On the western side of Rörö lies the nature reserve
The area are managed by Västkuststiftelsen that attracts both locals and visitors from near and far. The reserve is a place for everyone, birdwatchers, hikers, swimmers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all age
Two marked trails, approximately 3 and 5 kilometers long, lead you through a varied landscape of glacial ridges, rocky outcrops, sandy shores, and open grazing land. The routes are marked with blue and orange stones to help you find your way.
During the summer, sheep and horses graze freely to keep the landscape open. Remember to always close the gates behind you, and let the animals be – they thrive best on their own terms.
Here you’ll find swimming spots for both gentle dips by the sandy beach and refreshing swims from the rocks. There are also designated grilling areas, making it easy to linger a little longer and enjoy the sea views.
The Rörö Nature Reserve is a place to return to, no matter the season. Come and experience the stillness, the western sea winds, and the shifting character of the wild coastal landscape.
A Protected Landscape
The Rörö Nature Reserve was established in 1976 to preserve the island’s unique environment and protect it from development. Even before that, sand extraction had begun, and on the heath known as Et, east of Ers van, there were plans to build a large area of summer cottages.
But some dedicated islanders refused to give up. They saw the value of their landscape and fought for it to be protected. Thanks to their persistence, the plans were halted and the nature reserve became a reality.
Today, we can walk across open heaths, enjoy the mirror-like surface of Ers van, and experience a coastal landscape allowed to remain wild and alive. It’s a reminder that we need to live more in harmony with nature – not only exploit it, but also preserve and protect it. On Rörö, many areas of valuable nature deserve the same care to ensure that land for outdoor recreation remains accessible for the future.
Wildlife and Biodiversity on Rörö
A Landscape Shaped by People
The nature of Rörö has long been influenced by traditional farming and grazing. When agriculture declined from the 1950s onward, parts of the landscape began to grow over. Shrubs and trees spread, and several plant and insect species were pushed back.
To preserve the open landscape and the species that depend on it, methods such as controlled burning are used. In the photo(you can see how small juniper piles (enkasar) have been cut and gathered on Et before being burned) grazing animals also help keep the western side of Rörö open and alive.
On Rörö, people rarely say “the nature reserve.” Locally, they simply say “berga” (the rocky hills), “strandstena” (the shoreline oh stones), or “västsidan” (the westside). You might hear someone say, “Shall we go out to västsidan?” or “Shall we head out in berga?” and sometimes, “I took a walk to strandstena.” These expressions reflect the island’s distinctive local language and the close connection between the people and the landscape.
Tallarna – planted roots and a place for play
Between Ers kullar and Lilla Ers van, pines were planted in the mid-1900s. The purpose was likely to stabilize the soil and create a bit more shelter in the open coastal landscape.
Over time, they have become an important part of the island’s wildlife, offering protection for both horses and sheep, while also providing valuable nesting sites for many small birds.
Today, Tallarna is a natural destination. The wind-twisted trunks and low branches have become a playful landscape for generations of children who have climbed, swung, and created their own adventures among the pines.
Grazing animals – nature’s landscape keepers
When summer arrives, Rörö comes to life. Sheep and horses move freely across the land, helping to keep the landscape open. Their presence is an important part of nature conservation and contributes to the biodiversity that makes this place so special.
Remember to always close the gates behind you and let the animals be – they do their work best on their own.
On land – mammals, reptiles, and amphibians
Rörö is home to many of the animals typical of Bohuslän. Here you may encounter roe deer grazing in the open areas, a fox moving quietly at dusk, or small rodents rustling in the grass. Even the beaver has made its way here, leaving signs of its presence around Ers vatten.
Among the reptiles, both grass snakes and adders thrive in the sun-warmed terrain. In spring and early summer, natterjack toads and other amphibians can be heard calling from the wetter parts of the island – a sure sign of spring that many locals cherish.
The world of insects
During the summer months, the landscape teems with tiny life. Butterflies such as blues, red admirals, and peacocks dance above the heaths, while bumblebees, solitary bees, and hoverflies pollinate the meadow flowers. In the open areas, you can also find more unusual insects, closely tied to the heathland and the traditional grazing maintained by the sheep and horses.
Birdlife – the coastal choir
Rörö is known for its rich birdlife. During spring and autumn, thousands of migrating birds pass by. When the wind picks up, northern gannets, kittiwakes, Sandwich terns, and razorbills may be blown close to shore. On the island’s sheltered side, small birds such as lesser whitethroats, linnets, nightingales, rock pipits, and dunnocks fill the air with song, while oystercatchers, eiders, common gulls, and various species of large gulls are constant companions along the coast.
