Timrå might, according to some people, be considered a suburb to nearby Sundsvall. It does, however, have its own history and is today the seat of Timrå Municipality. With 10.500 inhabitants it is the 113th largest town in Sweden and 15th in Norrland (the northern part of Sweden). The town is mostly famous for ice hockey and the forestry industry with its large pulp factories.
A Short History of Timrå
The parish of Timrå was established in the 15th century. The shipyard Vivstavarv was founded in 1798 and managed by Wifstavarfs AB. The production did eventually change from shipbuilding and it became a paper mill. It was in operation until 2007. Other industry in the area includes sawmills, two of which changed their production to sulphate and sulphite pulp. Additionally, there are ironworks in the area.
Things to do and see in Timrå
Timrå is the perfect place for anyone who likes sports, nature, and history. If that is not enough, there is, even more, to discover in nearby Sundsvall.
Timrå IK at NHK Arena
Timrå IK is the local ice hockey team and the pride of the town. After their last session in the Swedish Elite League (SHL) in the season 2018/2019 the team is now playing in Hockeyallsvenskan – the Swedish second league. With famous players such as Mats Näslund and Henrik Zetterberg the team has a long history. Founded in 1928 as Wifstavarvs IK, the ice hockey section started in 1937. The biggest rival would probably be Modo Hockey from Örnsköldsvik. They have had several battles during the years and their home towns are not far apart. The games between the teams have been called “Surströmmingsderbyt”, that is the derby of the fermented herring.
The team is currently playing in NHK Arena, previously known as Timrå Isstadion, Sydkraft Arena, and Eon Arena. It was completed in 1966 and has a capacity of 6000 spectators.
Lögdö Bruk
Lögdö Bruk, or Lögdö Mill in English, is one of the best-preserved ironworks in the region. The mill was built in 1685 and operations ceased in 1878.
Lögdö Bruk is located 11 kilometers to the north of Timrå and it is split into two places of interest. First, you have the site to which Google Maps will direct you. Here you find a small church as well as the mansion. There is also a small walking bridge across the river Aspån and the possibility to walk along the trail to the second site. The second site is the mill itself and instead of driving to Lögdö Bruk, you should drive to the next road on your left on the other side of the river. Here you follow Lögdövägen until you see the site. The ruins of the furnace are still standing.
The Y
“Y” is the letter for Västernorrland County and a large monument of it has been created close to the highway E4. It was created by the local artist Bengt Lindström (1925-2008) and inaugurated in 1995. The monument is 30.5 meters high and weighs 700 tons.
The Nature
The nature is probably the most important thing that Timrå has to offer. There are several hiking trails in the area and good fishing possibilities.
How to get to Timrå
- Flights: Sundsvall–Timrå Airport (SDL) is located 9 kilometers north of Timrå and connects the area with the Stockholm-Arlanda Airport (ARN) for connections around the globe.
- Car: The town lies just north of Sundsvall along the E4 highway. The highways E4 and E14 meet in Sundsvall. E4 goes from southern to northern Sweden and E14 connects Sundsvall and Timrå with Östersund and Åre, as well as Trondheim in Norway.
- Train: The northbound trains from Stockholm stop in Timrå and there are also westbound connections to Östersund and Trondheim from Sundsvall.
- Bus: Several long-distance bus routes along the Swedish northern coast have stops in Sundsvall from where connections to Timrå is possible.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 388 kilometers (3 h 53 min)
- Gothenburg – 741 kilometers (8 h)
- Malmö – 996 kilometers (9 h 32 min)
- Linköping – 583 kilometers (5 h 46 min)
- Kiruna – 851 kilometers (9 h 29 min)
Find out more about other destinations in Sweden by visiting our page Exploring Sweden
