Baie Väike viik walks

On Estonia’s west coast, Haapsalu’s wooden houses and promenades stretch along the edge of a shallow bay; this former seaside resort was once prized for its therapeutic mud. This circular walk takes in the main sights. You’ll first reach the medieval bishop’s castle and its cathedral, then head to the seafront and its wooden viewing platforms overlooking the bay. You then walk along vast coastal meadows where, in spring, huge flocks of migratory geese gather, before skirting the bay along its tranquil shores, from where the picture-postcard view of the castle rising above the water comes into view. The return journey takes you past the historic railway station and its railway museum, renowned for its very long covered wooden platform. An ideal getaway combining heritage, the seaside and birdwatching.