South by Cycle: Länsi-Uudenmaan kierros

Day 1, centre of Helsinki–Mustalampi campsites (54 km, elevation gain 810 m)

Parks and green areas account for approximately one-third of the area of the City of Helsinki. The Helsinki Central Park is the longest uninterrupted park area, offering a beautiful green route away from the city, also to this trail, all the way to the shore of the Vantaanjoki River and Pitkäkoski rapids.

The first day of cycling largely follows the Route 2000, with a little additional spice and reliefs. When approaching the Nuuksio Lake Uplands, the elevation gains increase and the hills become steeper: over a distance of a little over 30 kilometres, the elevation gain is up to 450 metres, which is a lot in Finland. Fortunately, the hills are short and there are also a couple of lean-tos offering opportunities for taking a break, if necessary. The Luukki recreational area offers a beach and the Laguna restaurant.

After the Luukki recreation area, there are two wet and technical single track sections, which are easy to go around via Nettaa and Pakankylä. The sections are marked on map for clarity. Recommended unless you don’t mind a little hike-a-biking and possibly wet feet!

Cafe Ukén in Pirttimäki serves as the gateway to the Nuuksio National Park. In addition to a campfire site and cafe, you can rent a sauna in Pirttimäki, although only during the opening hours of the cafe, and preferably with advance booking. The distance from Pirttimäki to the Mustalampi campsites is only 13 km, but you probably will not be able to do it without sweating even after bathing in the sauna, as the elevation gain of the green Nuuksio roller coaster amounts to 250 metres during the evening sprint.

The Nuuksio National Park is one of the highlights of the South by Cycle trails. In terms of its location and characteristics, it is quite unique even internationally, so you will get a lot for the elevation gain. The trail in the national park is almost fully gravel hiking trails, so at least for those with small gears, cycling through the park is easy – at least technically speaking.

Haltia – The Finnish Nature Centre is located in the heart of Nuuksio, and the exhibition and restaurant are located approximately 5 km before the Haukkalampi and Mustalampi campsites. Haltia Lake Lodge serves those looking for accommodation next to the Haltia Finnish Nature Centre, along with the alternatives Oravankolo forest lodge and Tikankolo forest lodge with a sauna. Staying in Oravankolo lengthens the day’s distance by some 5 km, Tikankolo about 8 km.

The Mustalampi and Haukkalampi campsites are idyllic places to spend the night with their rocky wilderness pond landscapes, but also some of the most popular hiking destinations in perhaps all of Finland. Fortunately, there are lots of places for tents in a total of three different tent site options, so there should be room for all, even during busy summer weekends. If you still have a little of extra juice in your legs and it is not dark, the Saarilampi campsite is located 6 additional kilometres from these campsites.

As the first riding day clocks only 54km, it's most likely doable with an afternoon start as well, at least during the summer days.

Day 2, Mustalampi campsites–Korpudden campsite (84 km and elevation gain 1,030 m)

From the Nuuksio Natural Park, you will ride first gravel and then paved backroads to the village of Veikkola, a good place for filling up before the Veikkola–Lohja leg. The trail will partially follow a busy motor traffic road for some 9 km, which is perhaps the most dangerous section of all South by Cycle routes due to traffic. When it comes to taking cyclists into consideration, the traffic culture in Finland is internationally speaking reasonable, but still, the biggest risk in cycling and bikepacking is due to motor traffic. This is not the best route from Veikkola to Lohja, but along the Vanha Turuntie road, at least the journey is made efficiently.

At 30 km through the day, you will finally reach the Lohja ridge, on top of which the trail zigzags along hiking trails and easy paths to the grocery shops and fast food outlets in Lempola. From the Lohjanharju ridge, you will descend to Lake Lohjanjärvi, the biggest lake in the Uusimaa province and also the entire trail region. The Lohja waterfront trail continues for a majestic 18 km in all. For those seeking a guesthouse for the night, the day ends at the Mustio Manor, where the trail takes you first straightforward along a main road for a while and then zigzagging along gravel roads for the last kilometres.

Built in the 18th century, the Mustio Manor and its parks, side buildings and services is certainly one of the most interesting places to stay overnight along the entire set of routes, but if it is fully booked or you otherwise prefer to sleep under the starry sky, you can camp in the Korpudden hiking area some 6 km from the Mustio Manor.

Day 3, Korpudden campsite–Kopparnäs campsite (71 km, elevation gain 880 m)

At the start of the second-to-last day of cycling, the trail zigzags along gravel roads and then bike paths from Mustio Manor to the Mustion Muonitus village shop and café along the railway. You will follow the railway towards Karjaa, with a combination of gravel roads, easy paths and hiking trails. The path sections make this leg a little more challenging than the trail in general, but as a reward, you get to enjoy the serenity of the forest – while approaching the next destination in a straightforward way.

When the trail turns back east towards Helsinki 7 km before Karjaa, you will get to the fastest road sections of the trail. You will approach Inkoo first on paved road, but finally you will reach a number of gravel roads zigzagging across fields and forests, continuing until the Inkoo train station that hardly sees use nowadays. Before the Inkoo station, you will arrive in the village of Västankvarn, built around the Västankvarn Gård estate, from which the trail continues along a road to the terraces at Inkoo harbour.

From Inkoo, the trail continues zigzagging along gravel roads towards the Kopparnäs recreational area, the beaches of which are an excellent campsite. Degerby has a small village shop that is the last stop before the campsite. For those preferring guesthouse accommodation, the options are Kulttuurikeskus Holken or Westerby Gård 5 km after Inkoo, some 25 km before the Kopparnäs recreational area or Siuntion Kylpylä 18 km after the recreational area.

Day 4, Koppärnäs campsite–Centre of Helsinki (84 km, elevation gain 990 m)

From the Kopparnäs campsite, the trail takes you north, along a trail over rocks. The first kilometre is hike-a-bike, carrying your bike, to avoid an additional detour of some 15 km and a busy trunk road on the way towards Siuntio. The view over the sea from the cliffs of Kopparnäs is also great! After the recreational area, the trail continues on the edge of a golf course towards Siuntio – first on a pedestrian and bicycle path and then along a trunk road for 5 km before arriving in the centre of Siuntio, where you can find shops and a few restaurants to choose from.

From Siuntio, the trail continues to Siuntio castle manor, which is still in residential use. The old mill on the riverside features a small café in the summer. The journey continues along the Siuntionjoki River towards Kirkkonummi on a gravel road for a little more before a paved path continuing until Kirkkonummi begins. The Meiko recreational and nature conservation area is one of the gems of Southern Finland, and a swim in the crystal clear Lake Meikojärvi or a night in the Korsolampi campsite offer a comfortable break in the return to Helsinki if you don’t mind an additional day on the trail. You can also take an efficient train service to Helsinki from the Kirkkonummi train station: the trip by commuter train takes 41 minutes, and you do not need an advance booking for a bike.

If you wish to cycle, the trail continues from the centre of Kirkkonummi as a high-speed pedestrian and bicycle path. Hvitträsk Manor is not along the trail, but close: a visit to this national museum adds approximately 8 killometres to the day. In Espoo, the trail follows the waterfront trail, mainly on gravel pedestrian and bicycle paths. The trail continues close to the shore to the glass-walled office buildings in Keilaniemi and then across the Otaniemi campus of the Aalto University to the mainly gravel recreational trails going around the Laajalahti bay. The arrival to the centre of Helsinki and Kansalaistori (“Citizens’ Square”) takes place along central Helsinki’s rail trail Baana.