Immerse yourself in the nature of Läänemaa

In the romantic small town of Haapsalu and small villages, hospitable people await you, surprising you with their sincerity and interest in history and culture. The guests who stayed here are remembered again and again with great respect.

VisitEstonia has produced a brochure introducing Estonia’s national parks:

Lagleranna hiking trail

A boardwalk leads you from Altmõisa guesthouse in Lääne County through marshy meadows of juniper bushes and reeds. The hike to the seaside and back takes no more than an hour, if you don’t forget yourself watching the swans glide by and the sun sink below the horizon. The hiking trail showcases the surrounding flora, with information boards describing what you see from the boardwalk.

Vormsi Landscape Protection Area

The aim of Vormsi Nature Protection Area is to protect rare landscapes, heritage, culture and plants. The two internationally important bird protection areas on the coast of Vormsi – bays of Hullo and Sviby – and Hari strait with coastal meadows and islets are named research areas of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
Interesting places: Hullo bay – a nesting and a stopping place for birds. In spring you can see thousands of scaups, long-tailed ducks, ducks, barnacle geese and woodcocks there. Rumpo peninsula is the habitat of the rare lichens characteristic for tundras, but rare in Estonia. Also take a look at Rälby bog, Dilby peninsula, Saxby beach and Prästviigi Lake.

Marimetsa Bog Hiking Trail

The first part of the trail is a dirt road that runs along the high-voltage power line. The track then reaches the Marimetsa Brook and leads to the rest area along the banks of the brook. From there, a boardwalk will take you to Marimetsa Bog. There is a viewing tower at the end of the trail (7.6 metres high).
In Marimetsa Bog, you will see a fen, a transition bog, a raised bog, and a number of different birds and plants.
The length of the trail is 9 kilometres of which 2 × 2 kilometres is a boardwalk. You should plan 4–5 hours for the hike. The trail is wet at places – make sure to bring your rubber boots. 
There is a dry toilet on the track, benches for resting, and an information board with a map and a scheme of the trail.

Huitbergi hiking trail and limestone hill

One of the most fascinating places on Vormsi is the Huitbergi limestone hill in a spruce forest in the middle of the island. The hill is over 400 million years old and a coral reef polished by ice. The limestone outcrop is covered with moss, but fossils can be seen in places where there is no moss. Protected ferns have found their place there.
The circular trail is marked with wooden signs.

Winter ice fishing on Lake Veskijärv in Läänemaa

Our guided ice fishing trip takes place on the picturesque, species-rich Lake Veskijärv, a well-known fishing spot in West Estonia.

Ice fishing means catching fish in a completely new way. Our fishing guide will provide you with all the necessary equipment and tips to enjoy the experience in the best possible way. If you are lucky, you might catch perch or pike. If you are not lucky enough to catch a fish, you can enjoy spending time outdoors in winter and learn how to drill ice holes.

The fish you catch are usually released back into the water, but you can also take the catch with you to make a delicious dinner later.

Paralepa forest tracks

The Paralepa park forest not far from Haapsalu has 3 km and 5 km long tracks. They provide a number of exercise opportunities, from parallel bars and balance beams to chin-ups and obstacle course runs. You can get a map from the reception desk at the nearby Fra Mare Hotel to help you navigate along the tracks. The map marks the running and ski track, which is also marked in situ, and the hotel will also hire out Nordic walking equipment, bicycles and skis.