Kukuljärvi route and Branni's cave, Loviisa

The Kukuljärvi route starts from the charming Strömfors ironworks area.

The route is 9.3 km long, which includes a one-kilometer round trip detour to Branni's cave. The route is marked on the terrain with red route markers. The direction of travel is clockwise.

In the beginning, the route runs along the old railway bed, which was used to bring firewood to the workshops operating in the ironworks, but now it serves as a hiking trail.

The early section is quite lush, and especially during wet times, boots are advisable. There is also another rest spot along the route's early section. It is located in a wonderful spot right on the Kymi riverbank cliff.

The terrain and profile of the route change immediately after crossing the road leading to Strömfors.

From here, the most impressive sections of the hike begin as the route climbs to high rocks. There are four such rock areas, with the highest rising 55 meters above sea level. From all the rock areas, spectacular views extend far to the horizon. In some places, the route goes along steep sections, where ropes have been provided to aid the climb. Additionally, stairs have been built at the most challenging part to make passage easier. 

At the halfway point of the route, you reach the shore of Kukuljärvi. The shores of this small lake are rather steep, and here and there there are beautiful views of the lake. On the southeast shore of the lake, on a small cliff, there is a wonderful lean-to shelter where travelers can enjoy roasting sausages or whatever snack they prefer. The rest spot also has a dock where you can take a refreshing dip and wash off the worst dirt.

After the lean-to, you can continue the route forward or make the about one-kilometer round trip detour to Branni's cave. It is said that the cave was the summer residence of the cattle herder Jaakko Bränni in the early last millennium. The cave's entrance is quite narrow, but beyond it opens a cave about 5 meters long and about two meters high.

At the end of the hike, it is recommended to visit Strömfors for culture and a well-deserved meal. There are also various accommodation options here if you want to go to the Kymi river, known as the Finnish Amazon, for example, to paddle the next day.