Got this little house in Sweden

Hey all,

I've got this little house in Sweden and it has a fixed gear bike in the shed along with some other bikes. My plan was to go there and ride when I had time as the road surfaces are pretty good and the traffic is close to zero. It's out in the country close to small town called Vimmerby. Since getting the place I've been going over a few times a year but life has got really busy and I've been going through a marriage break up. So don't really know whether to keep it or sell it. Lots of friends have suggested that I let it but they've all made their excuses when it came to actually going there themselves. Here are some pics from a few years ago.

http://yogarup.com/swedenhouse.html

It's great for a long weekend or up to a week. But it's what you might call rustic as there is no fresh water. But there are big plastic bottles that get filled up by the caretakers before going over.

I have a few rides worked out depending on how you're feeling - 10k, 30k, 40k and 50k. They all take you through little villages, past lakes and fields. You can also head down to the lake for a bit of paddling.

You can drive over all the way but takes absolutely ages, like 2 days including rest stops. The shortest route is flying to Nykoping and then renting a car and driving south. It's about a 3 hour drive, 2 and half if you put your foot down.

I'm not really fishing for bookings but just want to see if there is any interest. I'll be honest, it is a bit of trek getting there but once you're there it really does feel like it was worth the trip. But as I can't get out there at the moment I'm wondering about selling the place. As it's in my wife's name and we're in the middle of a separation going on divorce she may just decide to suddenly sell it on the sly. Who knows.

I'll provide more info as the thread continues or gets sunk. Thanks in advance.

Not for me I'm afraid, not hilly enough. Try advertising it on a bush craft type forum, they would love something like this.

looks idyllic. how many does it sleep?

I reckon you could get five in there. There are 2 single beds in the bedroom pushed up against each other and then you have a futon sofa bed in the living room. The attic has been converted and has an air mattress which could take another one or even a couple.

Prices?

I'm from around that part, but by the sea. I can vouch for the area though, it's a lovely place to be. As Arup says, it's a trek to get there but well worth it once you're there

I tend to fly to Copenhagen and then take a train up to Kalmar, dunno if coming that way would make things easier but it's an option. I assume it's possible to take the train to Vimmerby?

You mean how much am I charging or cost of getting there? I'll put both. I've only had friends staying there so far so it's been just the amount to cover bills.

Ryanair flight fram Stansted to Nykoping (Stockholm Skavsta) - £60 ish
Car hire at the airport, cheapest is Hertz - £120 for four days
Petrol or Ethanol E8 - £60 ish
Food - £10 - 15 a day including waffles with cream and jam

If you rent somewhere like this through Interchalet it's something like 600 euros a week. I'm not looking at making a profit just cover the running costs. So only a third of that - £150.

cheap as chips!

if you want to see how sweden is out in the sticks, this is fantastic. I've got a house 1.5hrs from there and even I'm tempted

That sounds good.

When would the best time of year be to visit it?

What would it be like to visit in November, March or July? These are the three times I could be interested.

Also - any more info on the area? What is there to do (apart from cycling!)?

Thanks

what about ferries etc? is it possible to get their this way - then train etc? or impossible?

there's ferries to Esbjerg, Denmark, but it'll take ages.

http://www.seat61.com/Sweden.htm

Another option is to fly to Gothenberg, cycle to house, have a few days there then finish up in Stockholm. Done something similar in the past

I think the answer to that is nothing - that's the point!

Also - any more info on the area? What is there to do (apart from cycling!)?

Thanks

what's the fishing like?

Blimey, lots of questions. Only just got in, so I'll try and answer them.

@winston - fishing is really good. All the lakes are well stocked and each lake has a slightly different range of fish. It's mainly spinning but you can get a full fact sheet from the tourist information. You'll also need a fiskekort or fishing licence, for one lake, many, one month or for all lakes and all seasons.

What else is there to do? Go for walks, lots of trails and organised nature walks. There's a place nearby called the Naturrunda which I think is the start and end of a 10k nature trail. You see lots of oldies there with their Nordic poles. There is berry picking if you go at the right time of year which is sort of late August. You'll see lots of people out with their tupperware containers. Wild blueberries, raspberries and tiny little smultron or wild strawberries. After that is the mushroom season which is sort of mid-October. Again you'll see people out picking.

I've got a canoe or kayak whatever it's called at the lake which is bit more fun than a normal rowing boat as you can get up quite a speed and get a decent workout as well. There's also a gas fired barbie in the shed when the weather is nice. You can't get full strength beers or any booze for that matter unless you go to systeme bolaget and queue up. My in-laws are German and they always used to bring crates of it over.

