Stø: The Queen’s Route, Coast and Culture

Stø between hiking trail and sea

Stø is a destination for anyone interested in a marked hiking route, traces of earlier settlement, and wildlife watching at sea. The Queen’s Route passes through a coastal area rich in cultural heritage; a full-day whale and bird safari also departs from Stø. If you would like to include one or both experiences in your trip, you could consider Stø as a place to search for a holiday apartment. Your choice will then depend on whether the hike, the trip out to sea, or the traces of culture along the coast are your main priority.

The Queen’s Route: route and directions

The main route of the Queen’s Route is 15 kilometres long. Guided tours run by the trekking association usually take six hours from start to finish. The route is marked throughout with the DNT’s red T-markers. There are useful information boards about the Queen’s Route at both starting points, Stø and Nyksund. The highest point is on Finngamheia, at 448 metres above sea level.

It is important to plan ahead for food and drink: there is no access to water on the Queen’s Route. Bring enough to drink and, if possible, a packed lunch. This information is especially relevant to planning your day if you intend to make the hike a fixed part of your stay. The route length, the usual duration of guided tours, and the highest point offer different kinds of guidance: the distance and elevation describe the route, while the stated duration applies specifically to guided tours.

Coastal traces and cultural history

Traces of two longhouses can be seen on a raised beach along the Queen’s Route. The site is about 170 metres from the landing place at the southern end of Skipssanden. Both houses were about 20 metres long and 4 to 5 metres wide. Traces of a Viking Age longhouse can also be seen along the coastal section of the Queen’s Route from Stø. The stretch from Stø to Vargnesset, south of Skipssanden, is rich in cultural heritage.

Langenes Church, a wooden cruciform church with 170 seats, is located near Stø and was completed in the early 16th century. Shortly before Stø, the Fem Fiskevær cycling route takes a detour along the gravel road Staggarsveien, looping around to the historic church. Fresh catches are also brought ashore in Stø, mainly by boats with local ties. The hiking trail, church, and fishing connection show different sides of the place without needing to form a single itinerary.

Safari and birdlife

A full-day whale and bird safari departs from Stø. You can observe whales, puffins, seals, and other seabirds in their natural habitat. The safari explores the waters around Anda Nature Reserve. Anda Island is viewed from the boat; there is no landing on the island.

Beyond Stø lies the Stø/Nyksund Nature Reserve, which includes Lyngøyan, among other places. It covers a total area of 4,799 dekar, of which 370 dekar is land. The area is an important breeding ground for seabirds. For those who would like to focus their stay more on nature and wildlife watching, this protected habitat is another part of the area around Stø, alongside the safari.

Getting to Stø and other places

Stø can be reached by local bus from Sortland. The Fem Fiskevær cycling route also includes the Myre–Stø section. If you start your cycling trip from Myre to Stø, follow FV 7672 for 15 kilometres to the end of the road. Shortly before Stø, the described detour along Staggarsveien leads to Langenes Church. Skipssanden beach is a few minutes’ walk from Stø harbour.

When choosing your holiday apartment, you could consider whether you would like to focus your trip mainly on the Queen’s Route and coastal traces, the safari from Stø, or a cycling tour. Find more pages about local places here: Øksnes, Klo, Alsvåg, Myre, Sandset, Sørvågen.

Go to the main travel overview: Øksnes.