Area
57 hectares (both Uuvi and Metsähallitus areas)
Nautical Chart Folio
A 623
Address
Porvoo
Services
information board, campfire sites, dry toilets, jetty, mooring rings, mooring buoys
Pirttisaari is on the Porvoo archipelago, about 10 kilometres from the mainland. It is an interesting destination and can be reached by your own boat or by the regular ferry from Kalkkiranta.
The outdoor recreation and nature conservation areas in Pirttisaari are managed by Uuvi and Metsähallitus. Signs of the areas military history can still be seen in the form of the coastal guns and defence buildings. Pirttisaari is home to lush forest, bare surface rock, and vantage point cliffs with amazing views.
Byviken village on the island is one of the most remarkable examples of archipelago culture in Finland. Byviken is not a part of the recreation area but offers an idyllic atmosphere for visitors who pass by. The village has residents all year long.
Making a fire is permitted only at marked campfire sites, and only when a wildfire warning is not in place. When a warning is in place, no fires are permitted.
Dogs and other pets must be kept on a leash.
Pirttisaari is on the Porvoo archipelago, about 10 kilometres from the mainland. It is an interesting destination and can be reached by your own boat or by the regular ferry from Kalkkiranta.
The outdoor recreation and nature conservation areas in Pirttisaari are managed by Uuvi and Metsähallitus. Signs of the areas military history can still be seen in the form of the coastal guns and defence buildings. Pirttisaari is home to lush forest, bare surface rock, and vantage point cliffs with amazing views.
Byviken village on the island is one of the most remarkable examples of archipelago culture in Finland. Byviken is not a part of the recreation area but offers an idyllic atmosphere for visitors who pass by. The village has residents all year long.
Destination information
A daily ferry with regular departures leaves from Sipoo Kalkkiranta to Pirttisaari. There is an HSL bus connection to Kalkkiranta. Parking in Kalkkiranta is chargeable.
The Byviken School jetty is a good stop to hop off the ferry. The jetty is next to the school and visitors should note that the school building is private property. The recreation area is less than 1 kilometre from the jetty. The route from the jetty pass by the local residents’ houses and gardens and visitors are kindly asked to pass by carefully and respectfully.
The easiest place to land boats is the Svartviken jetty, where the water is deep enough for bigger keels as well. Originally the jetty was built for military purposes. The jetty is sheltered and popular among boaters and has a nearby campfire site and dry toilet. There are small sandy bays for paddlers close to Svartviken and Lerviken. Visitors should note that the south-western-most jetty in Svartviken is private property.
There is a small gravel road that leads from the Svartviken jetty and from the Koululaituri ferry jetty to the south of Pirttisaari, in Lerviksudden. The area’s cliffs offer beautiful views of the sea. Lerviksudden is also home to a cooking shelter and dry toilet.
There are no wells in the Pirttisaari recreation area, so visitors should bring their own water.
Accessibility
There are no unobstructed services in Pirttisaari. The main routes in the area are, however, accessible with strollers or wheelchairs. Visitors should note that exposed surface rocks are slippery when wet.
The regular ferry is not unobstructed.
Additional information
Pirttisaari’s Byviken represents a typical but already rare archipelago heritage landscape. Pirttisaari has been inhabited since the 18th century. The first residents were fishermen and after them came customs officers and pilots. The Svartviken pilot station was in use from 1868 to the 2000s. The naval station located on Pirttisaari for many years was relocated to the mainland in 2011.
During World War II, Pirttisaari was used as a defence fort for the Gulf of Finland. The area was closed to the public for 50 years and was only re-opened in the early 2000s. There are still three coastal guns, bunkers, and a fire control tower in the area — all of which are historic war monuments.
On a clear day, it is possible to see the Söderskär lighthouse with binoculars. The lighthouse island is open to visitors, with boats leaving for the island from the mainland. The wooden cross on the Korsberget rock is a memorial for a drowned fishing boy.
