Storhavens Gårdbutik & Besøgsgård, Læsø

A farm courtyard where Læsø life comes into focus

Storhavens Gårdbutik sits in a traditional farm setting on quiet Storhavevej, its old stables and barns reimagined as a cosy shop, café and visitor farm. The low farm buildings frame a sheltered courtyard where wooden tables, planters and the hum of conversation create a welcoming first impression. This is not an anonymous shop, but a working smallholding where wool, garden produce and animals are still at the heart of daily rhythms. Inside the former stable rooms, shelves are stacked with soft woollen socks, sweaters and yarn, much of it made from Læsø sheep and chosen for comfort in the island’s briny winds. Alongside textiles you find jams, syrups, sea-salted specialities and gift boxes built around local flavours. The whole place has the feel of a homely pantry where each product has a story.

Homemade ice cream and a relaxed country café

Storhaven is also famous for its Læsø ice cream, made on site in small batches. The menu changes with the season: in summer you might taste blackcurrant soft ice, liquorice ice cream brightened with Læsø salt, or sorbets made from ribs and rosehip. Everything is prepared from scratch, leaning on traditional techniques rather than shortcuts. The adjoining café serves freshly brewed quality coffee, juices for younger visitors and simple light meals built from fresh local ingredients. Cakes are usually baked with Læsø flour, adding a subtle nutty note. On blustery days you can settle indoors among wooden beams and simple farmhouse décor; in warmer weather, most people drift out to the courtyard and let time stretch between sips of coffee and slowly melting scoops of ice.

Meeting the animals of the visitor farm

A big part of Storhaven’s charm lies in its small menagerie. Around the barns and pens you can meet donkeys, lambs, goats, dwarf pigs, rabbits, hens, peacocks and often a few playful kittens. The atmosphere is informal and close-up: you stand just a short fence away or sometimes right inside smaller enclosures, always with the expectation that animals are to be treated gently and respectfully. In the main summer weeks, Shetland ponies are often harnessed for short, hand-led rides, giving children a slow, reassuring first encounter with horses. Even when no activities are scheduled, simply watching the animals potter about the yard, listening to soft bleats and clucks above the distant sound of wind, makes a soothing counterpoint to busier parts of the island.

Handmade wool, island crafts and thoughtful gifts

The farm shop leans strongly into Læsø’s long relationship with wool and handicrafts. Racks display sweaters, mittens and blankets in natural tones, while baskets brim with skeins of yarn for knitters who prefer to create their own pieces. Patterns and knitting kits make it easy to carry the island’s style home in your suitcase. Beyond textiles, you will spot gift boxes that pair sea salt, cordial, jam or small sweet treats, ideal as souvenirs or presents. Many visitors use Storhavens Gårdbutik as their main stop for quality keepsakes: instead of mass-produced trinkets, the focus is on items that will see real use once holidays are over, from warm socks for winter to pantry jars that bring a taste of Læsø to the breakfast table.

Seasonal rhythms and island atmosphere

Storhaven follows the island seasons. From Easter to the autumn holidays it usually opens daily, extending hours in the peak summer weeks when the light lingers long into the evening. Outside this period, opening times narrow and can shift, reflecting quieter days and the practical pace of farm life. Whatever the season, the mood remains unhurried. Children gravitate naturally to the animals, while adults browse shelves or settle into the courtyard’s calm pocket of air, sheltered from the sea breeze. The combination of simple pleasures – creamy ice, woollen warmth, animal encounters and a sense of real people behind the counter – makes Storhavens Gårdbutik feel like a small, self-contained slice of Læsø countryside that you can step into for an hour and savour at leisure.