The gulls are especially fascinating to get to know. The herring gull, great black-backed gull, and lesser black-backed gull can be hard to tell apart at first glance, but their legs offer a clear clue: both the herring gull and the great black-backed gull have pink legs, while the lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus) has bright yellow legs. The great black-backed gull is the largest of the three and can eat everything from fish to smaller birds, while the lesser black-backed gull is the most graceful flier, specialized in catching fish, mussels, and crustaceans.
Around Ers van, ducks, waders, and various songbirds thrive among the broad reed belts. The calm water also provides habitats for dragonflies, frogs, and insects seeking shelter — creatures that in turn form a rich and easily accessible food source for many of the birds that move around the lake.
In the dense thickets around the island, many of the smaller birds also make themselves heard. Here you can listen to the wren’s rapid, powerful song, spot the firecrest darting through the junipers, and see the robin perched openly as it sings. In the bushes and open areas you’ll also find species such as great tits, blue tits, willow warblers, greenfinches, and chaffinches — small but lively voices that together fill Rörö’s thickets and edges with constant movement and sound.
In the sea – seagrass meadows, kelp forests, and marine life
Life beneath the surface is just as rich as life on land. Outside Sandviken, Tåviken, and Ersvik, seagrass meadows spread out — true nurseries for species such as cod, plaice, shrimp, and other crustaceans. Mackerel, herring, and saithe hunt in schools, while flatfish, crabs, starfish, and mussels fill out the ecosystem on the seabed.
In the border zone between rock and sea, different types of seaweed grow, forming underwater forests. Here, bladderwrack thrives with its air-filled bladders, serrated wrack with its jagged edges, and knotted wrack that forms dense belts along the stones. These seaweed forests provide shelter and food for countless small marine creatures and act as the ocean’s own lungs by producing oxygen.
Did you know that a belt of seaweed is just as important to the ocean as a blooming meadow or forest is on land? Without them, many fish and small marine animals wouldn’t survive.
With a bit of luck, you might also spot a seal resting on a skerry out in the outer archipelago, a porpoise swimming past — or, as in May 2025, witness a pod of orcas passing at arm’s length from Röe hall. A powerful reminder that we share the sea with some of its largest inhabitants.
But the ocean’s underwater forests are fragile. Eutrophication, climate change, and invasive species can severely affect both seagrass meadows and seaweed belts. When they disappear, many other species lose their homes as well. That’s why it’s important that we protect these habitats, so the waters around Rörö can continue to brim with life.
Invasive species – a shared challenge
Not all species on Rörö truly belong here. Pacific oysters spread across beaches and rocks, pushing out the natural blue mussel beds. New jellyfish and fish species have begun to appear as the climate changes, and some of the crabs that children catch are in fact invasive and risk outcompeting the native shore crab.
We can all help protect nature:
Put our native shore crabs back — like the one in the photo — but not the invasive ones after crab fishing. Those should be killed and removed. Talk with children about the difference between native and invasive species, such as the Chinese mitten crab and the Atlantic blue crab, and about how and where to report sightings.
Plant life – from coastal rarities to blooming meadows
On the western side of the island lies a large shingle field where species such as sea wormwood, sea holly, and oyster plant grow — the oyster plant is protected and a very rare species with blue-violet flowers found in only a few places in Sweden. On Rörö, it is fenced off on the western side between Röe hall and Ers kulla.
A more common sight is thrift, which blooms in pink clusters along the cliffs in early summer. It grows in tight tufts, thrives close to the sea, and withstands both wind and salt — and it is magical around Kelly’s bar for a few weeks in May. Other plants that shape the reserve include sea kale, lyme grass, and honeysuckle — all adapted to the harsh coastal climate. In the open meadows, species such as milkwort, devil’s-bit scabious, early marsh-orchid, felwort, fairy flax, and quaking grass bloom — important food sources for butterflies and other pollinators.
Do you want to learn more about the plant life on Rörö? Click to explore Rörös flora.
Preserving Rörö’s biodiversity is not only about enjoying the experiences of today – it’s about making room for the life of the future, both on land and in the sea.
Geology – an island shaped by ice and sea
Rörö’s landscape is defined by the power of the inland ice. When the ice retreated more than 12,000 years ago, it left behind gravel, sand, and stone. A clear trace of this is the large shingle field on the western side, as well as the giant’s kettles at Sandviken and Ers kullar, where meltwater once swirled with great force.
