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Five ways to enjoy the great outdoors
Smultronställe (n.): lit. ‘Place of wild strawberries’ A special place discovered, treasured, returned to for solace and relaxation; a personal idyll free from stress or sadness.
Pack a picnic and head to your nearest wood or forest (even if it rains, you’ll have a natural canopy overhead).
Break out the wellies for an afternoon and go foraging for berries, herbs or mushrooms. You’ll be amazed by what you can find (though be sure to check with an expert to see if what you’ve found is edible).
Take a stroll along a beach and enjoy shell-seeking or casting stones into the water. A Thermos of coffee and a blanket will keep you warm while you stop and gaze at the horizon.
Rent a kayak or stand-up paddle (SUP) and head to a nearby river, lake or shoreline.
If you live near the sea, put your name forward to crew at a local sailing club. A patient skipper will appreciate the extra deckhand and be happy to show you the ropes.
Dare to go alone
My Swedish friend Yvonne recounted how she’d once gone on a solitary five-day hike across a nature reserve. Although she confessed that ‘it’s incredible just how many noises there are in the woods at night’, the only time she was uncomfortable was when a party set up camp next to her and played the guitar until the small hours. Above all else, she enthused about how liberating and empowering the experience was.
To be honest with you, I can’t quite see myself camping alone in the woods at night, but it does inspire me to head out for a few hours to feel the power of being alone in nature, and I hope it does the same for you. It’s in these solitary moments that you appreciate the rustle of the leaves in the wind, the sound of the breaking waves or the distant melody of a lark. The unbroken spell of nature allows you to slow down, switch off and be alone with your thoughts – something of a rarity in the noisy world in which we live today.
Whistle while you walk
If you do head out to a forest alone, be careful to whistle, stamp your feet and generally make some noise – bears and wolves are shy but hate being caught off guard!
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Sandis Helvigs/Unsplash
A beginner’s guide to foraging
If you go to the Swedish woods in late summer/early autumn, you’ll come across people armed with baskets, scouring the forest floor for edible mushrooms, berries and other delicacies. Foraging is a skill that requires knowledge, patience and an eager eye, but once you get the hang of it, it’s great fun and incredibly mindful. And it makes for a tasty supper, too! It’s amazing what you can find at your feet if you just open your eyes. Here’s how to get started:
+ Find out more about the foliage in your area: identify the different species of weed, bush or tree. Learn what’s in season and at what point it should be harvested, and check it’s not on the endangered-species list.
+ Identify poisonous plants and never, ever eat anything you’re not 150 per cent sure about: always check your wares, preferably with an expert.
+ Gather only what you need and avoid taking everything from the patch; it’s also important to give the area time to recover before you return.
+ Avoid polluted areas, whether it’s the roadside or places where crops have been treated by chemicals.
+ Have fun: edible wild food can be quite hard to find, but if you make a day of it and take a picnic, it’ll be worth the effort.
Five edible mushrooms and where to find them*
*Mushrooms can be deadly poisonous, so always consult an expert before consuming.
+ Chicken-of-the-woods – Laetiporus sulphureus Once you know what you’re looking for, you’ll find this yellow-orange mushroom everywhere on the trunks and branches of living and felled trees.
+ Lion’s mane – Hericium erinaceus This distinct and delectable mushroom can be found on dying or recently felled hardwood trees like maples, sycamores and oaks.
+ Chanterelle mushroom – Cantharellus cibarius The chanterelle is a forager’s favourite because it’s delicious. You can find it almost everywhere in the world.
+ Cauliflower mushroom – Sparassis Usually found living in the roots or at the base of a hardwood tree, the cauliflower mushroom is best picked when white and is delicious served in an omelette.
+ Porcini mushroom – Boletus edulis Found on a hardwood forest floor near chestnuts, spruce, pine and hemlock, this mushroom has a nutty taste and is a real gourmet treat.
HOLIDAYS
‘Away is good but home is best.’ Swedish proverb
If you visit Sweden in June, you’ll feel a buzz of excitement in the air. The warm weather will have arrived and people all over the country are preparing to shut their laptops and shut up shop for the summer. Some may stay put and enjoy some downtime in their own back garden; others will visit a basic summer cottage by the water’s edge or go camping. Either way, the goal is the same: to take time off to enjoy the simple things in life – long hours of daylight, nature and being together with friends and family.
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The basic summer cottage
Living in Sweden has reconfirmed my belief that you don’t have to spend a lot to have a magical holiday. The Swedish summer holiday is about taking time out and going back to basics to enjoy the simple things in life – whether that’s simply hanging out at home or heading to a small, basic summer cottage by the sea or deep in the heart of the countryside, to enjoy reading, baking, bathing, board games, crafting or simply hanging out with friends and family and drinking in as much sunlight as possible before the autumn leaves start to fall.
In a fast-paced digital world, taking time just to ‘be’ is the perfect antidote. Expectations are minimized – it’s a fuss-free adventure without a large investment, and there’s no pressure: no flights to catch, no currencies to decipher or schedules to stick to. The time is simply there for you to enjoy in whichever way you choose.
The next time you’re booking your vacation, I can highly recommend finding a small cottage or cabin not far