Bernes: Farm Life, Cheese and a Circular Hike

Bernes brings farm life together with a clearly described circular hike. Osterøy Ysteri, a family farm with a cheese dairy, production rooms and summer pasture farming, is located in Bernes in Fotlandsvåg. There is also Bernes rundt, a hike that starts and ends in Indre Bernes. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, these local attractions may influence your choice: hiking, food production or both are at the heart of Bernes.

Farm Life and Local Produce

The family farm makes artisan foods from its own milk and meat. The sheep and goats graze in the forest and on the surrounding pastures as much as possible; summer pasture farming is also part of the farm. Groups can visit the cheese room or barn by prior arrangement. So a visit to learn about farm work needs to be arranged in advance.

One specific product is Ekte stølsgeitost: the Ophus Tyssebotn family makes this cheese by hand from its own goat’s milk and cooks it over a wood fire. The tradition has continued uninterrupted for more than 100 years. Ekte stølsgeitost is available from the farm shop in Bernes and in Stølen i Tyssebotn. If you are travelling to Bernes for this product, check availability in advance.

Bernes rundt: A Loop with Named Landmarks

The Bernes rundt circular hike starts and ends in Indre Bernes. Heading east, it leads to Nordretjønna. Other named points along the route include Heståsen and Rothaugen; on the way back, it follows the western side of Øvrevatnet. These landmarks help you get a sense of the route: the eastern section leads to Nordretjønna, while the return follows Øvrevatnet.

The Hanstveitholmane recreation area is close to Bernes. It has a bathing ramp, benches, a shelter and a toilet. This adds a place with facilities for spending time by the water to the area’s hiking and farm attractions.

Getting There and Finding Your Way

To reach the Bernes rundt hike, travel from Bergen via Fotlandsvåg towards Indre Bernes. If you are travelling by public transport, you can check the Skyss timetables for Fotlandsvåg and Bernes. Check the timetables for your travel dates.

Bernes rundt and Osterøy Ysteri offer different highlights to help you choose where to stay: the hike focuses on the route and scenery, while the family farm is about food production and visits by prior arrangement. Which of these interests tips the balance when choosing a holiday apartment depends on how you would like to spend your stay.

Osterøy as a Wider Destination

The wider destination of Osterøy also has its own landscape and cultural attractions. Osterøy is an inland island surrounded by fjords; at 868 metres, Høgafjellet is the highest mountain on Osterøy. In Gjerstad, in the middle of the island, the Osterøy Museum focuses, among other things, on the history of textiles and clothing, weaving, local building traditions, and the local history of Osterøy and Nordhordland.

Den Grøne Fabrikken in Mjøsvågen on Osterøy is a restored furniture factory in a historic setting of workshops and boathouses by the sea. Today, it is used for art, culture, experiences and various events. These regional attractions complement the specific points of interest in Bernes without shifting the local focus away from the farm and circular hike.

Discover more destinations: Valestrandfossen, Tysso, Tyssebotnen, Fotlandsvåg, Bruvik, Lonevåg.

Go to the main travel guide: Osterøy.