Page 107 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

WESTERN EST ONIA  105

VISITORS’ CHECKLIST w Tori Stud Farm
Tori hobusekasvandus
Practical Information Pärnu mnt 10, Tori. Road Map D2.
Road Map D2. @ from Pärnu. Tel 503 1892.
n National Park Visitors’ Centre, Open 8am–5pm Mon–Fri. &
Tõramaa, 435 7164. Open mid- 8 call one day in advance.
Apr–mid-Sep: 10am–6pm daily; ∑ torihobune.ee
mid-Sep–mid-Apr: 10am–4pm
Mon–Fri. 8 Aivar Ruukel, 506 Situated in the beautiful village
1896. ∑ soomaa.com
8  ® Karuskose Farm. of Tori, Tori Stud Farm is a good
stopping-off point on the way
Transport to nearby Soomaa National
£ from Tallinn. @ from Pärnu. Park. Estonia’s oldest horse farm,
it was established in 1856 by
the Livonian gen try with the
aim of breeding a strong local
stock. After several failed
attempts at improving the local
Kihnu Jõnn's grave on Linaküla, the main breed, a crossbred Norfolk-
village on Kihnu Island Roadster horse was brought in,
which became the basis for the
q Kihnu Island new breed. The stud farm is still
used for breeding pur poses
Road Map C2. * 600. k from
Pärnu. g from Munalaid, 40 km today, although its horses are far
(25 miles) SW of Pärnu. ∑ kihnu.ee more likely to be used for giving
horse-riding lessons than for
The tiny island of Kihnu has a ploughing the fields.
significant place in Estonian Tori Stud Farm is also a
culture. It is the only part of worthwhile excursion in itself.
the country where women still Visitors to the farm can partake
wear traditional dress and the in a range of activities, including
Flora islanders continue to live largely a guided tour of the farm which
The peat moss of the traditional life styles. Fishing introduces them to some of the
bogs is ideal for heather, remains a major source of 90-odd horses. Those interested
cran berries and Labrador income, as do the much- in old-fashioned transport can
tea. The sundew plant admired handmade clothes take a tour of the farm and
gets additional nutrition and mittens. There are four village in a horse-driven carriage
by catching insects. vill ages on the island, but as it is for a small fee charged on an
only 7 km (4 miles) long and hourly basis. It is possible to go
Raudna 3.5 km (2 miles) wide, it is easy sleigh-riding in winter.
to get around. The farm also boasts a
KEY In the main village of Linaküla wonderful little museum situ-
lies the grave of the legendary ated in a thatched wooden
1 Meiekose Hiking Trail, a
5-km (3-mile) route, is also Kihnu Jõnn (1848–1913), the barn. Its collection features a
suitable for cycling. island’s most famous inhabitant. fascinating assortment of exhi-
Born on Kinhu, Jõnn was a larger- bits relating to the history of
2 Kuresoo Bog, at 110 sq km
Lake than-life, hard-drinking sailor horse-breeding as well as the
Oordi (42 sq miles), is the largest of the who sailed around the globe. history of the local village.
bogs. Birds nest here in spring.
3 Lemmjõgi River Spit Forest
Trail is 5 km (3 miles) long.
4Kuuraniidu Study Trail has
information boards describ ing
the local flora.
5 Hüpassaare Hiking Trail is
5 km (3 miles) long, and passes
through forest and bog pools
before finishing at the Mart Saar
House Museum.
6 Öördi Hiking Trail, a 7-km
(4-mile) forest trail, starts from Iia
village on the Kõpu-Jõesuu road
and leads to Lake Öördi.
Tori Stud Farm, breeder of some of Estonia’s finest horses
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp297–8 and pp316–18

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