Baltic Coastal Hiking trail - Harjumaa & Tallinn

Starting from Rannaküla and after bypassing the wetland, the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route crosses the small Nõva River and leads you to the beach at Keibu Bay (overgrown at the beginning) where a sandy seashore with dunes stretches before your eyes. Near Keibu Brook, it turns inland where its continuation coincides with the trail marked by the Estonian State Forest Management Centre: Peraküla – Aegviidu – Ähijärve. The trail snakes through the small Keibu village and emerges at the beach opposite Alliklepa village with beautiful juniper fields. Further on, the trail leads you between the sea and two small lakes that used to be coves. Opposite them, you will see dolomite outcrops in the seabed. Next, the trail takes a small road along the seacoast (you can see the Pakri Islands) until reaching Vintse village and then it turns towards Vihterpalu.

The south shore of the Kurkse Strait is covered in wetlands, so the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route turns inland. The greatest part of the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route leads you through large, sparsely inhabited tracts of forest (corresponding with the trail created by the Estonian State Forest Management Centre: Peraküla – Aegviidu – Ähijärve) and sometimes takes you to a more open space or a village.

Starting from Padise up to Karilepa, the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route winds through small country roads, while further on to Madise it goes along the side of the road. From the ancient seacoast of the Madise church hill, you will have magnificent views of Paldiski Bay and the Pakri Islands. From Madise to Paldiski, the itinerary continues along the side of the abovementioned road up to the South Harbour and, by going along it, the route reaches the railway station located in the southern part of Paldiski. During Soviet times, Paldiski was a closed town with a military port and a nearby nuclear submarine training base at the Pakri Peninsula that operated using a small nuclear reactor.

The Baltic Coastal Hiking Route leads around the Pakri Peninsula, from whose rocky shores you will discover the most beautiful coastal landscapes in northwest Estonia. It goes through the centre of Paldiski and, after having reached the fortress bastions of Peter I, it turns towards the Pakri Lighthouse going across the upper part of the impressive Pakri Cliffs. Further on up to Kersalu, there are both ups in the shape of rocks and downs where the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route meanders along a sandy and rocky seacoast and a beautiful pine forest. Pakri Cliffs are alluring both in cold winters, when impressive icefalls are formed here, and during the time of colourful leaves in autumn.

The itinerary leads along the seashore and small coastal villages. Near Kersalu, the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route approaches a rocky shore, where among the trees you will see cliffs rising several meters. When approaching Kloogaranna, wide sandy beaches and dunes appear. Near Kloogaranna beach, the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route turns towards a village, takes you on a stroll of ~ 3 km through the inland and then returns to the seashore.

A multifaceted section of the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route in terms of landscape that is suitable for hardy hikers. There are both rocky and sandy beaches and good swimming areas, fascinating coastal pine forests, the astounding Türisalu Cliff wall and giant sea boulders. By taking the trails of the vast Keila forest park, you can go to the Keila waterfall, near which some fragments of the popular Latvian feature film Vella kalpi (Devil’s servants) were shot, and you can also get to know the exhibition dedicated to the life of coastal fishermen in Lohusalu village.

One of the most complicated sections of the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route, suitable only for experienced hikers. The itinerary circles the Suurupi Peninsula where the dense forests conceal the military heritage of different eras. The Baltic Coastal Hiking Route meanders through overgrown and rocky seacoasts, birch groves, along former pioneer camps and sand-stone cliffs protecting coves with sharp capes. In some places, the sea uncovers its dolomite base, while in other places you can see boulder “islands”. At the end of the itinerary, one of the most astounding outcrops of the Estonian littoral rises before your eyes – the Rannamõisa Cliffs, which gives views of Kakumäe Bay and Peninsula and the towers of Tallinn’s Old Town.

Near Tabasalu, the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route crosses the boundary of Tallinn and goes through the Tiskre and Vismeistri districts to reach Kakumäe beach, where it takes  you on a stroll around the wooded upper part of the Kakumäe Peninsula surrounded by cliffs. Here, you will have a vista of the Port of Tallinn across Kopli Bay. Opposite the Õismäe district, an excellent promenade goes along the seashore. After bypassing the Estonian Open-Air Museum, the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route winds along the coastal promenade up to Stroomi beach and after passing the Pelguranna district it takes pedestrian sidewalks to the Estonian Maritime Museum, where it leads you, via the coastal promenade, to the Port of Tallinn, marking the end of the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route. You have covered ~ 620 km in Estonia.