Freedom to Roam

Finnish forests brim with arctic superfoods in summer and early autumn. Help yourself to wild blueberries, yellow chanterelles and, in Lapland, cloudberries. Pick berries and mushrooms freely, but never cut down trees or disturb flora and fauna. Steer clear of private homes and pick only what you can eat.

Elk, wolf, lynx, fox, wolverine and bear live in these forests. They are rarely dangerous unless provoked and shy away from people. To see them closer, join a designated wildlife-watching excursion. Never feed or approach a wild animal. This is their home, you are just visiting.

Building a campfire is not part of Everyman's Rights. In most national parks, fires are allowed only at campfire sites, and never during a grass or forest fire warning. Don't light a fire on rocks, and don't tear bark or cut wood from living trees.

Take your rubbish with you, keep noise down and spare the fragile low-growing lichens, mosses and dwarf shrubs. Leave nothing but footprints.

Most national parks also have rentable cottages and unlocked wilderness cabins open to anyone. Respect the unwritten rules. Clean up after yourself and replace anything you use, such as chopped firewood.

Check your destination's fire rules before you strike a match, and remember that during a fire warning campfires are strictly forbidden.

Stay on paths where you can, since rocky fells are sensitive to erosion. Finnish tap water is some of the best in the world, so bring a refillable bottle, and if you find a fresh stream coming down from the fells, take a sip.