Finnish Eco-Agrotourism Association – ECEAT Finland

The farm situated in Metsäkansa, Valkeakoski in northern part of Sääksmäki offers meals, accommodation, catering and conference services, training and riding school services and tourism activities. The destination is suitable for families with young children, adults and groups, including companies and associations (10 to 150 persons).
Accommodation: About 50 beds round the year, in summer also accommodation in outbuildings and lakeshore cabins (2 to 3 km from the main farm).

Ilola farm in Metsäkansa has been operating as an agritourism destination since 1983!

The old station building of Metsäkansa was loaded on a train and moved to Ilola in 1995. The Wanha Asema (The Old Station) café and restaurant, which is open daily, is a popular stop for coaches.
Ilola Conference and Festival House (the old main building) operates as a restaurant for pre-booked groups, catering for special occasions as well as conference guests. Pietola Mansion located next to Metsäkansa church offers a wonderful setting for various business and family occasions. The mansion is also available to rent without catering services. The restaurant in the main building serves parties and conferences and also hosts Christmas and midsummer feasts for groups.

Ilola farm produces grain, vegetables, root crops and berries and raises suckler cows, sheep, poultry and beef cattle. In the summer, visitors can also make friends with cats, dogs, mini pigs, rabbits and other pets in the yard. The human occupants span three generations, with family members of all ages participating in the running of the farm.

Surroundings and activities

The café/restaurant Wanha Asema operates on the farm. The old station building also houses Metsäkansa post office and Ilola local food store, which sells many products from the surrounding area, including local honey (hives on Ilola lands in Metsäkansa), organic cereal products (our oat flakes and pancake mix are highly popular), broad beans, caraway seeds, home-made baked goods (bread, rolls, buns) and jams, local beer (from Akaa), smoked vendace, eggs, home-grown Angus beef fed with organic grain, colostrum milk when available, home-made soap and candles, crafts…

• Visitors can rent a rowing boat, bicycles, snowshoes or kayaks. A paella pan and mass catering equipment are also available to rent.
• On Ilola farm, horse-riding (Ilola Riding School) and pony and trap rides, farm animals; in the summer the farmyard is open for visitors, while in the winter, visitors can see the animals by prior arrangement.
• Outdoor games (mölkky, petanque, badminton…), looms for weaving, sugar moulding on request. Visitors can also try their hand at weaving.
• A range of events; Ilola Winter Festival in spring, Jeep Drivers’ Club Winter Meeting, Metsäkansa Dog Match Show, a children’s bonfire night at midsummer
• Metsäkansa Train Festival with rides on old trains in August.
• Christmas and summer markets. Theme days.
• For more information on this year’s events, visit: www.ilolanmaatilamatkailu.fi

The local area offers possibilities for many activities:

• the scenic cycling route of Sääksmäenreitti, www.pyhajarvireitti.fi
• Tarpianjoki River kayaking route, lake cruises, bog walks
• tennis (a tennis court offered by the neighbouring business can be found at about 500 m) and golf (nearest golf course at 7 km).
• Metsäkansa village church 1 km
• Visavuori Museum and Kari Pavillion 17 km
• Myllysaari and Kauppilanmäki museums 11 km
• Tuomarla heritage farm 5 km
• Korkeakangas ski centre 14 km. Sappee/Himos/Kalpalinna/Ellivuori ski centres at an hour’s drive.

Directions

• By train: railway station in Toijala. Visitors can also be collected.
• Bus stop 150 m, express bus stop 10 km in Valkeakoski/Toijala (visitors can also be collected from the motorway bus stop if by arrangement)
• Airport in Pirkkala (33 km).
• Motorists/cyclists: From motorway 3, take exit 33 (the second Valkeakoski exit coming from both north and south). Keep following this road for a couple of minutes. Signpost to Ilola and Wanha Asema building are visible from road 304.

Opening hours and prices

Open daily from 9 a.m. till evening. The restaurants are available for pre-booked groups round the year.

Rooms €60 to €90, outbuildgings €50 to €60, breakfast €8, lakeshore cottages €375 to €780/week, weekday lunch €10, meals for groups €10 to €30, banquet meals €15 to €38, tent sites €10 to €15, caravan/campervan sites €20/25/30, discounts for SF-Caravan members. Family sauna from €20/25 (smoke sauna, hot tub/jaccuzi upon request mainly for groups, or without pre-booking when the smoke sauna is in use).