Förby – Coastal Landscape and Village History

• A forest trail leads from Förby toward Fällarna in the central part of Vormsi.
• The Huitberg coral reef and the limestone outcrop of the Pirgu Stage are located along the forest trail.
• The marked Lääne-Vormsi cycling route runs along the coast of Förby.
• Förby’s history includes its transformation from a clustered village into a linear village structure, as well as a former harbor between Förby and Bussby.

The forest trail leads from Förby toward Fällarna, in the central part of Vormsi. The Huitberg coral reef and the limestone outcrop of the Pirgu Stage are two geological features along this trail. They give it a different focus from the cycling route along the coast.

The marked Lääne-Vormsi cycling route runs along the coast of Förby. To choose between the two routes, you can compare their described features: the forest trail is defined by its direction toward Fällarna and its geological landmarks, while the cycling route follows the coast and is marked.

Förby was once a populous village with 34 farms and 195 inhabitants. Its settlement pattern developed from a clustered village into a form characteristic of a linear village. The foundations of several destroyed farms remain in the area of the former clustered village. The settlement’s history can therefore be encountered not only in figures, but also in traces of earlier buildings.

Another turning point is recorded for 1943/44: 152 people left Förby then. The history of the harbor is also part of the village’s past. Before the Second World War, Vormsi’s largest harbor was located between Förby and Bussby; timber for pit props was shipped to England from there. These details link the village’s development to a former harbor site and its trade.

The herbal remedy walk begins and ends at Uus-Backesa Farm in Förby or at another agreed location. If you are planning this walk, take the agreed starting and ending point into account.

Municipal visitor information, updated in May 2025, lists food preparation workshops as well as handicraft and arts and crafts workshops for groups at Uus-Backesa. The activities have different focuses: the walk is a named activity that takes you into the surrounding area, while the workshops explore practical topics. If you want to plan a workshop for a specific time, confirm the dates for your visit in advance.

Vormsi Island is accessible from the Estonian mainland by car ferry from Rohuküla Harbor. Check the timetable before your trip if the ferry crossing is part of your plans.

If you are looking for a hotel, the landscape, trails, and village history can guide your plans for a trip to Förby. This lets you base your decision on accommodation details, not only on the place name.

Where does the herbal remedy walk begin and end?

It begins and ends at Uus-Backesa Farm in Förby or at another agreed location.

What geological features are along the forest trail?

The Huitberg coral reef and the limestone outcrop of the Pirgu Stage are located along the forest trail leading from Förby toward Fällarna.

How do you reach Vormsi from the Estonian mainland?

The island is accessible by car ferry from Rohuküla Harbor. Check the timetable before your trip.

To the main travel overview: Vormsi Parish.