Smøla

On Smøla, coastal culture, nature experiences and an unusual density of historical discoveries come together. You can take a two-hour boat safari to see sea eagles in the archipelago, explore marked hiking trails or learn about traces of the past. When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home, it is worth first considering whether you would like to focus your stay on culture, outdoor activities or both.

Coastal pilgrimage and culture on Edøy

Gurisentret is located right by the harbour on Edøy and is a regional centre for culture and coastal pilgrimage. Smøla is one of four regional pilgrimage centres along the Kystpilegrimsleia. Gurisentret has a waiting room for travellers and toilets open year-round; the waiting room is open daily from 06:00 to 23:00. If you are interested in pilgrimage routes and coastal culture, this is a practical starting point on Smøla.

Edøy gamle kirke is also part of the character of Edøy: the stone church dates from the 12th century and is the first landmark you see from the sea when arriving on Edøy. Another trace of history leads to Kuløy. There, a replica of the Kulisteinen stands at the stone’s original discovery site. These places give your trip a cultural focus without requiring a particular visiting programme.

Edøystjerna was discovered during archaeological investigations connected with the construction of Gurisentret. The star-shaped stone setting probably dates from around 200 to 800 AD. The remains of the Edøy ship include a keel approximately 13 metres long; this suggests the ship had a total length of 17 to 18 metres. The Norwegian Mire Museum is located in the building of Moldstad Experimental Farm. Its main topics are peat extraction and production, the construction of peat huts and peatlands. Gurisentret is also the outdoor performance venue for the play Fru Guri av Edøy.

Hiking, paddling and discovering nature

There are 22 marked trails for hiking on Smøla, spread across the island. One leads to Måbergtua and the Midt-Smøla Nature Reserve. Another option is the short path to Rosvollhaugen, described as a route for the whole family; there is a shelter at the top. These different hiking destinations offer practical options if you would rather plan your stay around a single excursion or several trails.

If you would like to experience Smøla from the water, you can choose a three-and-a-half- to four-hour guided kayaking tour with Smøla Kajakk, or rent kayaks there to explore the archipelago. The guided sea-kayaking tour visits Haugjegla Lighthouse out at sea. Another perspective is offered by the two-hour boat safari with Smøla Naturopplevelser to see sea eagles in the archipelago around Smøla. The duration of the two experiences can help you choose between a shorter boat trip and a longer guided kayaking tour.

The flat landscape and long, straight roads are suited to cycling. Diving is another option: Smøla has extensive areas with dive depths of 0 to 40 metres. If you prefer to stay on land, the marked hiking trails offer another way to get to know the landscape.

Choosing the right focus for your accommodation

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home, the experiences you want can be a starting point for choosing where to stay. Veiholmen is the starting point for the guided kayaking tours and kayak rental offered by Smøla Kajakk; the Feskarkjerringa statue is also located there, in the built-up area. Dyrnesdalen is home to Smøla Golfklubb’s sloping, challenging forest golf course. The club was recognised by the NGF in 2005 as golf club number 168. If you want these activities to shape your stay, you can take the relevant place names into account when choosing your accommodation.

For information about local transport, the municipal overview for Smøla refers to FRAM, Fjord1 and AtB. This lets you connect your excursion plans with the topics that interest you—from culture and the pilgrimage centre to hiking, paddling, cycling and golf.

If you would like to compare other local pages, you can also find Veiholmen, Holberg, Edøya and Korsvoll here.

For the broader travel overview: Smøla.