Soini

Soini is in the Järviseutu in the east of Southern Ostrobothnia.

Understand

Likolampi, one of Soini's lakes

Half of the 2,000 inhabitants live in the namesake parish village.

Soini was long fishing and hunting grounds for people from elsewhere (Finnish: Erämaa). In the 18th century into the 1900s. Soini became an independent municipality and parish in the late 19th century.

While the western part of Soini is part of the Ostrobothnian plains, the eastern parts belong to the Suomenselkä watershed. There are plenty of lakes, ponds, and small rivers.

Get in

Soini is at the crossroads of road 714 from the north-west and road 697 running west–east. From Seinäjoki use the latter. From road 68 turn to either. From highway 13 turn to Karstula and drive from there along road 697.

Get around

By taxi

See also: Southern_Ostrobothnia#By taxi

See

• 1 Church of Soini, Karstulantie 2, ☏ +358 40-547-5470. Main service mostly Su 10:00, once a month Su 18:00; otherwise open Jun–Aug daily 09:00–16:00 (road church), Sep–Apr by request. A small wooden church was built in 1793, the current look is from 1885. While pauper statues (vaivaisukko) are quite common in Ostrobothnia, Soini has the only such statue of a woman (vaivaisakka), from 1854, by the bell tower from 1795. The text reads "Who has mercy with the poor lends to the Lord". The aims box is still in use; the collected money goes to diaconal work of the parish, like originally. The cemetery includes war graves and a memorial to the great famine of 1866–1868, which killed some 8% of Finns. Free.  
• 2 Kuninkaan­tupa (by the municipal office and the sports field). 2023: 5 June–12 Aug Tu–Sa 12:00–16:00. Museum. A korsu (World War II Finnish-style dugout) and military themed exhibitions; school classroom; colonial goods exhibition. Adult €5. 
• 3 Library, Alajärventie 2, ☏ +358 400-366-894, kirjasto@soini.fi. M W F 10:00–16:00 Tu Th 13:00–19:00. Library services and exhibitions. Free. 

Do

• 1 Hermanninlenkki (from the Kaihijärvi parking; using the Arpainen Trail to get from the centre to Kaihijärvi adds 6.5 km). 7-km hiking route near the centre. Can be combined with other routes. The legs from the parking to and by the western shore of Iso Kaihijärvi are accessible by wheelchair. Toilets and campfire sites. The 24-km Arpaisten reitti to Ähtäri has several lean-to shelters and one open wilderness hut (Arpainen, by the namesake lake, just across the municipality border). Free 
• 2 Arpainen Trail (from Soini centre the route starts at the east shore of Lauttonen; parking also just north of Iso Kaihijärvi and east of Arpainen). 50 km of hiking routes leading from Soini centre via the lake Arpainen to the Ähtäri Zoo. By Arpainen there is a wilderness hut ( Arpainen Open Wilderness Hut), a lean-to shelter and a few shorter trails. There are shelters also elsewhere along the route. The Arpainen trail is part of the European E6 long-distance path. Free. 
• 3 Ski Vuorenmaa, Vuorenmaantie 208, ☏ +358 50-356-5502 (Tino), +358 50-598-8522 (Topias), skivuorenmaa@gmail.com. Small ski resort. 
• 4 Vauhti-Matti, Itä-Ähtärintie 2411 (east shore of Ähtärinjärvi), ☏ +358 45-163-6661. Horse riding with Icelandic horses for beginners as well as advanced. Walked riding in the yard or terrain. Riding tours in the terrain of 1–6 hr. Mending the horse in the stable included. Longer tours include a break at a lean-to shelter, with lunch included on the longest ones. Also horse activities for special groups, such as handicapped or autistic. Book a few days in advance. Helmets can be borrowed; don't bring equipment from another stable, to avoid disease spreading. Weight limit 90 kg. Eight Icelandic horses suitable for different riders and a Connemara/American paint. Sauna, boat ride etc. can be booked together with the riding. Also tailored programmes of other kinds for groups. Per person: 30 min €20, 1 hr €40, 6 hr €150. (updated Jun 2023)

Buy

• 1 Nature Paavola, Multiantie 2969, Vehunkylä, naturepaavola@gmail.com. Products of foraging, including berry powders, berry-flavoured birch sap, spruce tip drink, meadowsweet, nettle, fireweed, yarrow etc. Also excursions in the natural landscapes with varying themes: foraging, hiking, hunting or ice fishing. 
• 2 Rautamulta Highland, Teeriperäntie 460, Hautakylä (drive Ähtärintie south-west to Kukonkylä, Hautakyläntie south to Hautakylä, Teeriperäntie south-westward 4.5 km, turn left and continue 2.5 km to the farm), ☏ +358 40-516-1468, iita_rinne@hotmail.com. By agreement or just dropping in; summer happening Su 18 Jul 2023 11:00–15:00. Meat in different forms for sale. Welcome to see the animals of the farm, including highland cattle, horses, rabbits and hens. 

Sleep

Several businesses offer one or more cottages.

• 1 Mökkimajoitus Reijo Jussila, Källinmäentie 22, Kukonkylä (Kukonkylä is 10 km south-west from the parish village; continue 1 km, then turn right for 1 km along smaller roads), ☏ +358 400-850-648. Log cabin for 4+2 persons (two bedrooms) by the small lake Leväjärvi. Electricity, washing machine etc. Wood-fired sauna, shower, WC, rowing boat. 
• 2 Puron Lomamökit, Peräkoskentie 75, Kukonkylä (Kukonkylä is 10 km south-west from the parish village; continue 1 km, then turn right for 1 km along smaller roads), ☏ +358 40-510-6633. Log cabin for 4+3 persons (three bedrooms). Electricity, washing machine, wood-fired sauna, shower, WC. (updated Jun 2023)