Sele – Trails and Culture in the Surrounding Area

Near Sele, you’ll find an old church, a hiking section through a cultural landscape and trails with sea views. In the wider destination of Øygarden, there is also cultural history, birdwatching and waterside recreation areas. When choosing a holiday apartment in Sele, your planned mix of activities may be important: Would you rather hike, visit historic sites or spend time by the water? These destinations offer different starting points for your plans.

Trails and Culture Near Sele

Hjelme Old Church is near a maritime heritage area and is a stop on the Hellesøy route. After a two-year restoration, it reopened in autumn 2019; concerts and cultural events were planned as part of its use. South of Hellesøy, the 1.6-kilometre Nautnes–Trollvatn section of the North Sea Trail runs through a popular cabin area and a cultural landscape. It also offers lovely sea views.

On Hellesøy, the North Sea Trail follows old roads and paths, and there is also a network of trails. Paths to Gløvrebu start at the cemetery in Staksmyra and at Sæle. The surrounding area therefore offers both a clearly identified stage and trails leading to a specific destination. You can take these different landmarks into account when planning your hiking days.

Cultural History in Øygarden

In the wider destination of Øygarden, the North Sea Traffic Museum focuses on history. Its exhibitions cover the Telavåg tragedy, the coastal resistance movement and the escape route across the North Sea to the United Kingdom during the Second World War. The North Sea Traffic Exhibition includes a 25-minute film about the Telavåg tragedy. The film focuses on this specific event, while the other exhibition themes explore the broader history of resistance and escape.

Nature and Coastal Experiences in the Wider Øygarden

On Skogsøyna in Øygarden, you can go fishing and swimming. The island is also home to Hildringsbu, a birdwatching hut that is open during the season. Check the hut’s current seasonal opening before visiting.

Ormhilleren is also in Øygarden. This open, family-friendly recreation area has a large, sheltered swimming cove with a seashell-sand beach. The Kyststien trail runs from there along the west side, while the Kystvaktstien trail follows the sea beneath the Rongesund Bridge. On Algrøyna, the Barmane recreation area offers sheltered waters, mooring facilities and coves with seashell sand. People use the area for recreational fishing from both the sea and the land. These places offer different highlights: a swimming cove, coastal trails or recreational fishing.

Hiking in the Wider Øygarden

The Seløy–Gløvrebu route is marked and gently undulating, with views of the sea, islets and skerries. At Gløvrebu, visitors can stop for a rest by a fire pan and small fire pits. Another hike in the wider Øygarden area is the Tjeldstø–Alvheim–Hovden circular route: it is 9 kilometres long and takes about 3.5 hours to walk. Together with the 1.6-kilometre Nautnes–Trollvatn section, these figures give a sense of different route lengths and a specific time estimate for the longer loop.

Russarstegen also combines a hike with a historic destination: this section of the North Sea Trail leads to Fjell Fortress, which was built by prisoners during the Second World War. When looking for a holiday apartment in Sele, it’s worth considering which places you’d like to visit each day. Think about whether the nearby Hellesøy section, a longer hike, or cultural and waterside experiences in Øygarden will be the focus of your trip.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Hellesøy, Tjeldstø, Rong.

See the overview of the wider destination: Øygarden.