My middle son, Exor, and I went to Stenshuvud Wednesday night, another national park just a short distance from where we live. We drove to the northern entrance, Hällevik. There is no more than just over a hundred meters to the only allowed tent site in the park from the parking.

When we arrived, there were already about ten tents pitched, and the place that felt just right for us was at the bottom of the glade. On the way to the site, a tent began to move, accompanied by a dog that was barking intensely. Exor, of course, answered with his unreserved singing. Felt like it could be a long night. But before we got the tent up, cooked dinner, and enjoyed the evening, the dog neighbor had already become everyday. Instead, the tent site was provided with sounds such as zippers being opened or closed, some mosquito buzz, a couple of gas kitchens, a beer that opened, and other sounds that belong at a tent site.

There is a trail, Hälleviksslingan, from the tent site down to the entrance, Naturum Stenshuvud. One goes inland one way and closer to the sea on the way back, if you start at Hälleviks entrance. So I took two rounds, one in the evening at sunset and one in the morning when the sun rose.

It is always good to visit a place first without all the camera equipment and to explore the possibilities for decent photos. You can be a little more agile, and you can explore the whole area pretty quickly. Test some different compositions with your mobile camera. This trail is only 4.2 kilometers. Though, a little bumpy in its places down towards the sea, close to the lighthouse. There is a lot of stones. And where you want to photograph there are many more of course, and a lot of loose ones also.

The time had to be set at 04:00! Sunrise 04:20! My goal was Hälleviks Kås, a few hundred meters from our tent. To snap the actual sunrise at the location scouted the night before. Equally bumpy, of course, but much easier when you could see the ground. It got a little dark before I reached the tent on the first lap the night before. The headlamp was in safe storage in the tent with Albin.

Exor can definitely sleep to both 10, 11, and 12 in the morning when we are at home. He is a little tired in the mornings. But if we are on a hike, it does not matter what time it is. You ask him if he wants to go on a walk, then all the sleepiness is blown away in a second, and he is ready at the tent opening. Although Google Assistant confirmed that the alarm was set to 4 at night when I asked her to set it.

Stenshuvud National Park

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