Smøla: open landscapes, culture and skerries
Accommodation in Smøla
On Smøla, low-lying, boggy terrain meets an open landscape where the sea and sky dominate the view. Thousands of islets and skerries shape the character of the place. There are also distinctive cultural sites, routes across the island and opportunities to experience Smøla from the water. When choosing a suitable base, it may therefore help to consider first whether you want to focus mainly on nature, culture or activities on the water.
Landscape and nature on Smøla
The flat, open landscape sets Smøla apart from destinations where changes in elevation shape the stay. There are 22 marked hiking trails around the island. If you would rather explore Smøla on two wheels, you’ll find long roads across flat terrain; both make the area particularly well suited to cycling. The Sør-Smøla Landscape Protection Area is another part of Smøla’s natural environment.
White-tailed eagles are also among the area’s notable natural features: Smøla is thought to have the world’s densest population. Around 50 pairs breed there. If you’re interested in birdlife and wide-open landscapes, these features can provide a focus for your stay alongside hiking or cycling trips.
Cultural history around Edøya and Kuli
Edøya brings together history and a special role as a place of arrival. The island was an important trading centre, military base and cultural centre. Smøla’s regional coastal pilgrimage centre is located at Gurisentret on Edøya. In 2012, the Kuli Stone was included as one of 60 documents in Norway’s Documentary Heritage Register. It is considered one of the earliest records of Norway’s Christianisation and the first known written use of the name “Norway” on Norwegian soil.
A recommended cultural heritage route runs from Edøya via Kuli to the shelter at Rosvoll; along the way, you can reach the Kuli Stone. This makes it possible to include a visit to the monument in your route planning. Edøystjerna is another striking feature: it is unusually well preserved and carefully assembled. Three arms extend from a central point; it has a diameter of 8 metres.
Gurisentret is also home to the open-air play “Fru Guri av Edøy”, which has been staged at the open-air amphitheatre there since 2009. Just outside Gurisentret is a small beach suitable for swimming and crabbing. You can take culture and time by the water into account as different interests when choosing where to stay, without having to combine them into a single itinerary.
Getting active: kayaking, cycling and hiking
Smøla Kajakk runs paddling courses, rents out kayaks and offers guided paddling tours. Rental tours start at a sandy beach at the paddling camp. For an additional fee, they can instead start in Veiholmen or at another location on Smøla. If paddling is important to your trip, take your preferred starting point into account and note that alternative starting locations incur an extra charge.
Cycling and hiking offer other ways to experience the landscape: the long roads and flat terrain make cycling a good choice, while the 22 marked hiking trails around the island give you options for exploring on foot. No information is provided about the length of individual routes. You can therefore plan around the type of activity you prefer rather than assuming a particular route duration.
Choosing a location and getting there
On arrival in Smøla, visitors first reach Edøya. High-speed boats from Trondheim or Kristiansund arrive there; two buses run on from Edøya across Smøla. Gurisentret is next to the ferry terminal, where the high-speed boat also docks. If you want to take the cultural history and arrival via Edøya into account when choosing a base, you can consider this location when looking for a holiday apartment. The island’s routes and nature and cultural attractions also offer other points to consider.
Veiholmen is also of interest for its local history: it was once one of Norway’s largest fishing villages south of the Lofoten Islands, though activity there has declined considerably. The Sanden estate in Været has five buildings. It belongs to the Smøla Museum, which is part of the Nordmøre Museum. You’ll find another local speciality at the Villsaugården farm: visitors can sample local products made from wild sheep meat at the farm shop and restaurant.
Places on Smøla
For further orientation, you can also visit the pages for Veiholmen, Edøya, Korsvoll, Holberg and Smøla.
For the broader travel overview: Møre og Romsdal.
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