The bedrock consists mainly of veined gneiss — a striped rock with alternating light and dark layers. At Munkhuvudet you can also find greenstone, a nutrient-rich rock type that supports a richer plant life. Near Kärrsviken stands the distinctive rock formation Krokete Jon, shaped by meltwater from the Ice Age and resembling a rauk.
Viewpoints
If you want to experience the island from above, you can head up to one of Rörö’s hills.
Apelviksberget carries traces of the war in the form of an old mine (and modern traces in the form of a Pokémon Gym). Fyrvala offers wide, sweeping views, and Grevens Vale is a place where nature and history meet. The island’s highest points, Fyrvala and Grevens Vale, rise a little over 40 meters above sea level and provide panoramic views of the archipelago. All three offer vistas that give perspective on both the island and the sea surrounding it.
West of the pines, Ers kullar stretches out — a ridge that opens toward the sea in the west. From here, you get expansive views across the outer archipelago, where Enskär and Röe hall appear close by, Vinga stands like an outpost to the south, and Stora and Lilla Pölsa can be glimpsed farther out.
Barbecue Areas
Rörö invites you to both hiking and togetherness – and what better way to begin or end your outing than at one of the island’s barbecue sites?
There are three designated barbecue areas in the reserve, all marked on the map. Each one has its own character:
At Fjärde viken in the south, you’ll find a barbecue spot close to the harbor, sand, cliffs, and swimming. It’s perfect for an outing with family or friends, where swimming and picnicking can be combined. This barbecue area is located outside the fenced part of the reserve, so you don’t need to worry about horses or sheep wandering too close.
Behind Ers kullar in the southwest lies another barbecue area west of the pines, with a view toward Enskär and Stora Pölsan. Here you’ll find shelter from the wind and easy access to both the pines and Ers kulla – an ideal place for a longer break, and with a bit of luck you might even spot a surfer or two trying to catch a wave south of Röe hall.
At Tåt in the northeast is the third barbecue area, where the sea opens toward the east. Here you can enjoy swimming, sea views, and birdlife up close.
Remember to bring your own firewood or charcoal, and leave the place just as you found it – or even a little better. That way, both locals and visitors can continue to enjoy these gems year after year.
The Right of Public Access (Allemansrätten) and Shoreline Protection (Strandskyddet)
The Right of Public Access, Allemansrätten, allows everyone to spend time in nature, whether you want to hike, cycle, paddle, or simply enjoy the peace and quiet. This unique Swedish freedom means you may move freely through forests and open land, but it also requires you to show consideration for nature, animals, landowners, and other visitors.
Shoreline protection, Strandskyddet, ensures that you can walk along the island’s entire coastline, safeguarding public access to coastal areas. Its purpose is to preserve and enable outdoor recreation by the water, while also protecting the plant and animal life that depend on shoreline habitats.
You are welcome to explore the beautiful landscape, just remember to show respect and leave no trace.
Since this is a nature reserve, there are reserve regulations that must be followed.
In the nature reserve, it is not permitted to:
- make fires, except in places designated for this purpose by the reserve manager,
- operate motorized vehicles,
- camp or set up a caravan,
- pick flowers or dig up plants,
- play ball games,
- remove or move stones on the shingle fields.
Keep in mind: do not disturb — and do not destroy.
For more information, visit
www.naturvardsverket.se.
The Nature Reserve – a landscape cared for together
The Rörö Nature Reserve is protected by the County Administrative Board of Västra Götaland (Länsstyrelsen i Västra Götalands län), which is responsible for the decisions and guidelines that govern how the area should be preserved. The day-to-day management is carried out by Västkuststiftelsen, which works year-round to maintain the open heaths, keep the trails in good condition, and support the rich plant and animal life that Rörö is known for. The reserve is also part of Natura 2000, a European network aimed at protecting valuable natural environments and biodiversity.
Between 2012 and 2015, extensive restoration efforts were carried out on the island through the EU project GRACE – Grazing and Restoration of Archipelago Islands. The goal was to reopen areas that had become overgrown over time. Through clearing, mowing, conservation burning, and the reintroduction of grazing, better conditions were created for the bright heathlands, rocky outcrops, and coastal meadows to recover and thrive.
Thanks to this management and restoration work, the seed bank in the soil can germinate, more species can return, and the landscape can continue to develop. The result is a more open, vibrant, and species-rich Rörö — a landscape cared for through cooperation between authorities, research partners, local contributors, and everyone who values the island’s future.
