Traveling to Kråkenes Lighthouse at Stadt, is done best by car. However, you can also travel to Bergen by train or plane and then take the ferry or sail on a Hurtigruten ship from Bergen to Måløy. If you are in Bergen and are in a hurry, or want to take in a different view, you can travel by Bergen Helikopter.

This was my first trip to Kråkenes Lighthouse, and I wanted to cross the mountains by bus, because in September all the colors are changing. I wanted to experience that. A trip one way from Oslo to Måløy costs NOK650. There are different discounts available, but a certain ID is required. This bus ride cannot be ordered online. The ticket is bought on the bus.

1. The only bus (for now) from Oslo is called Nordfjordekspressen and goes from Oslo to Måløy. It is an 11-hour bus-ride. This bus also makes a stop at Gardermoen Airport, so if you are arriving by plane, you can jump on the bus without going into Oslo first. It leaves Oslo three times a day, every day, seven days a week. ©2012 Sigrid Thorbjørnsen.
2. After Gardermoen the landscape changes. Big farms, clouds and ponds mark a wonderful and fertile soil. ©2012 Sigrid Thorbjørnsen.
3. The bus takes you along Mjøsa, the biggest lake in Norway. The soil here is rich and fertile, and the summers are warm, so farming is big here. ©2012 Sigrid Thorbjørnsen.
4. The beauty of traveling by bus at this time of year is to see the change from summer to winter, from low land to high mountains, from forests to where the trees don’t grow. ©2012 Sigrid Thorbjørnsen.
5. The last photo from the lower area. A farmer has prepared the field for the winter, the trees are turning yellow, the clouds are gathering. Any kind of weather is to be expected. ©2012 Sigrid Thorbjørnsen.
6. With Otta behind us, we’re climbing the mountain little by little. Fresh snow is showing at the mountain peaks and I feel nature’s poetry just started singing. ©2012 Sigrid Thorbjørnsen.
7. The trip today is blessed with sun and clouds. Some parts are just swimming in gold. ©2012 Sigrid Thorbjørnsen.
8. No breeze leaves the lakes as mirrors, reflecting the scenery. It is nothing less than spectacular. ©2012 Sigrid Thorbjørnsen.
9. At Lom, the falls runs by and the smell from Lom Bakery fills the air. I’m watching the river, looking at the trees dressed up for the last ball, and taking in the smell of fresh baked bread. Not bad. Not bad at all. ©2012 Sigrid Thorbjørnsen.
10. Lom is kind of the last stop before hitting Stryn Mountains. Here, the red, yellow, and orange is almost burning the eyes. The green is nearly gone, the snow is here to stay for a good while. ©2012 Sigrid Thorbjørnsen.
11. I find myself just staring out the window. No need for my music playlist. No need for anything. Just want to take in this wonderful view. ©2012 Sigrid Thorbjørnsen.
12. Majestic. ©2012 Sigrid Thorbjørnsen.
13. Before driving through the tunnels to get down to Stryn, the mountains are saying goodbye. The sun is on its way down, and here the shadows are blue. ©2012 Sigrid Thorbjørnsen.
14. Parts of this road is closed during winter due to a lot of snow. It can be closed for one hour, or one week at the time. So checking the weather forecast here is what everyone does. If not, you might have a longer stay than planned during winter. ©2012 Sigrid Thorbjørnsen.
15. These mountain reflections …. I just can’t get enough. ©2012 Sigrid Thorbjørnsen.
16. Back in the days, villages like this would often be isolated due to bad weather. ©2012 Sigrid Thorbjørnsen.
17. The bus trip from Oslo to Måløy takes 11 hours. And now the sun is starting to set. The light changes and a light fog is dancing in the fjord. ©2012 Sigrid Thorbjørnsen.
18. The church of Nordfjordeid, one of the last main stops on the way. It is late, and the sun is going down. I am tired. I am still loving this bus trip. ©2012 Sigrid Thorbjørnsen.
19. I am not alone on the bus. I was surprised by how many use this bus to get back and forth. Not only the whole distance, but from stop to stop along the route. I feel I’m getting closer to Måløy. ©2012 Sigrid Thorbjørnsen.
20. It is getting too dart to take more photos. But the moon came to say hi, sending some beams to light up the fjord, over the snowy mountain. After arriving at Måløy, I still have 20 kilometers before I am at the lighthouse. There is no bus going that way, so, either rent a car or go by taxi. Taxi cost about NOK500. ©2012 Sigrid Thorbjørnsen.

View Larger Map

Text and photos by Sigrid Thorbjørnsen.

The train takes you where you usually don’t get to go. It runs on its tracks where no car can follow. It is as if I am getting a break from the road. No traffic, no honking, and it doesn’t matter if I want to text someone. I can.

