Ellingsøy – Island trails between two fjords

Ellingsøya lies between the Ellingsøyfjord and Grytafjord. It is a long, narrow island in the municipality of Ålesund in Møre og Romsdal. Hiking trails lead to viewpoints, through woodland and heathland, and past traces of the past. Around Kverve, there are places to swim in summer. The island therefore offers various ways to include activity, scenery and discovery in your stay.

An island between two fjords

Ellingsøya extends about 16 km from east to west. The Ellingsøyfjord lies to the south, and the Grytafjord to the north. This orientation can help you think of the island as a destination in its own right while also taking its connections to the surrounding area into account: a bridge and subsea road tunnels along Fylkesvei 658 connect it to central Ålesund and Valderøya. The Ellingsøy Tunnel is a subsea road tunnel on National Road 658 between Ålesund and Ellingsøya and is part of the Vigra connection.

When choosing a holiday rental, it may therefore be useful to consider which outings you want to focus on: hiking destinations on Ellingsøya, or routes into central Ålesund and to Valderøya as well.

Hiking with different points of interest

One specific hike runs from Kverve to Gildreneset. The return route is 3 km long, climbs 20 m and takes an estimated 50 minutes. These details offer a practical reference when planning your hiking days. Around Kverve, there are also many small coves where you can swim in summer.

The Gildrenes om Hoff hike combines time in nature with insights into the island’s history. It passes a large fortification from the Second World War. The site of a prisoner-of-war camp lies in a marshy area between the parking area and Fjellsenden. In Sandvika, the route has a swimming spot that can be used at high tide. The stops along the hike therefore offer different points of interest; the swimming spot is specifically dependent on high-tide conditions.

On the Storkleiva route, the trail reaches a scenic ridge at Storkleiva, with views to the west and across the Grytafjord. Torvløa is another worthwhile hiking destination on this route. If you want to include more heights and views in your plans, Myklebusthornet offers panoramic views. The trail to the 143 m-high Kverveaksla passes through easy woodland and heathland; there is a hiking register box there.

Forest trails, viewpoints and traces of the island’s history

The route around Nesvatnet, also called Vatnet, can be covered on foot, by bike or on skis throughout the year. It runs through wooded terrain. In autumn, there are likely to be many mushrooms and berries; the route also passes numerous animal tracks, including fresh deer tracks. The different ways of getting around and the seasonal scenery give this loop a different character from the trails leading to individual viewpoints.

The route to Rørene opens up views south towards Ålesund and the Sunnmøre Alps, and west towards Hoffland and Runde. At Rørene, Ellingsøy IL has set up a box containing a guestbook where you can record your hike. Traces of earlier buildings can also be seen along this route: around the site of the demolished Grimstad old school, remains of walls and a flagpole are visible. Walls along Ellingsøya’s former main road have also been preserved. Another hike, Myklebusthorne og Sperrenakken fra Nes, starts at Nes Stadium on Ellingsøya.

If you are looking for a holiday rental on Ellingsøy, you can base your choice on which of these island experiences interest you most: a hike with specific details about distance and elevation gain, trails through woodland and heathland, views across the fjords, or hikes with historic stops. For more information, you can also explore Ålesund.

Back to the main travel overview: Ålesund.