Skärplinge is a locality in the northern parts of the historical province of Uppland. It was once a part of Överlövsta Parish but is today part of Tierp Municipality in Uppsala County. With a population of around 700 inhabitants, Skärplinge is a small locality with many of the former company towns of the region in its vicinity. However, it does not have any larger industries itself.
A Short History of Skärplinge
The first known mention of Skärplinge dates back to the early 14th century. It has over the centuries been a junction for trade and services for the surrounding area. The locality was during the 20th century the home of local bank offices with Gefle Handelsbank opening a filial in 1905 and eventually also Upsala Sparbank. These banks are today part of Svenska Handelsbanken and Swedbank, the last bank office in Skärplinge closed in 2021.
Things to Do and See
The center of Skärplinge has a few stores, a grocery store, and a pizzeria. The locality is right at the center for anyone who wants to explore the old company towns of Strömsberg, Karlholmsbruk, Lövstabruk, and Forsmark. But there are also a few places to explore in the locality itself.
Hornbergsgården – Gammelgården
Österlövsta hembygdsförening, the local heritage organization connected with the former parish, is housed at Hornbergsgården close to the center of the locality. This is the old historical farmstead in the locality that is used for many local events and other celebrations.
PEK-Hallen & SHK Hockey
Pek-Hallen is the local ice rink with public access at specific times. The rink, with a capacity of around 600 spectators, is also the home of SHK Hockey. SHK stands för Skärplinge Hållnäs Karlholm and the team currently play in Hockeytrean, the 5th tier league in Sweden.
How to Get to Skärplinge
- Flights: The closest major airport is Stockholm-Arlanda Airport, 112 kilometers away with both domestic and international flights.
- Car: Skärplinge is along Road 76 between Gävle and Östhammar.
- Bus: Local and regional UL buses connect Skärplinge with the surrounding region.
- Train: Upptåget has trains to and from nearby Älvkarleby.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 148 kilometers (1 h 49 min)
- Gothenburg – 613 kilometers (6 h 17 min)
- Malmö – 757 kilometers (7 h 35 min)
- Linköping – 344 kilometers (3 h 53 min)
- Kiruna – 1126 kilometers (12 h 58 min)
Find out more about other destinations in Sweden by visiting our page Exploring Sweden