Traveling in Norway can be complicated because of mountains, fjords, and valleys, but it doesn’t have to be. Long stretches can be covered by train. This is the perfect way to travel. It gives an image of how big this country is. This trip from Oslo to Åndalsnes (first leg from Oslo to Dombås on the Dovre Railroad {Dovrebanen}, second leg from Dombås to Åndalsnes with the Rauma Line {Raumabanen}), was my first time ever to Møre og Romsdal, right in the middle of Norway’s fjord heaven.

Construction work at Oslo Central Station had been going on throughout the summer. Today was the first time to leave Oslo by train rather than by bus. We were greeted by live music, hot coffee and chocolate by the NSB (Norwegian State Railway) staff this morning. My first thought was: How can this happen on a Monday? I smiled. I drank my coffee, enjoyed my chocolate and the music before I went to find my platform. I found my frain and my seat. I just wanted to fall asleep. That’s what I usually do after entering the train. I had never taken this train ride before. I wanted to get to know my own country – so no sleep on the train this time.

The sound of the train merged with the voice on the speaker. As I looked out I saw Oslo fading away and green fields popping up everywhere. The architecture of the buildings changed. The color of the houses changed. We’d had a rainy summer and everything was intensely green. Then came the forests. Huge forests. Dark forests. I thought about Norwegian history, about the Vikings, about the struggle people had to endure just living in this country. Out in the forest without cars, stores, trains – without electricity …. How was that even possible? Throughout winter, spring, summer, and autumn. The scenery was passing me by so fast, so green, so quiet, so stunning.

The train passed Norway’s largest lake, Mjøsa, and Lillehammer and Hamar, before climbing towards Dombås in the Dovre Mountains. There I had to switch to the Rauma Railway, considered one of the most beautiful railways in the world. I would soon find out.

Did I doze off? I looked out the window again and saw steep mountains and deep valleys. The surroundings had changed. The dramatic scenery of mountains, sparkling with snow on top. Not like Oslo at all.

Trollveggen, the Troll Wall, used to be a place where people practiced BASE jumping, but today that’s forbidden. Too many people died. The wind is unpredictable and that created problems for jumpers and rescue teams alike. Nevertheless, the sight of this mountain, this massive wall is just something else. I had seen it on TV many times, but there is nothing like seeing it live. Massive. Right outside my window.

The train moved forward. Waterfalls, rivers, and streams. There is so much water in this country. Water dropping down the sides of mountains. Beautiful veils cascading over black stone. My head leaning against the window. All I can see is water. Now the falls have turned into a lazy river working it’s way through the valleys. The beauty of this trip is stunning, and leaves me speechless.

I read that November 30, 1924, King Haakon opened the Rauma Railroad and for the first time Møre og Romsdal had its own railroad. Building this railroad was not easy as it runs along steep mountain sides. Knowing how it came into use after the invasion of Norway in April 1940, we can be thankful for these tracks. Raumabanen was used to transport 3,000 gold bars out of Norway during WWII. Because of this railroad, the gold from the Norwegian Bank could be transported from Oslo to Lillehammer by trucks, Lillehammer to Åndalsnes by train and from Åndalsnes to Molde by trucks again before it was loaded on English military boats to be transported to England for safekeeping. It’s hard to imagine all this history when I look out. Everything looks so peaceful and green, dramatic and stunningly beautiful.

This perfect train ride of 114.2 kilometers from Dombås to Åndalsnes really opened my eyes to how spectacular my country is, and how I need to get to know it. Not only the roads but also the railways. Getting my own seat. Unpack. Live there for a couple of hours. Look out the window. Walk around. Enjoy the dining car. Talking to other travelers. Listen to music. Having all the time to myself, and at the same time seeing parts of Norway I never get to see.

Did I say, I love traveling by train?

After leaving the train, I jumped on a bus that took me to Ålesund, also a city I’ve never visited. I’ll share the views in my next post about Ålesund and Molja Lighthouse … and later the travel north.

This is Norway’s westernmost lighthouse, and thus it marks the line of transition between the North Sea to the southwest and the Norwegian Sea to the northwest.

Utvær Lighthouse was built in 1900 and automated in 2004.

• Located on little Utvær island in Solund municipality about 50 miles northwest from Bergen and 20 miles northwest from Fedje.
• The population of Solund is around 875 with most of the people living on the main islands of Sula and Ytre Sula
• Solund is at the mouth of the Sognefjord, Norway’s longest fjord and the second deepest fjord in the world.
• The lighthouse stands 101.7 feet (31 meters) tall and 147.6 feet (45 meters) above high tide mark.
• The round cast iron tower was produced by the Parisian company Barbier. The entire lighthouse is painted red.
• There are also several keeper’s houses and other light station buildings.
• Solund Kommune manages the light station, which is staffed in the summer by volunteer keepers.
• Utvær is a small, rocky island about 6.5 km (4 mi) due west of Ytre Sula.  It is not inhabited year round. Accessible only by boat, but guided tours are available. Site open, tower open to guided tours.

