Espoo's outdoor islands: Iso and Pieni Lehtisaari plus Sumparen

This begins a new series: over the coming years, I will introduce all the islands in Espoo that can be visited. First up is a trio of islands: Iso and Pieni Lehtisaari, and Sumparen. Let's start our exploration with Sumparen, as it has one of the finest spots in Espoo. Initially, a view to the northeast. Notice the Tuomela boatyard, where boats were built until the 1960s (now private property).

Then a maritime view to the southwest. The scenery doesn't get much better than this.

Connecting bridge between Sumparen and Iso Lehtisaari.

Here is another picture from Sumparen. The view is to the north, with Pieni Lehtisaari in the foreground.

The islands have various cottages. The most common type seems to be a small, two-room "fisherman's house" of about 40 square meters. There are many different cottages, but with family and camera in tow, I didn't wander into the yards.

Now on to Iso Lehtisaari.

Most of the islands are cottage plots, which naturally limits wandering and photography. Privacy and peace must be respected. There are winding walking paths like this throughout the islands. 

In the middle of Iso Lehtisaari, it doesn't feel like you're on an island in the sea. The forest is in its natural state, and in typical Espoo fashion, the rocks are nearby.

Espoo owns 16 hectares here, so you can pick blueberries on municipal land. There are plenty of blueberries.

In the middle of Iso Lehtisaari, there is a large devil's field. A devil's field is a vast rocky area located on an ancient shore. As the water level dropped, these fields could end up deep inland.

I had heard of Iso Lehtisaari's devil's field a long time ago, but I had, of course, forgotten about it. So, it was a bit of a surprise to come across something like this.

On the north shore of Iso Lehtisaari, there is an official dock. The water is deep enough for larger boats to dock.

Next to it is a cabin and dock that seems to be sparsely used by Espoo's technical department. I plan to find out the usage rate of this cabin to see if these city facilities can be put to better use.

On this trip, I was accompanied by a large group of relatives and a knowledgeable local guide. If you visit new places, it helps to have someone with you who knows much more about the area than you do. Thanks a lot...

This trip is coming to an end. Here is the connecting bridge between Iso and Pieni Lehtisaari, with the smaller island in the background.

A great trip should end in style. Meet the gem of Lehtisaaret, Villa Zilliacus. This Jugendstil villa has both style and size. There will be an extensive, separate feature on this villa.

Elsewhere on the web:
> Lehtisaari's history (Lehtisaari Cooperative)