Szkotowo lies on Lake Szkotowskie and brings together two distinct themes: the waterside landscape and local history, which ranges from the parish church to the former manor and mill. When planning a stay, consider two questions: Would you like to focus on cycling routes, or explore the lake, its shoreline features and the town’s historical connections?

The lake and protected landscape

Lake Szkotowskie covers 41.3 hectares and is up to 6.2 metres deep. A small stream connects it to Lake Kownatki, flowing into Szkotowskie from the north. The Szkotówka flows out of its southern part.

The shorelines also differ markedly: in the north and east, they are high and steep; in the west, they are low and marshy. Almost all of Szkotowo lies within the Nida and Szkotówka River Valleys Landscape Protection Area and the Lake Mielno Landscape Protection Area. The lake, its varied shoreline and the protected landscapes thus shape the area’s natural setting.

Cycling routes of varying lengths

The blue cycling route starts in Szkotowo, passes through Kownatki, Turowo and Turówko to Januszkowo, and returns to Szkotowo. The loop is 20.6 kilometres long. It runs partly on unpaved roads and partly on paved roads.

The yellow cycling route is a 35.1-kilometre loop from Szkotowo through Rączki, Szerokopaś, Łysakowo, Sławka Mała, Kozłowo, Sławka Wlk. and Rogóż, returning to Szkotowo. Along the route, there are a mix of field tracks, surfaced roads and paved roads. At 14.5 kilometres longer, this loop is longer than the blue route.

Another route, the “Szlak kurhanów” cycling trail, passes through Szkotowo. Its length of approximately 30 kilometres and its classification as a moderately difficult route apply to the area of Kozłowo municipality, not just the section through Szkotowo. Check route conditions before setting out; for the yellow cycling route, also check the markers, as its route description dates from 2014.

Church, manor and mill history

The parish church of St Joseph the Worker in Szkotowo was built between 1874 and 1877 as a Protestant church; the parish is dedicated to St Joseph. Local history is also linked to the Kostka family: from the 15th to the 18th century, Szkotowo belonged at various times to, among others, Mikołaj, Jan, Stanisław and Feliks Kostka.

The estate belonging to Szkotowo Manor comprised more than 1,000 hectares of land and a mill. The first recorded mention of the mill dates from the 15th century. Towards the end of the first half of the 19th century, the mill was abandoned and demolished.

Another historical point of interest is the larger First World War cemetery. It lies on the western edge of Szkotowo, beside the field track to Siemianowo.

For the wider travel overview: Kamionki.