Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CAR
Several car-hire companies operate at the airport and in town.
Bikes
can be hired from
Jun-mid-Oct)
scheme requires a €10 fee and €40 deposit - do this online. Get the key from
the tourist office and you have access to a whole network.
ROUTE 66
03
Route 66, starting northeast of Tampere and winding 75km north to Virrat, is one of Fin-
land's oldest roads. When the famous song was translated into Finnish, popular rock star
Jussi Raittinen adapted the lyrics to this highway in his song 'Valtatie 66'. It's a good
drive, through young pine forest and lakescapes; the route is parallelled by the Poet's Way
lake cruise. Good hiking and fishing opportunities exist; Ruovesi is the best-equipped
base. Outside the June to August high season, there's little going on.
Kallenaution Kievari
mid-May-mid-Aug)
is the oldest building along Route 66. The complex has a beautiful cafe;
sit at old long wooden tables and imagine winter travellers huddled around the blazing
fire. There are handicraft exhibitions, including on
päre,
thin wooden sheeting used for
shingle roofs and also burned to provide light in houses. Historically this was often the
cause of blazes that destroyed entire towns.
Siikaneva
This large protected
marshland
accommodates some unusual bird species, including owls.
It's a great place to walk, with duckboard paths across the peat bog alternating with
stretches in peaceful pine forests. There are two loops: one of 3km, and one of about
10km. The entrance is signposted 20km south of Ruovesi; you pass some sinister-looking
military buildings on the way.