Lenst Vest

Utvær is defined at a national heritage island. All the islands around and including Utvær are protected bird reservoars and national park. Lenst Vest takes care of and looks after Utvær’s interests. It’s leader, Torald Storøy is on the island most of the time from May to September. Lengst Vest has a great website for anyone interested in knowing about or visiting Utvær. The site has a good picture gallery too.

The County Governor of Sogn og Fjordane declared Utvær to be a nature reserve. This decision applies to the Utvær island group and surrounding sea. An exception is made for the island of Utvær itself and the sea immediately around it. The Norwegian Riksantikvar (preservation of Norwegian heritage) has made a proposal to preserve the lighthouse itself.

History

• Utvær is famous in history right back to the Viking Age. In 1066 Harald Hardråde sailed from Solund when he left to conquer England. 200 vessels plus supply boats and other small craft were gathered together, and the saga says that some of the vessels departed from Utvær. The battle ended with defeat at Stamford Bridge. On the east side of the bay near the Likberget Mountain you can see some marks in the mountainside. The story is that these are marks made by Vikings sharpening their swords before leaving on a raid.
• Fishing is the most important industry in Solund. Solund is popular with boaters with its myriad exciting islands and also attracts numerous tourists looking for outdoor recreation and fishing. Utvær island and the Utvær fyr (lighthouse) is a popular destination for tourists during the summer.
• In the Middle Ages there was a chapel to the south of the existing settlement. The first written references to it appear in the work of Bjørgynar Kalveskinn from 1320. The chapel was made of timber and was approximately 7.5 by 6.3 metres (25 × 21 ft), and it could seat a congregation of about 120. The chapel bell from 1641 is currently exhibited at the Heibergske Samlingar exhibition in Kaupanger. Four sermons a year were held in the chapel and the priest had to come by boat from Eivindvik. He was often stranded on the islands nearer the mainland as a result of bad weather. In 1718 the chapel was moved in to the island of Husøy. It was pulled down at the end of the 19th century when Straumen church was inaugurated.
• The lighthouse burned down in February 1945 during an allied air attack during World War II. The lighthouse was reconstructed from 1948–1952. The lighthouse itself took on a different form from previously and the “balcony” on the top was one storey lower. It was rebuilt in 1948.

Accommodations on Utvær Island

• It is possible to get lodging at the schoolhouse on the island. There are 10 beds.
• The standard is very simple, mattresses and outdoor toilets.
• You have to bring your own food and water. There are no shops.
• Cooking is done by gas.
• For reservations and more information, call or send a sms-message to: 
Torald Storøy.
  Tel.: +47 99 39 68 13.
  Or send an e-mail to: bestilling@lengstvest.no

Getting to and from Utvær

• There is a service available on request from Kolgrov all year round. In the summer season there is a scheduled service with departures from Hardbakke, Eivindvik, and Korssund.
• From Bergen: Boat from Strandkaia – Name of the route: Bergen- Nordfjord – Ålesund
• Reservation required. Tel.:+ 47 55 90 70 70
• All days except Saturdays and Sundays : 4:30 pm ( 16:30)
• To Mjømna: 5.50 pm.(kl. 17:50), From Mjømna 5:55 p.m. ( 17:55) ( A different, smaller boat)
• To Nåra 6:30 p. M. ( 18.30)
• Bussdirectly from Nåra to Kolgrov
• Boat to Utvær from Kolgrov. ( A different, smaller boat)
• Reservation required : Tel.: +47 993 58 259 or +47 95 78 96 35 within 08:00 pm ( 20:00) the day before travel
• Return from Utvær: 08:20. All days except Sundays and Mondays.
  The trip back to Bergen is all connected: Kolgrov, Nåra, Mjømna, Bergen, in Bergen 11:40 a.m. (kl. 11.40)

Package offer to Utvær

• Tel.: +47 91 18 98 22
•  Online Contact form
•  Email: bahus@online.no
•  www.solundaktiv.com
• Accommodation at Solund Leilegheitshotell, Steinsund Marinesenter, Gåsvær Fiskeferie, Solund Rorbuferie or Solund Gjestegaard.
• Guided trip to Utvær included. Departure every Sunday between June 24 and August 19.
• Solund is an island paradise with more than 1700 islands and islets. The myriad of islands, little trafficated roads and well marked hiking trails make Solund an eldorado for outdoor activities such as fishing, kayaking, biking and hiking.

