The Oxroad of Häme, bike trail

Kustaa III:n katu, Hämeenlinna

Hämeenlinna

Hämeen Härkätie (Häme Ox Road) is one of the oldest roads in the country, and its early phases date back far beyond the medieval times, all the way back to the Viking era in the 9th century.

Description

Starting point: The village of Letku, Tammela (along Highway 2). The village of Letku is signposted from the highway along the Ox Road of Häme (road number 2824). You can also start the trail from the castle grounds in Hämeenlinna.

There is a village shop in Letku, where you can buy snacks for the journey. The cycling route follows the Ox Road of Häme from beginning to end.

At first, you will see the Häme Nature Centre, followed by the Eerikkilä Sports Institute soon thereafter. Both offer different services from food to accommodation, and are ideal for a short break. The trail continues for approximately ten kilometres in the beautiful ridge landscape of Porras, and through small villages such as the village of Porras.

In the Porras Tannery you can find out about the work of tanners in the past, enjoy the café services and perhaps even stay overnight. From Porras, the journey continues all the way to Renko in an idyllic rural landscape through beautiful Häme villages such as Räyskälä, Vojakkala, Nummenkylä and Lietsa. In Renko’s Kuittila, there is a summer café called Kynttilä (Candle). The journey from Renko to Hämeenlinna follows a quiet road, and the forests on both sides of the road and the occasional farms create a lovely setting. The Ox Road of Häme ends at the gates of Häme Castle.

End point: Häme Castle, Kustaa III:n katu 6, 13100 Hämeenlinna.

Information

Arrival

The trail starts from the village of Letku, which is located along Highway 2. The village of Letku is signposted from the highway along the Ox Road of Häme (road number 2824). You can also start the trail from the castle grounds in Hämeenlinna.

Route duration

13 hours

Good to know

The route is good for cycling from May to the end of October. You should dress according to the weather, have a separate jacket for the breaks, as well as something to eat and drink because of the long distances. The route is partly lit, but you should take a headlamp or a bicycle lamp if you plan to cycle in the dark. The journey is fairly long, and it is worth packing a tyre repair kit and a bicycle pump because of the long distances. Reflective clothing and reflectors are also recommended, especially after dusk falls.

More information on the route

The Oxroad of Häme trail is suitable for more experienced cyclists. On the way, you can explore small villages of Häme region and their history in a beautiful countryside scenery. The trail has been marked from beginning to end with the large brown signs of Ox Road of Häme. These signs can be found at all junctions, which makes the trail easy to follow. You can also start the route from Hämeenlinna. The route is only a small section of the Ox Road of Häme, and, if you so wish, it is easy to continue longer along the road, perhaps all the way to Turku. It is worth noting that the Ox Road is relatively narrow in parts, and it does not have a separate pavement for pedestrians and cyclists. There are some services along the route, but outside the high season they are rarely available, or open only to order. Some of the distances between Hämeenlinna and the village of Letku: Hämeenlinna – Renko 20 km Renko – Porras 36 km Porras – Letku village 13 km

Route's length km

70

Surface material

Asphalt, Sand, Gravel

  • Paved road runs along a lakeside.
  • Red wooden house next to a gravel road.
  • Old medieval castle next to a lake.
  • A brown signpost next to a road. It says

Nearby services

More nature sites