History
Hop Farm Beach
Meet Your Hosts
My name is Cole Roberts. Together with my wife Therese and our three children—Embla, Asta, and Frey — we’ve created Hop Farm Beach in a place we cherish: Humlegårdsstrand in Söderhamn.
My journey began in British Columbia, Canada, where hospitality has been part of my life since childhood. Today, I split my time between hosting events for photographers across Europe and wedding photography — all experiences that shaped my vision for this cabin.
This is the story of how centuries-old Swedish roots merged with my passion for hospitality to create the digital detox retreat you’re about to discover. /Cole
Hop Farm Beach History
1636 – Where It All Began
Therese’s family, the Larssons, have roots in this part of Sweden going back to 1636, when her ancestors first settled in the small village of Borg, near Söderhamn. For generations, the Larsson family lived close to the land—farming, forestry, and building a life connected to nature.
1960s – A Vision for Humlegårdsstrand
In the 1960s, Bertil Larsson, Therese’s grandpa, looked beyond the forests of Borg and saw something more. Where others saw dense woodland, he saw a peaceful archipelago perfect for family retreats. He developed what is now parts of Humlegårdsstrand, carving out a place for the family to escape, unwind, and reconnect.
Portrait Painted by Barbro Sedwall
1980s – A Family Retreat is Born
Anders (Bertil’s son) and Lena Larsson carried on this tradition, building a summer home in Humlegårdsstrand. It became a place where Therese and her siblings Erik and Frida experienced endless summer days, salty sea air, and created cherished childhood memories. Family summers were spent exploring the shore, swimming until sunset, and drifting around on a boat fishing in the calm bays.
2006 – A Chance Meeting That Changed Everything
In 2006, our story took an unexpected turn when I arrived in Sweden for my Master’s studies at Umeå University. I had no idea that I was about to meet Therese Larsson (Anders and Lena’s daughter), and that our two worlds—Sweden and Canada—would soon become one.
2013 – Returning Home
After marrying in Vancouver in 2012, we made our way back to Sweden shortly afterwards with our first child, Embla. We built our life in Gävle, just an hour south of Humlegårdsstrand, but we always felt the pull of Therese’s family retreat. Our visits to Humlegårdsstrand became an essential part of our family rhythm.
2016 – Finding Our Own Cabin
One evening, while I was on a work trip to Norway, a message came through from Therese – a cabin was for sale in Humlegårdsstrand, right next to where she spent her summers at her parents’ cabin. We didn’t hesitate. For us, this cabin represented an opportunity to plant our own roots beside the place that had shaped Therese’s childhood.
2018 – Our Family and Our Dream Grow
With three children—Embla, Asta, and Frey—we found ourselves spending more and more time in Humlegårdsstrand. Summers stretched longer, winters became quieter, and we realised something important:
“This place is too special to keep to ourselves.”
We began planning a brand new cabin, not far from our family’s, that would allow others to experience this magical corner of Sweden.
2024 – Welcome to Hop Farm Beach
And so, Hop Farm Beach was born — a digital detox cabin about 2km from our family cabin, designed to share the magic of this area with guests. Here, you can wake up to the sound of the sea, breathe in the crisp Scandinavian air, and experience the same natural beauty that has drawn our family back, year after year.
We can’t wait to welcome you. This special new cabin embodies everything we love about Humlegårdsstrand and is now yours to enjoy.