Lighthouse Safari to Utvær

•  Bookings: Tel.: +47 57 73 90 20
•  Email: stiftinga@jensbua.no
• The trip starts by boat from Hardbakke, the municipal centre of Solund. Depending on the weather conditions, you will go either north or south to Ytre Sula and through the islands of Solund. No stop is planned on the way out to Utvær. On reaching Utvær the boatman will guide you on a walk round the island along the North Sea Trail (Nordsjøløypa). Those who want to will also have the opportunity to go up to the top of the lighthouse. The return route to Hardbakke goes via Notøy, Husøy and Indrevær to Kolgrov, and then on to Hardbakke. No food or beverages are available on the trip, so take something with you if you need it, and remember your camera!
• Timetable: Sundays 24 June – 19 August
• Hardbakke 16:15 hours
• Utvær 16:45 hours
• Utvær 17:15 hours
• Return from Utvær 18:00 hours
• Kolgrov 18:30 hours
• Hardbakke 19:00 hours
• Please note that this trip must be booked at least one day in advance. It is also subject to favourable weather conditions.

 Wonderful video of the lighthouse in action on a midsummer night.

See larger map

The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.” – Don Williams Jr.

This day, was a day of traveling. You know, one of those days where no bus coordinates with the other, trains are on time, but the waiting seems to be insanely long, someone took the seat meant for me, the inevitable argument that follows, the only 5 min till next bus, running with luggage and barley make it……

It started at 5:30AM…. Because the bus from Brohaug leaves for Lyngdal at 7:10AM, I had to book a taxi for 6:50. I had to clean before I left. All that was good. I thought I might just chill on the bus. But I had no cash, so I had to stay awake till I reached Farsund, where I ran out to an ATM for the ticket (TG the busdriver was an awesome dude and let me on the bus without cash…). Well, the bus arived 10 minutes too late, but my connecting bus was waiting….I had to run from one bus to another… Finally in this other bus, I fell asleep….. Woke up in Flekkefjord at 9:30AM and headed out for breakfast….. Insanely tired….. Did I mention that I went to bed at 03:AM? My bad, but still, dead tired….

After breakfast, and 2.5 hour waiting, I hit the bus to Sira. I was waiting zt Sira as well, in pissing rain, for the train to Stavanger. I have to admit that If I had known better, I would have taken the express bus from Lyngdal to Stavanger……but I didn’t….. So, waiting for the train to Stavanger (I was waiting inside, I was not forced to stay out in the rain….), boarded the train and 1.5 hours later, I was in Stavanger and had 15 min to get from the train to the bus…… And then my luck and good stuff started to shine.

I thought I was getting on a really bad bus, as it was really cheap….. From Stavanger to Haugesund NOK199,- This is a great price, but I expected a wrecked….. When I entered the bus, I entered heaven. I could not believe my eyes. First class seats, free internet, electricity, free newspaper, free deck of cards, free chocolate, free pen, space for legs, and awesome driver. I could not believe my eyes. I had to tell someone, and I talked to Odd Chr. Tufte who was on the bus, sharing stuff. I just had to say that this was by far the best bus I have ever had the pleasure to travel with, in the whole of Norway….. AWESOME!! The only sad thing, was that for me, the journey lasted for only 2 hours….. so, if you are in Stavanger going to Bergen, check out www.netbuss.no. You will never regret it 

In Haugesund, I hooked up with a friend of mine, Are, and from Haugesund, we went by ferry to Utsira. My favorite island in Norway. We left the dark clouds and headed out into the open sea.

I know, I should enjoy the journey, the whole journey, and not care too much about the destination, but after floating to Haugesund in a heavenly bus, awesome ferry ride, meeting good friends, getting new friends, chilling at Utsira, I gotta say, this destination was worth fighting for. Never underestimate arrival (^_^)

This lighthouse was built in 1887 – a period during which Norway built many lighthouses — automated 1978, and closed in 1988. The structure is 104 feet (31.7 meters) tall, and stands 154 feet (47 meters) above the high tide mark at the highest point on the island. The lighthouse consists of a  round cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a circular stone base. It is painted red and the base is painted white. There is a 1-1/2 story keeper’s house, generator house, boat house, farm buildings, and other structures which are preserved at this remote station. It is listed as a protected site by the Norwegian Coastal Association.

Røst

Outermost in the Lofoten archipelago, about 100 km to the west of Bodø and 115 km to the north of the Arctic Circle, one finds Røst with its 365 islands, isles and skerries. The largest of them, it’s highest point barely 12 m above sea level, is Røstlandet. Further south, the islands of Storfjellet, Vedøya, Trenyken and Hærnyken loom like gigantic monuments in the water. 


Røstlandet is a fishing village covering the southeastern part of the island. Røst Airport is located on the northern part of the island. Røst Church is located in the village and serves the people of Røst.

Climate

Incredibly, despite its northerly location, Røst features a subpolar oceanic climate. Røst and Værøy are known by meteorologists as the most northern locations in the world with average temperatures above freezing all winter. The winter temperatures in southern Lofoten represent the largest temperature anomaly in the world relative to latitude. The mean annual temperature is 41.7 °F (5.4 °C ) for 1961–1990.

