Jurmo – a masterpiece shaped by the ice age
The name Jurmo – Iurima Ultima – means “furthest out in the sea”. The name couldn’t be more appropriate, as the island of Jurmo comes across as a lonely line on the horizon, and there are no more islands beyond it.
Jurmo is one of the most distinctive islands in the archipelago. Many visitors have lost their hearts to it, and not without reason. The name dates back to the Middle Ages, when the island most likely already had a permanent settlement.
Jurmo’s “beaches” consist of millions of smooth rocks.
Unique nature formed by the ice age
Jurmo’s nature is unique. The melting phase of the last ice age formed and shaped the island. The last ice age formed three ridgelines in Finland. Jurmo is the last terrestrial stretch of the Salpausselkä ridgeline, which cuts across the entire width of Finland.
As the ice was melting and then freezing and melting again, it moved masses of terrain with it. The meltwaters were running in tunnels and cracks inside the ice sheet and transported and sorted gravel and sand.
The result of this can be seen in Jurmo. Millions and millions of round stones rest on its shores. The sight is almost unreal. Jurmo stretches to the west and east, and the ridge continues underwater. The underwater ridges were fateful for many ships in the past when shipwrecks were not unusual in these waters.
If you are interested in the ice age, read more from these links (I used them as my references):
Salpausselkä wikipedia
Salpausselkä ridges and chains of eskers
Apart from a small forest, no trees are growing on the island. Instead, juniper and heather grow in its meadows. In August the island bursts with colour from blooming heathers.
When you walk through the island, you can see far and you can see and hear the sea all the time.
Parts of the island belong to the Archipelago National Park. There is a nature information hut in the guest marina, where you can find lots of information about Jurmo’s nature.
Many come here for the birds. Turku Ornithological Association has a bird station on the island, it was established in 1962.
Colourful history of Jurmo
In addition to magnificent nature, Jurmo has an interesting history. It has been inhabited since the Middle Ages. The main source of living has been fishing, but living far away in the outer archipelago has developed the islanders’ ability to make a living in a variety of ways.
Among other things, the islanders have been known for smuggling, which, by the way, was considered a completely honorable act in the outer archipelago! In the history books, there’s also mention of piracy. The islanders made bonfires to lure ships on the shallow shores of Jurmo. It is said that as a punishment for piracy, the island was burned, and that’s why there are no trees.
It is quite fascinating to imagine the colorful history of the island while walking through the now peaceful moors.
The present chapel of Jurmo was built in 1846. It is surrounded by a little graveyard. From the chapel, you can carry on walking to the eastern side of the island where there are mystical stone rings. There’s no knowledge of what they have been. The stone rings are called monk rings.
The village is located near the chapel. In 2009 the island was home to ten year-round inhabitants. In the summertime, the number is a lot larger.
From the left: A monk ring, a lonely tree, whivh is the most photographed tree of Jurmo, and Jurmo chapel.
How to get to Jurmo
Ferry port: Pärnäinen, Nauvo
Line: Utö Route
Travel time Pärnäinen-Jurmo: 3 hours
Turku-Pärnäinen by car: 1.5 – 2 hours
Bus connection: yes
Parking: yes
Waiting room and toilet: yes
Timetables
Utö route ferry
Bus Turku-Pärnäinen. Bus no 901-904
Parainen-Nauvo ferry
From Turku to Pärnäinen
If you go to Pärnäinen by car, take into account that there’s one ferry connection before Pärnäinen, namely between Parainen and Nauvo. Add some extra time for the journey, I would say 1,5-2 hours is needed. In the peak summer season there’s queues to the ferry, so you have to wait maybe 30 minutes in the worst case.
You don’t need to book for the first ferry, and they operate every 15 minutes (there are some 30-minute breaks during the day). There’s a big parking area in Pärnäinen, where you have to leave the car.
There’s a bus connection from Turku to the ferry, the bus leaves from the bus station. From the timetable list choose lines 901-904. You can choose any bus that goes to “Pärnäinen lautta L”.
In the ferry timetable those ferries with # after the time mean there’s a connecting bus to it. You have to compare the timetables a bit to choose the right bus.
There’s a waiting room and a toilet for passengers in the Pärnäinen port.
Ferry
There’s a regular year-round ferry service connecting the island to the mainland and nearby archipelago communities. The journey itself lasts for 3 hours and offers stunning views of the archipelago.
You have to book the ferry in advance. Read more information here and here you can find the booking system. You have to register when you use it for the first time.
Jurmo and Utö, where the ferry also goes, are popular destinations and the deck fills up quickly. In the spring, it is populated by birdspotters with binoculars, in the summer, tourists enjoy the sun, and in the autumn it is again the birdspotters’ and campers turn.
At the ferry port in Pärnäinen, the passengers walk in from the back, and they can leave their bags on the shelves on the car deck. Inside the cabin, there are seatings for passengers, and on the lowest deck, there’s a café and toilets. I enjoyed the sun on the deck.
More information about ferries: Ferry Guide – How To Use Archipelago Ferries
Accommodation
Camping
The island has a camping area maintained by the Archipelago Sea National Park. The spot is popular, you can often see several tents in the summer on this small peninsula.
The terrain is rocky, so you need a good sleeping pad when staying here. There is a well in the port, so there is no need to bring water with you. There’s also a toilet and fire pit on the camping site.
Remember, if there’s a forest and grass fire warning, do not light a fire! Check the warnings here.
Read more about the camping spot: Jurmo Moringharu – The Roughest Camping Spot In The Archipelago
Below some pictures from the camping area.
Jurmo Inn
Jurmo Inn is located one kilometer from the port.
There are a couple of rooms to choose from and you can enjoy a full board. Make reservations and enquiries preferably by text message.
From the house there is a road to the chapel and from the back of the house there is a direct access to the ridge, which leads to paths in every direction.
I stayed in Jurmo Inn: Winter magic in Jurmo
Rental cabins
Klas Matsson rents cabins in Jurmo. They are very popular and people make reservations a year beforehand. Make all reservations by email: jurmo(at)jurmo.com. The website, where there’s information about the cabins, is only in Finnish and Swedish.
Local people, who take care of the accommodation and other services, are extremely busy during the summer months. Therefore they might not answer your messages straight away. But they will, just be patient!
Map of Jurmo
Picture source: luontoon.fi.
Be aware that there is also another island called Jurmo. It is located in the Northern Åland archipelago. When you google Jurmo, make sure you are looking at the Jurmo, where you want to go to! It has happened, that people arrive at this Jurmo but they have made reservations to the other one.
Ferry route
When visiting Jurmo, please protect the island’s vulnerable nature. Stay on the trails! Leave no trace behind!
I hope this post inspires you to visit Jurmo. If you did, write on the comments how you liked it!
