lohja ridge, on top of which the trail zigzags along hiking trails and easy paths to the grocery shops and fast food outlets in Lempola. From the Lohjanharju ridge, you will descend to Lake Lohjanjärvi, the biggest lake in the Uusimaa province and also the entire trail region. The Lohja waterfront trail continues for a majestic 18 km in all. For those seeking a guesthouse for the night, the day ends at the Mustio Manor, where the trail takes you first along a main road and then along rolling gravel roads.

Built in the 18th century, the Mustio Manor and its parks, side buildings and services is certainly one of the most interesting places to stay overnight along the entire set of routes, but if it is fully booked or you otherwise prefer to sleep under the starry sky, you can camp in the Korpudden hiking area some 6 km from the Mustio Manor.

Day 8, Korpudden campsite–Furuholmen lean-to (79 km, elevation gain 1,095 m)

At the start of the second-to-last day of cycling, the trail zigzags along gravel roads and then bike paths from Mustio Manor to the Mustion Muonitus village shop and cafe along the railway. You will follow the railway all the way to Karjaa, with a combination of gravel roads, easy paths and hiking trails. The single tracks sections make this 15-kilometre section a little more challenging than the trail in general, but as a reward, you get to enjoy the serenity of the forest. Karjaa offers a full range of services, as well as a train station. Train from Karjaa to Helsinki only takes an hour, but you don’t want to miss the last 1.5 cycling days along the beautiful Hankoniemi Peninsula.

Cycling from Karjaa to Firskars offers a fine history and landscapes along a railtrail converted from an old railway track. The Fiskars Ironworks village features restaurants and a few premium accommodation options, making the area of the old ironworks an excellent place for a break or overnight stay. The MTB trail network of Fiskars Trail Center also starts right in the village. The cycling distance from the Mustio Manor to Fiskars is only 37 km, but you will certainly settle for a shorter cycling distance after a full week’s worth of cycling days.

From Fiskars, the trail finally turns towards the Hankoniemi Peninsula, and rolling gravel roads lead first from the village of Pohja to the cafe of Skarpkulla Museum (which has limited opening hours) and then along an entertaining forest section to the village of Tenhola. If you are planning to stay in a tent at the Västerby recreational area, Tenhola is the place to fill up with food for the night. For those spending the night in a guesthouse, Villa Christine makes the day a little shorter, but then again, the attractive city of Tammisaari and its restaurants are only 20 additional kilometres away.

Day 9, Furuholmen lean-to – Hanko (49 km, elevation gain 310 m)

The last day of cycling starts with a spin across the Västerby recreational area to the historical city of Tammisaari, with cafes and restaurants in the Old Town more than worth the additional kilometres. From Tammisaari, the trail continues along the eastern edge of the Hankoniemi Peninsula, first along a brand-new paved road and then to a forest road that takes you to the Källviken spring, nowadays called Dagmar’s Spring after the Russian empress Dagmar, who was fascinated by the area and visited there regularly. The trail goes on to the village of Skogby, where the cafe/restaurant Villa Kosthåll is a break place favoured by cyclists. A little after that, the Predium harbour with café with nice terrace view to harbour, offers another great spot for a break.

In the village of Lappohja, the trail goes past small villas, small grocery store and a summer theatre before reaching the beautiful beach of Lappohja. Here, you will have a sea view from the top of the sand bank far away, almost to the Ekenäs Archipelago National Park. You can spend the night in the area of the Lappohja beach, and the broad area of sand and pine-dominated boreal forest is among the finest campsites along the trail – although without fresh water. Please note that in the Lappohja area, the trail partly goes along soft and/or narrow paths, making progress slow and tricky for nattow tires, at times.

After crossing a main road, the trail follows a gravel road for a while until taking a detour to the paths and hiking trails on the northern shore of the Hankoniemi Peninsula. The Furunäs lean-to on the seashore is a nice place for a break, before the Silverstrand organised camping area, which is an ideal option for those preferring a tent with its diverse services (tent places, small cabins, restaurant, sauna etc.). The last kilometres to Hanko combine gravel paths and single track before arriving at the beaches of Hanko, which are followed all the way to the vibrant harbour area of Hanko.