Pietro Querini

The Premiere on Henning Sommero’s opera Querini takes place at the utmost tip of Lofoten on the island of Røst on August 4th and 5th 2012. Composer Sommerro and librettist Ragnar Olsen tell the tale of  Querini,  Venetian nobleman, shipwrecked in the North Sea during the early winter of 1431, while on a voyage from Crete to Flanders. One of the lifeboats with survivors from the wreck drifted ashore on the uninhabited island of Sandøy, just off Røst. The survivors were found in a very poor state of health in January 1432. They stayed on till spring, and then left on ships carrying stockfish. The Italians’ narratives of conditions on Røst at the time is one of the most important accounts we have about the lives of ordinary people in Northern Norway during the Middle Ages. A monument to commemorate Querini and his companions was unveiled on Sandøy on 10 July 1932.

Read more on the opera’s website.

Querini on Facebook

Bird Nesting Colonies

• The steep and towering islands southwest of the populated island of Røstlandet, are home to the largest number of nesting birds across Norway, with approximately a quarter of the country’s seabird population. A survey made in 1992 shows a population of 2.5 million adult birds. During the summer, there are daily boat trips to the nesting colonies. Bird lovers and scientists regularly visit these ornithologically important islands.
• Røst is one of the few bird watching localities in Norway that is known worldwide. The seabird colonies that are to be found are regarded as internationally important. The island offers a range of habitats, and as one would expect, a stop-over point for many species that are migrating even further north. During the last few years, birders have been showing an interest for Røst during the autumn, producing a whole range of rarities.
• The municipality also has one of the biggest bird cliffs in the North Atlantic, with puffin colonies, as well as colonies of shag, kittiwake, and cormorants. The cormorant is featured on Røsts coat-of-arms reflecting their role in a local legend in which three brothers could transform themselves into cormorants.
• View a cool panoramic picture of Røst here.

Getting There

• Public Transport
 There are daily flights between Bodø and Røst with corresponding transport to and from Bodø. There is also a car ferry to Bodø, Værøy and Moskenes. The direct crossing from Bodø to Røst takes about 4.5 hours on the ferry and 20 minutes by air
• As an isolated island municipality, there are no road connections to Røst. It can be reached by boat and airplane. There are ferry connections to neighboring Værøy and also to the town of Bodø on the mainland. Røst Airport has regularly scheduled flights to Bodø.
• Ferry information
• Air information:

Lofoten.info

Lofoten.info is a detail-rich site for anyone interested in traveling to this part of Norway.

Wonderful old video, in Norwegian, but showing life on Røst.

Querini, a rehearsal session

See larger map

There are three great lighthouses in Florø municipality: Stabben, Kvanhovden, and Ytterøyane lighthouse.

Stabben Lighthouse (Norwegian: Stabben fyr) was established in 1867 and automated 1975. It was listed as a protected site in 1999. Florø is a municipality in The county of Sogn of Fjordane.

The lighthouse was commissioned in 1867. It is 81 feet (15.6 meters) tall and stands 53 feet (16.2 meters) above the high tide mark. The tower was built higher in 1905 and it was then equipped with a 4 order lens apparatus still in use. The lighthouse consists of the lighthouse, a boat, and a landing that is tightly gathered at the small island. Stabben lighthouse is one of the most unique lighthouses in Norway. The building covers almost the entire island in the middle of a busy shipping lane. Towards the northwest, where the skerry is most exposed to the ocean through the Hellefjord, the foundation wall is built like a ship’s bow to minimize the effect of the breakers.

Treacherous waters with extremely strong currents made this lighthouse a must, it being one of the most difficult navigational points along the Norwegian coastline – many ships went down or ran aground, even after the lighthouse became operational. Today the lighthouse is under the supervision of the lighthouse keeper at Ytterøyane further to the west. The lighthouse is now listed in accordance with the Directorate for Cultural Heritage’s National Lighthouse Preservation Plan.

Stabben Lighthouse

Over the past several years, quite a lot of moist damage has been found at Stabben. The Coast Authority has undertaken repairs and it may be some time before overnight accommodations are available. We will update when we have more information.

• 6900 Florø
• 
Tel.: +47 41 60 10 70
• Website
• Contact the Tourist Information Office of Florø for information on guided excursions to Stabben Lighthouse or arranging an overnight stay.
• Email: mail@fjordkysten.no

Lighthouse Safari

• Kystrafting.no arranges high-speed RIB boat guided tours to the lighthouses around Florø.
• Duration is typically about 3 hours of which approximately 2 hours are in the boat and 1-1/2 hours on land and lunch.
• Prices: NOK 10,700[convert number=10700 from="nok" to="usd" template=" (approx. US $%result%"] [convert number=10700 from="nok" to="eur" template=" / €%result%)"] per boat, maximum 12 people
• Address: Strandgata 30, 6900 Florø
• Tel.: +47 57 74 30 90
• Email: post@kystrafting.no
• Website: www.kystrafting.no (site in Norwegian only)

Florø

• Florø is Sogn og Fjordane’s oldest and Norway’s westernmost city.
• Getting to Florø: Florø airport has 4 daily flights to Oslo and 5 per day to Bergen. Also, Hurtigruten calls daily at Florø
• Staying in Florø: Florø Rorbu has a wonderful site with great views at a marina just outside downtown Florø.
• Florø kommune has useful information for tourists.

