Virrat: Pukkivuori, Laivaranta and Toriseva

Virrat combines activities in the town centre with a harbour on the steamboat route and nearby nature and cultural attractions. The season and the activities you want to enjoy are especially important when planning your trip: ski trails, a pump track, a forest course and routes for snow-free seasons each offer a different experience.

Activities at Pukkivuori

Pukkivuori is in the centre of Virrat, next to the sports centre at Urheilukuja 1. The fitness and ski trail network includes around eight kilometres of lit trails and around 1.5 kilometres of unlit ski trails. Snow conditions and availability may vary. If you are planning a stay that includes outdoor activities, you will find a range of options in one named location, from ski trails to a pump track.

The pump track in the sports park at Pukkivuori can be ridden on a bicycle, scooter, skateboard or roller skates. Pukkivuori Disc Golf Park is a varied forest course with 18 baskets. It partly follows the ski slope and has significant changes in elevation. Another distinctive feature is the fitness staircase on the steepest part of the slope: it is 125 metres long and has 237 steps.

Plan activities around the season

A trip during the snow-free season offers different activities from a stay focused on ski trails. Pukkivuori Bike Park has five downhill trails and operates during the snow-free season. Virtain Maastoliikuntareitti also runs through the centre of Virrat; during the snow-free season, it is intended for hiking and mountain biking. You can therefore choose your travel dates to suit the type of activity that interests you. For the ski trails, you should also take changing snow conditions into account.

Laivaranta and the steamboat route

Laivaranta is near the town centre and the sports centre. The harbour is the northern terminus of the Runoilijan reitti steamboat route, served by the s/s Tarjanne between Tampere and Virrat. This also places the area in the context of that route. However, the route information does not describe the current timetable; seasonal service details may change. If you are planning to take the steamboat route, check the timetable details before your trip.

Toriseva: lakes and a nature trail

Near Virrat are the three Toriseva gorge lakes: Alainen, Keskinen and Yläinen Toriseva. They are known for their depth and steep, rocky shores. The approximately 6.5-kilometre Toriseva Nature Trail starts at the coffee shop and follows the rocky shore of Alainen Toriseva to Inkerinkallio at the southern end of the lake. It then continues along Kolistontie, past Vankkurimännikkö and on to the outlet of Kangasjärvi. On the return journey through the forest, the route passes Lakari campsite. Along the trail, 13 marked information boards provide details about nature and history. The route description therefore covers more than just a stretch along the shore; check the trail conditions before your visit.

Cultural attractions and seasonal opening times

Admission to the grounds of Virtain Perinnekylä is free year-round. The museum buildings, however, are open in summer and during events. This distinction is important for planning: visiting the grounds and visiting the buildings are not the same thing. Check the latest visitor information if you plan to visit the museums. There is also a canal museum in the area of the nearby canal. The canal connects Vaskivesi in the Näsijärvi lake system with Toisvesi.

Another cultural attraction is located in the municipality of Virrat, outside the town of Virrat: the protected site Killinkosken Wanha Tehdas in Killinkoski. Josef Stenbäck designed the former tape factory; the oldest parts of the protected building were completed in 1908. Market days and a collectors’ event are held there on the last weekend of July, following a recurring annual pattern. Check the specific event dates before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Tampere, Suodenniemi, Pirkkala, Kotala, Mänttä, Sastamala, Nokia, Ruovesi.

For the regional travel overview: Pirkanmaa.