Ursholmen

Far out west, where Kosterhavet meets the horizon, lies Ursholmen. The area consists of two islands, Ytre and Indre Ursholmen, separated by a narrow strait only 40 meters wide at its narrowest point. The terrain is gently hilly and offers wide views of the sea.

The two lighthouses are visible from both sea and land and were once used as navigation markers. In 1931, one of the towers was extinguished and its top removed. The lighthouse station is now unmanned, but the houses and sheds remain as traces of the keepers’ lives. Today, the buildings consist of two lighthouses, two residential houses, a small museum, four outhouses, and several old farm buildings. The island has drinking water and a simple outdoor toilet available.

Ursholmen is part of Kosterhavet National Park, which was established in 2009 as Sweden’s first marine national park. The land, lighthouses, and houses are owned by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and managed by Kosterhavet Management.

Practical information
You can only visit Ursholmen by your own boat or by passenger boat from the northern harbour in Strömstad during the summer months. For those arriving with their own boat, there is a natural harbour with a guest dock. You can download the nature guide Båtliv for practical tips.

Selin Charter offers trips to and from the island, with stops at the Koster Islands at the docks Ekenäs, Långagärde, and Västra brygga. Kust Event also arranges trips departing from Strömstad, Lagunen Camping, and Ekenäs brygge on South Koster.