See larger map.

… a very popular place for island-hopping

Ulla Lighthouse was first lit in January 1874 and automated in 1975. In October 1944, the lighthouse and the lighthouse keeper’s house were bombed and destroyed by allied planes. In 1950, reconstruction of the lighthouse and other buildings was undertaken. Today’s lighthouse is a square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery painted white; lantern roof painted red. Two one and a half story keeper’s houses, boathouses, and other station buildings are preserved.

• Ulla Lighthouse is 34.4 feet (10.5 meters) tall and stands 70.5 feet (21.5 meters) above the high tide level. It is located on tiny Kvernholmen just north of Ulla, a fishing community on the north end of the island of Haramsøya, about 20 km north of Ålesund, in the municipality of Haram in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway.
• The lighthouse was built after a disastrous accident in March 1869, when 18 fishermen from the area drowned in a storm. Ulla was a large and thriving fishing village at that time, and at the end of the 19th century about 1,000 fishermen stayed here.
• In 1999 the lighthouse was declared a listed building, along with eight other lighthouses in the region, and is currently rented by the Norwegian Ministry of Defence. Ulla has a very rugged climate, but can still present a range of rare and beautiful flowers, including orchids.

Accommodations

• The lighthouse is still in operation. The main house and the lighthouse are owned by the Norwegian Coastal Guardinanship, and are cared for by the Friends of the Ulla Lighthouse, founded in 2002, after a period when the buildings suffered a lack of maintenance, and they even was advertised for private ownership. Fortunately, it was not sold, and today everyone can enjoy nature and these buildings at Ulla. There are photos of the accommodations on Ulla’s website.
• The main house and/or the boat-house can be rented. The main house is divided in two parts, which can be opened and joined into one. The area on the island is designated as a protected nature preserve and the lighthouse and its buildings protected zone by the Central Office of Historic Monuments.
• There are a total of 22 beds, divided among six rooms in the first floor of the main building. In the basement there is a shower and  toilet.
 The boathouse is included when hiring.
• There is room for approximately 30 persons around a long table in the living room.

 The boat house can be rented individually.

 The renter must tidy up and clean before leaving, and the time for checking out is normally at midday, 12:00. 
Smoking inside is prohibited. 

Arrangements can be made to visit inside the lighthouse.

Rates: 
Weekend rentals are a 2-day minimum.

• Main house for a 24-hour period: NOK 1,250[convert number=1250 from="nok" to="usd" template=" (approx. US $%result%"] [convert number=1250 from="nok" to="eur" template=" / €%result%)"]
• Additional fee (optional) for use of beds per person, per night: NOK 100[convert number=100 from="nok" to="usd" template=" (approx. US $%result%"] [convert number=100 from="nok" to="eur" template=" / €%result%)"]
• Additional fee (optional) for bedclothes: NOK 50[convert number=50 from="nok" to="usd" template=" (approx. US $%result%"] [convert number=50 from="nok" to="eur" template=" / €%result%)"]
• One apartment (half of the main house): NOK 625[convert number=625 from="nok" to="usd" template=" (approx. US $%result%"] [convert number=625 from="nok" to="eur" template=" / €%result%)"]
• Additional fee (optional) for use of beds per person, per night: NOK 100[convert number=100 from="nok" to="usd" template=" (approx. US $%result%"] [convert number=100 from="nok" to="eur" template=" / €%result%)"]
• Additional fee (optional) for bedclothes: NOK 50[convert number=50 from="nok" to="usd" template=" (approx. US $%result%"] [convert number=50 from="nok" to="eur" template=" / €%result%)"]
• Main house for a one week period : NOK 4,500[convert number=4500 from="nok" to="usd" template=" (approx. US $%result%"] [convert number=4500 from="nok" to="eur" template=" / €%result%)"]
• Additional fee (optional) for cleaning the house: NOK 400[convert number=400 from="nok" to="usd" template=" (approx. US $%result%"] [convert number=400 from="nok" to="eur" template=" / €%result%)"]
• Contact Person: Oddfrid Sunde. Tel.: +47 70 21 01 98 or cellular: +47 95 83 04 38
• Website: http://ullafyr.com/en_index2.htm 

 Getting There

• You can take the boat all year to Haramsøy directly from Ålesund.
• and by ferry from Skjelten.

See larger map.