What else? Oh yes, in the summer months there is the ostkakaboden which is Frodinge, very close, about 6km. It's a cake factory. They have their factory outlet and cafe in the summer and you can eat there and / or take stuff away for home consumption.

@arantrek - from late April to late October are times that I've been. I've never been in the winter and have seen the photos that the caretakers have sent over which show two foot of snow. But apparently the snow doesn't start till late December so you're pretty safe. Unless you fancy going for christmas. The wood burning stove works and heats the place up nicely. Early November is bearable but it starts getting seriously cold. But the wood burner can get it up to 30 celsius indoors.

@spybot - when I did the London to Vimmerby drive I went via southern Sweden. I've tried different ferries. I haven't tried the 24-hour Newcastle to Gothenburg but I don't know if that runs anymore. It was from the North of Germany, Puttgarten to Ystad at least I think it was there or maybe I just stayed there. There was also a very short ferry from Germany to Denmark. And then from the Northern tip of Denmark to the Southern tip of Sweden, Helsingor to Helsingborg. Which was only half an hour. There was a five hour one that went from Northern Germany to the Southern coast of Sweden. But then I was going from Germany sometimes after visiting the in-laws.

Coming up from the South takes longer than travelling down from the North. I've also come from Gothenburg but that's more like 3.5 hours and it's more A roads rather than dual carriageways and motorways. At least you have the E4 from Nykoping.

You can get a train down to Vimmerby from Nykoping. But not sure about times and frequency. Vimmerby is 11km from the house but the main road is 3.2km away. So I'm not sure how you'd do that last bit as there is a bus that runs along the main road that goes all the way to Vastervik on the coast.

Gosh I'm getting excited just thinking about it. It's a shame I'm too broke and busy to go at the moment. Keep asking more questions and I'll try and answer them. It would be nice to see the place getting used.

Why not organise a forum long weekend there? get 4 people aboard and they pay your tickets etc, and in turn gets 3-4 days of guided cycling / walking / canoeing in Sweden.

If you do it on the cheap it shouldn't cost much more than 150-200 a head for flights / car / food etc? and you get a weekend over there too, win all over

I wouldn't be able to go this year until late October/November, which sounds like it might be a bit chilly.

Is it still going to be available next summer in that case?

Sounds like an awesome getaway!

Oh, and what would it be like for mountain-biking?

if you're not a fair weather rider I think october will be fine. You might get a cold spell and it'll be 0-5ºC, or you get lucky and it's fantastic autumn days with sun and 10-12ºC

good day - ride

rain / cold - make a fire!

I think if I was going away somewhere to cycle - I would be a fair weather rider!

Not to put a damper on things but the weather is not a given. It's not like going to the Costa Del Sol and knowing that you'll get hot weather. I've been over when it's been blisteringly hot all day and then you get days when it rains solidly. And I mean non-stop.

In the autumn it starts getting dark early. And it's a darkness that I've never experienced anywhere else. In the summer you get this sort of semi-twilight at night but in autumn (haven't been in winter) it's pitch dark. You need your full beam on when driving or you won't see the signs. You'll suddenly understand why Swedish cars always have their headlights on by default.

Last time I went to Sweden it was 30 Degrees!

looks amazing! i spent last midsommer in sweden at a similar spot in a mate's summer house - you could drink the lakewater.....one of my top three best holidays ever for peace and quiet. who needs electricity when you have open fires. i'd recommend taking arup up on this!

Having spent time in Sweden, I'd have to say that it looks idyllic. When the weather is fine...it's incredible..and when it's bad...like they say, stay indoors make a fire.

It's peaceful and silent and restful and when compared to the Uk, it doesn't have any people...which is sort of weird. I spent two weeks out in the sticks..and had a bit of culture shock when I got back here...Fuck, it's soooo over crowded here, literally hundreds or tens of thousands per square mile. You are lucky to see more than about 10 people a day in some places (ie more likely about 2 a day...in the sticks in sweden) even though I grew up in the country side, without trying to sound a little stupid or senseless, I haven't had that much of a revelation in a long time.

Last time I went to Sweden it was 30 Degrees!

same, and then the next day was a thunder storm with the day after that back to 30. Mental.

went in 2008 for 3 weeks, loved the place but then I would.

Incredible how you drive around between towns in the forest (skogen) theres loads of words for forest.....

From what I saw it does fulfil all the 'good society' things that certain sections of British society adore, although there also seems to be adarker side brought about by the winters.

Interacting with the Swedes, they are quite....cold...really, but amazing how they will sit talking, debating, across generations for hours over the essential 'fika' (coffee break)

What I loved most though is just the space around you, like Oz.