Hot and cold: how to spend a summer holiday in Swedish Lapland

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Standing on the edge of a wooden pier over the Torne River, I pull the large fishing net out of the fast-flowing water – and it’s empty again. I’m trying to catch a fish in the traditional way – using a large net on the end of a long pole that reaches far beyond the riverbank.

Whitefish and salmon are common in this Arctic region during the early summer months, but after several attempts, I’ve been unsuccessful at catching anything.

The river marks the border between Sweden and Finland’s Lapland regions. Just hearing the word Lapland conjures up thoughts of snowy landscapes, starry nights and the bright aurora striking across the sky, but those scenes are hard to imagine as I look out over a river that’s roaring with rapids, lined with bright green grass and leafy deciduous trees.

What to eat in Swedish Lapland