This fishing village has a permanent population of about 30. This small island community has a small café, several places to stay, and two pottery workshops.  A bridge connects Ona to the island of Husøya. On Husøya we find a chapel with a graveyard and a long sandy beach. The two islands, Ona and Husøy, are known collectively as Ona.

Getting There

Take the ferry from Hollingen, 12 miles (19 km) west of Molde, to Aukra. Drive 6 miles (10 km) to Småge and leave your car. There are four ferries daily to Ona.

Accommodations

• Ona Havstua is a beautiful, old trading site on Ona that consists of a five apartments with 11 high-standard rooms (22 beds). There is a wonderful  restaurant which is open whenever there are guests. Ona Havstuer has inviting pages and a photo album with handsome pictures of the hotel and island on www.classicnorway.com. Click the “English” button at the bottom of the page.
• Ona Havstuer on Facebook
• Address: 6483 Ona
• Tel.: +47 71 27 71 66 or +47 71 27 58 50
• Email: post@havstuene.no
• Prices: 
Per night, from NOK 1,650[convert number=1650 from="nok" to="usd" template=" (approx. US $%result%"] [convert number=1650 from="nok" to="eur" template=" / €%result%)"] to NOK 1,800[convert number=1800 from="nok" to="usd" template=" (approx. US $%result%"] [convert number=1800 from="nok" to="eur" template=" / €%result%)"]

Sea Safari to Ona

• 62°NORD offers several sea safaris to lighthouses, with exciting wave riding and stories of Norwegian lighthouse history. 
Experience the unique opportunity to see a whole range of the most inaccessible lighthouses in Norway from the sea. The safaris almost fly over the water from lighthouse to lighthouse (Six to ten, depending on the particular tour  – 62° Nord offers a number of tours).


 62° Nord can arrange lunch and/or dinner break along the way. Contact them for more information and with special requests.
• Price from NOK 13,500[convert number=13500 from="nok" to="usd" template=" (approx. US $%result%"] [convert number=13500 from="nok" to="eur" template=" / €%result%)"]. 3 hours. Maximum 12 passengers
• 62° Nord has an Ålesund–Ona Evening Cruise which runs from June 25th to August 19, Thursdays and Sundays, weather permitting. This is the period of the Midnight Sun and so evening cruising does not mean cruising in the dark. Summer evenings are really special in Norway.
• Prices: Adults NOK 545[convert number=545 from="nok" to="usd" template=" (approx. US $%result%"] [convert number=545 from="nok" to="eur" template=" / €%result%)"]
• Children (ages 2–13) NOK 270[convert number=270 from="nok" to="usd" template=" (approx. US $%result%"] [convert number=270 from="nok" to="eur" template=" / €%result%)"]
• Children under 2 years old free of charge.
• Details and booking here
• Tel.: +47  70 11 44 30 or  Mobile: +47 92 83 18 88
• Address: Skansekaia 6002 Ålesund

A Trip To Ona and Husøy – wonderful tour video, takes you to the island, through the community, to the lighthouse and shows the view from there!

See larger map.

A big thank-you to our lighthouse friends and pilots at Bergen Helikopter.”
– Sigrid Thorbjørnsen & Michael Holtermann

Learn more about Slåtterøy Lighthouse and Bergen Helikopter.

The Western Norway area is stunning with beautiful fjords, majestic mountains, spectacular glaciers, and roaring waterfalls. And the coast itself has wonderful islands, small villages, and old traditions. One of these traditions is the lighthouse culture. The lighthouses have their own history, and even though there are no longer people living at the lighthouses, you can still experience this fantastic life by staying overnight in the North Sea.

Slåtterøy

One of these pearls is Slåtterøy Lighthouse. Slåtterøy lighthouse is located on Slåtterøy islet which sits at the norhtern tip of Fitjar Islands which in turn sit at the outer edge of the Selbjørnsfjord. The closest harbor is on Brandasund island, a part of Bømlo municipality in Hordaland county, the same county which contains Bergen.

History

• Slåtterøy lighthouse was completed in 1859. The 82 feet tall (25.1 meters) cast iron tower is the fourth oldest in Norway, and it was originally delivered from Bærums Verk, and the torch from Nes Ironworks.
• The lighthouse is painted red with a white belt and stands 150 feet (45.8 meters) above sea level. The station was electrified in 1958, making it Norway’s most powerful light. The lamp is a 2nd order lens, with a force of 5,180,000 candelas. The light can be seen 18.5 nautical miles from shore.
• Besides the lighthouse keeper’s residence, there is also a machine house and two boathouses. The boathouse next to the lighthouse was built in 1902. A road with 140 steps leading up to the lighthouse was built by the island residents and looks like a Roman-built road. The stone work also includes fences and terraces where vegetables and flowers were cultivated.
• The lighthouse was fully automated in the 1980s and has been without staff since June 30, 2003. In 1999 the station came under the protection of Norway’s National Archives.

