Hiiumaa island

Hiiumaa is a peculiar island. It is not famous for its old churches, historical estates, or endless miles of stone fences along roadsides. But Suuremõisa Castle is surely one of the finest examples from the period in our country. And there is a lighthouse - one of the oldest in Europe. Some pieces of stone fences can still be found between the villages. Mystical old abandoned farmsteads with tall primeval trees and sedgy meadows cower in the middle of the forests. Single details of former estates or tenant farm-houses are hidden in the landscape. Some cosy little smoke saunas of Hiiumaa with mosscoated roofs stand proudly near the roads.

Hiiumaa has a peculiar nature. We are not blessed by the high limestone bluffs or lakes between primeval forests and mountains covered with morning fogs. It is not easy to find even an ordinary Estonian beach in Hiiumaa during short visit, although the island has over 300 kilometers of coastline. You should take yout time off to discover the different types of coastline that vary from a couple of hundred years old pine groves to coastal meadows, and the various landscapes from open coastal pastures to typical West Estonian hills.

Hiiumaa has peculiar weather. There is rarely enough snow for skiing, but enough to decorate the trees and roads in the winter. In the summer there ara considerably more sunny days than on the mainland, and a couple of last years have been particularly hot. Our autumns last long enough to develop a nostalgic memory of the summer, asy to recollect while coming from colder North Estonia that is only some hours away.

Hiiumaa has a peculiar history. Heroic battles or world wonders have never belonged to our story. And yet everyone has a wonderful chance to get a glimpse of the splendour of the past in here. Just imagine the open view of the peninsulas and islands without a single pine-tree, or the huge cloth-fabric of Kärdla with the labour settlement in their everyday activities, or the construction works of the sailing-ships on the coasts of Hiiumaa, or about dozen big sailing boats spending their winter in Orjaku harbour only at the beginning of the 20th century.