Welcome to our beaches 2 CONTENTS Welcome to our beaches ................................................................................................................. 4 Park legally and show consideration ......................................................................... 7 Offshore currents at bathing sites ................................................................................... 8 OUR BEACHES Skepparp .................................................................................................................................................................10 Vitemölla .................................................................................................................................................................11 Stenshuvud ..........................................................................................................................................................12 Rörum/Knäbäckshusen ...............................................................................................................13 Baskemölla ..........................................................................................................................................................14 Tobisvik ......................................................................................................................................................................15 Kyls strandbad/Borrby strand ..........................................................................................16 Mälarhusen .........................................................................................................................................................17 Sandhammaren ..........................................................................................................................................18 Nybrostrand .......................................................................................................................................................19 Ystads sandskog – Ryssvägen ................................................................................................20 Ystads sandskog – Saltsjöbaden .......................................................................................21 Gyllebo ........................................................................................................................................................................22 Bathing spots other than EU bathing sites ................................................23 Hjälmaröds strandbad, Kiviks norra hamnpir, Viks fiskeläge, Vårhallen, Skillinge badbrygga, Löderups strandbad, Gjuteriets strand, Lilleskog, Svarte havsbad Dogs and horses.........................................................................................................................................25 Right of public access .......................................................................................................................26 Jet skis ...........................................................................................................................................................................26 Borrowing lifejackets .........................................................................................................................27 Background maps ©Lantmäteriet via Geodata Collaboration Map photos ©Simrishamn Municipality | Published 2021. 3 Welcome to our beaches Our coast stretches for more than 100 kilometres from the mouth of the river, Julebodaån, in Simrishamn Municipality to Svarte in Ystad Municipality. In the south and north there are extensive sandy beaches and between them is a variety of natural landscapes, everything from coastal meadows and wooded shore terrain to cliffs and sandstone slabs. The landscape is strikingly beautiful and harmonically interspersed with genuine fishing commu- nities and cultural heritage harbours. 4 LARGE BATHING SITES (also known as EU bathing sites) can be found between Haväng and Kivik, at Knäbäckshusen and Tobisvik, and between Kyl and Mälarhusen, as well as at Sandham- maren, Nybrostrand, Ryssvägen and Saltsjöbaden. If you prefer freshwater bathing, there is a bathing site at a lake – Gyllebosjön. Beyond the large bathing sites, the coast offers both sandy beaches and bathing-friendly flat rock areas in many places, for both you and your dog. MANY OF THE BEACHES are within easy reach on foot or by bicycle or bus. The Skåneleden and Backaleden trails are for hikers and the Sydostleden and Syd- kustleden paths are for cyclists. If you take the car, please park with care and only where you are allowed to as, among other things, this will enable access for emergency vehicles in the event of an accident. REMEMBER THAT THERE are currents when there is an onshore wind. If you find yourself in a current and it is difficult to get back to the shore, swim parallel to the beach until the current subsides and then swim to the shore. Find out more on pages 8–9. If you are bathing on Ystad’s south coast, also be alert for waves caused by the backwash from fer- ries – these waves can suddenly appear “from nowhere”. You can find further information on your favourite bathing site (such as water quality updates) at www.havochvatten.se/badplatsen. 5 And remember – take care of yourself and others when you bathe: • Never bathe when there are high waves. • Always bathe with someone else. • Swim parallel to the beach. • Do not jump or dive into unknown waters. • Never push a person into the water or hold a person under water. • Only shout for help if you are in an emergency situation. • Avoid inflatable beach toys. • Do not play with life-saving equipment. • Always tell someone about where you are going to swim and when you intend to be back. • Test your swimming proficiency before swimming outdoors. In brief: take responsibility for yourself and others in the water. Welcome to our beaches. 6 PARK LEGALLY AND SHOW CONSIDERATION EVEN THOUGH THERE IS room for everyone at the bathing site, it is usually congested on the way to and from the beach. If you drive to the beach, do not park your car where it will obstruct access for the emergency services. In the event of an accident, it is vital that emer- gency vehicles can get down to the beach – for the sake of your own and everyone else’s safety and security. WHERE YOU ARE allowed to park is marked on the maps in this bro- chure. Remember to follow the road safety rules: do not park where you will obstruct emergency vehicles, on green spaces or close to junctions. If you are unsure, do not take the risk – it can be both dan- gerous and expensive. Cars that are parked illegally will incur a fine and vehicles that are causing an obstruction will be removed. Also be careful when you are driving in situations where there is a lot of traffic and pedestrians in coastal communities and on the way to the beach – take extra care when reversing, for example. Empty the car yourself. Do not leave valuable items in the car when you park. Do not leave a dog in the car. Car interiors heat up rapidly. BUSSES GO TO a number of our beaches. Refer to specific beach sections for the relevant bus routes. You can find timetables at skanetrafiken.se and in the Skånetrafiken app. 7 OFFSHORE CURRENTS AT BATHING SITES THE MOST COMMON cause of bathing accidents is offshore currents. It is also a common occurrence that children riding on inflatable beach toys are pulled out to sea, which can be very dangerous if they are non-swimmers. What is an offshore current? Offshore currents are powerful currents that arise when bodies of water are forced back out towards the sea. In most cases, these currents arise in connection with an onshore wind. The current is so strong that you cannot swim against it. How do you recognise an offshore current? It is difficult to see an offshore current when you are standing on the beach. Look out for calmer water between areas of surf – it may be an offshore current. How do I know which beaches may have offshore currents? Given the right weather and bottom conditions, the phenomenon can arise anywhere on Sweden’s coast, as well as in lakes. Therefore, you should always be vigilant. We know for certain that offshore currents occur at bathing beaches in southeast Skåne. What should you do if you get caught in an offshore current? Often, the current does not extend very far out from the shore. Try not to swim against the current. It is better to let the current carry you and then try to swim out of the current in parallel with the beach. LET THE OFFSHORE CURRENT CARRY YOU AND SWIM IN PARALLEL TO THE BEACH UNTIL YOU CAN SWIM TO THE SHORE. 8 How can a person be saved? Firstly, alert others about the accident. Then take something with you that you can use as an “extended arm” to prevent the person in the current being dragged under the surface of the water. This could be an inflatable beach toy, towel, branch or something else that can be found in the vicinity. Do not then go out into the current your- self, as it is easy for you to be taken by surprise as well. It is advisable to use the areas to the side of the current. FOLLOW THIS ADVICE WHEN SWIMMING AT A BEACH WHERE OFFSHORE CURRENTS MAY OCCUR: • Always keep children in view. Small children are to be within “grabbing distance”. • Adults should be in close proximity if children are going to play on inflatable beach toys or air mattresses. • Adopt this rule: wade out, swim in. Then you know you can reach the bottom. • Swim in parallel to the beach. 9 BEWARE OF STRONG