Discover Tustna

Tustna combines scenic mountains with coastal history and historic sites. Visitors who want to get to know the island on foot will find several different destinations: At 896 m, Skarven is the highest point on Tustna; a marked trail leads from Gullstein to its summit. Knubben, by contrast, lies right by the sea on the west side of the island and, at 680 m, offers a different view of the landscape from its vantage point.

Mountain trails and viewpoints

A marked trail to Knubben starts at the car park. This lets you combine a specific hiking destination with a viewpoint whose seaside location gives it its own character. If you’d like to climb higher, consider the trail from Gullstein to Skarven. The two destinations differ in elevation and location: Knubben lies by the sea on Tustna’s west side, while Skarven is the island’s highest point.

The ridge hike across Tustnafjella starts either at Barskaret or Veiset. This gives you two stated starting points for the route. The ridge towards Jørgenvågsalen also offers a distinctive perspective on the landscape: from there, the view stretches west towards Kristiansund, while Gullsteinsdalen drops steeply to the east. To hike to Jørgenvågsalen and Jurtinden, take the RV680 and Gullsteinsdalen; the car park is at Gullsteinvollen.

Coastal culture and history

Gullstein is home to Gullstein Church, a long church built in 1869 on Tustna in the municipality of Aure. It is partly designed in the stave church style and was designed by the architect Christian Christie. Johannes Berget donated a nave in 1969. The church’s architecture and furnishings each offer a distinct connection to the history of the place.

Kråksundet Sjøbruksmuseum is dedicated to coastal culture. Its collections include tools and objects that illustrate this culture, as well as items related to the Geitbåten. This type of boat is a practical boat that is easy to row and sails close to the wind. Visitors interested in coastal life and traditional boats can discover a different side of Tustna here than on the mountain trails.

The island’s history also reaches further back: Solskjel is a battlefield where Harald Hårfagre fought two major battles. Near Tømmervåg is Bjønnhammaren, a Stone Age settlement site. These two places represent different eras and complement what you can discover at the church and coastal museum.

Gullsteinvollen and choosing where to stay

Gullsteinvollen is a mountain lodge at the end of Gullsteinsdalen and part of the Fjordruta trail network. From there, you can enjoy west-facing views of the sea and Smøla. There is a bathing spot in the river below the lodge, where you can swim and wash after your hike. This combination of a lodge, a trail network and a bathing spot makes Gullsteinvollen a useful landmark for anyone planning to include hikes in their stay.

When choosing a holiday rental in Tustna, your preferred experiences may help you decide: are you most interested in peaks and hiking trails, coastal culture or historic sites? Tustna Ladestasjon is a nature-oriented accommodation and experience offering on the island. It serves local food and craft-brewed drinks, and sells locally made goods. This means regional products and food are another area of interest alongside the hiking destinations.

More places to discover: Våg, Mjosundet, Lesund, Kjørsvikbugen, Aure, Hals, Foldfjorden, Vihals.

Back to the main travel overview: Aure.