Vilsandi National Park

Vilsandi National Park (also know as Vilsandi rahvuspark) is a 238 km² park located in the island of the same name and number of smaller islands, adjacent parts of western Saaremaa and the Harilaid peninsula on Saaremaa, the largest island in Estonia. Vilsandi National Park is used as an area of stop-over by many migratory birds, like barnacle geese and Steller's eider, and as a breeding and nesting ground for over 247 species of bird (like eider duck). One third of all protected plant species in Estonia can also be found in the National Park.

How do I arrive to Vilsandi National Park?

 The area has very few inhabitants so it isn't easy to arrive here.

• Boat: there are three weekly boats to Vilsandi from Rootsküla port.
  
• Car: to reach the National Park you can drive from Kuressaare to Atla (aprox. 35 minutes), from Rootsküla (aprox. 30 minutes) and to Harilaid Peninsula (aprox. 45 minutes).

 Once in the Park, a good choice to move along it is by car, bike or walking.

History

The area has been quite uninhabited by humans. The first permanent settlers were Captain Doll and his wife, survivors of a Dutch shipwreck. He founded Tolli Farm and worked as a hayfild guard for Kihelkonna Church Manor. In the 18th century farming families from western Saaremaa settled here, whose main sources of livelihood were seafaring, fising and raising livestock. In 1934 there used to be 169 inhabitants.

What can I visit in Vilsandi National Park?

These are some things to do in this National Park, explained now according to the part where they are:     

• Vilsandi: 6 km long and 3 km wide island, divided into two parts: Suur-Vilsandi and Väike-Vilsandi. This island has high variety of landscapes, with cliffs, forests, surrounding islands... Currently it's inhabited by 3 people. 
  • Vikati Information Center: visitor center in the port of Vikati on Vilsandi with infromation available to visitors.
  • Vilsandi Hiking Trail (7 km): trail that begins at the observation tower and leads to the west and north. Heading north it passes the integrated enironmental monitoring site and it's possible to reach Vesiloo island while heading west the trail takes you to a sandy beach and from there to the lighthouse.
  • Vilsandi Lighthouse: oldest surviving lighthouse in Saaremaa, from 1809, but renovated and modified several times. Nearby there's Vilsandi Rescue Station, built because the region used to be where most shipwrecks ouccred in the waters of Saaremaa.
• Elda Peninsula: peninsula located in the southern part of the National Park, mostly covered in alvar grasslands and wooded meadows. Within the peninsula, near Austla forest, it's the small village of Atla (with 34 inhabitants), one of the largest municipalities in the National Park, divided into three parts: Atla-Alt, Atla-Mäe and Atla-Niidi. The area by the campsite at Elda Peninsula is a very good point for seal observation, exploring the cliffs or walking along the seashore.
• Kuusnõmme Peninsula: peninsula located in the central part of the National Park, covered mostly by pine forests that has many rare species like the Alpine butterwort, Saaremaa yellow rattle, orchids... In the village of Rootsiküla (37 inhabitants) it's placed the Vilsandi National Park Visitor Center  (10-18 from Jun to Aug; 9-17 Mon-Fri from Sep to May), office where getting help and information about the National Park, at Loona Manor (a 16th century manor). Here you can take Käkisilma-Vilsandi Hiking Trail (5 km) when the water level is low, route that goes through the sea and across a large number of small uninhabited islets, ending in Väike-Vilsandi.  
  
• Harilaid Peninsula: peninsula located in the northern part of the National Park that used to be an island centuries ago but currently it's connected with Tagamõisa Peninsula, with a former bay as a lake (Laialepa Lake). It's excellent for bird-watching and has many protected species like natterjack toad.
  

  • Harilaid Hiking Trail (11 km): trail that explores the varied coastal environment. It's an interesting route to observe birds and seals.
    
  • Kiipsaare Lighthouse: impressing lighthouse placed 30 m from the coast (because of the erosion of the beach where it was placed). Sometimes it seems to be leaning but it's corrected by the sand movement.

Kiipsaare Lighthouse

Grey seals in Vilsandi

Where can I eat in Vilsandi National Park?

This National Park has almost no places to eat so it's a good idea bringing food.

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