Estonia\u2019s most forested county is known for its lighthouses and untouched wilderness.<\/p>\n
When one thinks of Hiiumaa\u00a0<\/strong>the first things that comes to mind are the majestic lighthouses, vast forests, and the sea. Hiiumaa is more peaceful than Saaremaa and where one can enjoy peace and quiet at the beach and in the forest. I once drove from Heltermaa Port to the other side of the island and did not meet one person. I passed but a few deer waiting at the side of the road. This says a lot about the feeling of Hiiumaa. Estonia\u2019s second-largest island is home to 8400 people, over a third of which live in the island\u2019s only town, K\u00e4rdla.<\/p>\n Here are a few attractions and nature reserves you must see when visiting the island as rec- ommended by us and by some Hiiumaa locals.<\/p>\n 1 Ristna<\/strong> is a great beach\u00a0for birdwatching along with S\u00f5rve and P\u00f5\u00f5saspea. Ristna is at its best in October, but one can also visit in winter when the sea rarely freezes. Estonia\u2019s windiest place is also a favourite among surfers. There is a lighthouse and RMK Nature Centre at Ristna too.<\/p>\n 2 K\u00f5pu Lighthouse.<\/strong> One of Hiiumaa\u2019s most important attractions is the K\u00f5pu Lighthouse, which is one of the world\u2019s oldest lighthouses and the first one of its kind on the Baltic Sea. The first fire was lit there in 1531. You can go inside the lighthouse too. K\u00f5pu Cape is partially protected by the rich variety of different species of vegetation not found anywhere else on the island. Western Estonia\u2019s highest point can also be found at K\u00f5pu (68\u00a0metres above sea level).<\/p>\n 3 Vanaj\u00f5e Valley.<\/strong> A river flows through this deep valley and a rare breed of mink has made a home along the river bank and has lived in Hiiumaa\u00a0for many years.<\/p>\n 4 S\u00f5ru<\/strong>. Hiiumaa\u2019s most southern point is an excellent nesting spot for birds where you can find many rare species. From S\u00f5ru Port, take the six kilometres long ferry ride to Saaremaa.<\/p>\n 5 K\u00e4ina and Kassari<\/strong> are\u00a0fantastic nesting spot for birds. Reeds fill the bay at K\u00e4ina and in autumn it becomes home to thousands of ducks, geese, and cranes. There is a bird watching platform in Orjaku and a nature trail that follows the shoreline of the bay. Kassari Island has many unique beaches and juniper meadows. Avocets, sandpipers, and other rare species of birds can be found at the sea shore of Kassari Island.<\/p>\n 6 S\u00e4\u00e4retirp<\/strong> is a long and narrow peninsula that turns into a narrow cape at its southern end. You can walk all the way to the end along a rocky\u00a0trail.<\/p>\n 7 Kaibaldi Sands<\/strong> a ten-hectare area sandy plain in the middle of Hiiumaa.<\/p>\n 8 Tahkuna<\/strong> is known for the majestic lighthouse built in 1873. Tahkuna is also interesting for nature lovers. Hiiumaa\u2019s most northern cape has a combination of old forests, marshes, and beautiful sandy beaches. Neeme Cape is also a\u00a0great area for birdwatching.<\/p>\n 9 Hiiumaa \u201cEiffel\u201d<\/strong>. It was one man\u2019s dream to build a 31.4 metres tall tower (1\/10 of the height of the Eiffel Tower in Paris) and it has now become one of the island\u2019s most recognised landmarks.<\/p>\n 10 K\u00f5rgessaare Coast<\/strong> is another good nesting place for birds. Its worth a visit in summer to see the K\u00f5rgsaare Orchid Trail, which is home to tens of species of wild orchids.<\/p>\n How to get there?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Take the ferry from Rohuk\u00fcla Port, which has several daily departures. An 20-kilometre trip to Heltermaa lasts one hour and 15 minutes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Locals Recommend\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Three island locals,<\/strong> either living or born in Hiiumaa gave The Baltic Guide some tips about their favourite places in Hiiumaa.<\/p>\n Harri Rinne,<\/strong> part-time resident of Hiiumaa, musician, writer, songwriter.<\/em> Hiiumaa has an astonishingly-varied natural landscape and\u00a0there are places I haven\u2019t even visited. Places and their atmosphere can be rated by the events that are organised there. There is a jazz festival in the boat shed, there are exhibits in old electrical buildings or even Reigi kirikla, dancing in barns. There are different events held in the lighthouses too.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n If I had to choose it would be Kalbaldi Sands. There are people on the island that don\u2019t even know about it though it\u2019s visible from Google Earth. It is ten-hectare beach in the middle of the forest. It\u2019s a place where nothing grows, giving it a sense of magic, an untouched place.<\/p>\n Second place would go to Saaretirp, the narrowing cape among the junipers with a trail that stretches all the way to the sea.<\/p>\n In third place, I would mention the local Eiffel Tower. One man\u2019s dream was a wooden tower with, at its base, the the foot of it a garden made from different pieces of furniture and other bits and pieces.\u00a0<\/p>\n In fourth place would the Tahkuna lighthouse where the remnants of firearms litter the beach.<\/p>\n J\u00e4rvi Lipasti,<\/strong> Hiiumaa native, Training and Integration planner for the Tuglase Society<\/em><\/p>\n My favourite places in Hiiumaa are tied to my childhood, especially the Vanaj\u00f5e Valley. I went there for the first time for a school excursion and experienced something mysterious.<\/p>\n Some of it is also not typical to Hiiumaa: the river among the high desert coastal slopes. It\u2019s small but at the same time mighty.It’s off the beaten track so it’s possible you won\u2019t run into anyone when you\u2019re there.<\/p>\n Leho Aaslaid<\/strong>, Hiiumaa resident, Ornithologist<\/em> TEXT MIKKO VIRTA,\u00a0PHOTOS ANDREI CHERTKOV, MAP EVE JAANSOO<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Estonia\u2019s most forested county is known for its lighthouses and untouched wilderness. 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My favourite place is my terrace with a view over the sea, but this is meant only for me. I have spent 17 summers and sometimes spring, autumn, and winter.<\/p>\n
The best nesting places are on the Hiiumaa peninsula. S\u00f5ru in the south, Ristna in the west, Tahkuna in the north and Suursadam and S\u00e4\u00e4re in the east, including the entire Kassari area and K\u00e4ina and Vaelma bays.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n