A stay at the lighthouse keeper’s house

• Friends of Slåtterøy Lighthouse was formed in 2004 and they are the ones to contact for renting this fantastic place. A stay at Slåtterøy is a vacation you’ll never forget.
• Friends of Slåtterøy rents out beds in the old lighthouse keeper’s house and offers tours of the area. There are 13 beds plus an additional 14 matresses, for those who don’t mind sleeping on the floor. So, all in all, there is sleeping facilities for 27 people.
• There is a kitchen on both floors with dishwasher, refrigerator, cooking stove, electricity, and hot water. There are showers on both floors with floor heater and hot water. As this is an island, there is limited hot and cold water. Make sure to not waste water. There are living rooms on both floors, but the one on the first floor, is the biggest.
• The rent for one night is NOK 1,500 for the whole house.

There is no deposit required

• Landing on the island is all in the hands of the weather gods. There can be no guaranteed landing on any given day since the weather can change so quickly. When planning your trip, make sure to check the local weatherforcast on www.yr.no, (information is frequently updated) as your arrival date approaches.
• If there is a storm coming up, or really bad weather, the people here are fantastic, warm, and big-hearted. Friends of Slåtterøy will do all in their power to house you, find you a place for you to stay while you wait for the weather to improve.
• It is the changes of the weather that makes this place unique, but it is also the reason that cancellations might occur. That’s why you don’t have to pay a deposit.

How to get there

• BY TRAIN: You can take the train to Bergen or Stavanger from Trondheim, Oslo, Kristiansand and Bodø. Tickets can be bought at www.nsb.no
• BY AIR: SAS, Norwegian.no and Widerøe have flights to Bergen and Stavanger. You can also land at Stord. From there, the transportation is bus and boat. Bergen and Stavanger can be reached from all the corners of Norway. When arriving at the airports, ask the staff what bus to take to nearest bus or ferry landing.
• BY HELICOPTER: Bergen Helikopter is the shortest and fastest way to Slåtterøy lighthouse. They fly out of Flesland International Airport, Bergen and will have you at Slåtterøy within 20 minutes.
• BY FERRY: Tavel by ferry from Bergen (1.5 hours) or from Stavanger (2.5 hours) to Rubbestadneset. From here you get the bus to Brandasund. Ferry tickets can be pre-purchased online at www.flaggruten.no. Tickets can also be bought on the ferry which takes both cash and credit cards.
  If you are coming by ferry, you will have to wait at Rubbestadneset a good while before there is a bus coming by. The good news is that Bømlo Hotel is just up the street, and they offer fantastic breakfast. You can check out www.bomlo-hotell.no. And if you are waiting for the bus, let the staff know. They are really nice, and will help you the best way they can.
  After jumping on the bus, jump off at Kommunesenteret. Let the driver know. Here you will have to change bus, that will get you to Brandasund. Again, let the driver know, and he will drop you off. The local store at Brandasund is where to get the boat to Slåtterøy lighthouse.
• BY BUS: You can also take the bus. Make sure to get off at Føyno. From there, catch a connecting bus to Kommunesenteret and follow the same rute as the bus-part of the ferry trip.  Kystbussen is the bus company that will bring you from the big cities including Oslo and Trondheim. The long-distance buses take credit cards, but you have to bring cash for the local buses.
• BY CAR: For driving maps, click here.

What to bring

• All the food and drink you need for the stay. There is water, but during dry periods, there could be a water shortage.
• Towels and bed clothes
• Wind- and waterproof jacket and pants
• Hiking boots or other comfortable shoes
• Warm clothes
• Swimming gear. The ocean is very clear and so snorking is really good—but the water might be quite cold.
• Coal for BBQ
• It is also possible to order from the local store www.brandasund.com/localstore. Just call the store at local number 53 42 56 05. You can pay by credit card or cash (Norwegian krone)
• There is no internet at the lighthouse, but there are telephone signals, so internet via phone works well. There is electricity for charging devices. There are no TV signals, but there is a DVD player and a TV monitor. Just bring your own DVDs (European settings).

Contact

• Friends of Slåtterøy Lighthouse (Venner av Slåtterøy fyr). Jan Willy Folgerø-Holm is the president of this organization and will do all in his power to help you.
• Tel.: +47 95 23 22 38 (if the call goes to mail voice, please leave a message with name and phone number, and the call will be returned),
• Email:  jaki@haugnett.no
• www.brandasund.com has information on interesting things to do to do in this area. Jostein Waage runs this site and gives the tours at the lighthouse. He is a walking encyclopedia and his knowledge of the local history is nothing less than amazling. He takes care of the transportation from Brandasund to Slåtterøy lighthouse.
• Phone +47 97 56 60 56
• Email:  josteinwaage@me.com

See bigger map