Veiholmen: Fishing village between harbor and open sea

Veiholmen combines the history of a fishing village with experiences on the water and walks by the sea. The place is surrounded by holms, skerries and open sea. If you are looking for a holiday apartment on Veiholmen, you might first consider whether maritime village life, a guided kayak tour or views out towards the skerries are the main priorities for your stay.

Discover the harbor and fishing village

Angelhusnaust is located in the middle of the harbor. When arriving in the fishing village, you can see three neighboring boathouses there. Together, they represent the fishing village’s original cultural environment and building tradition. The property was used as a quay, boathouse and storage for fishing equipment from the early 19th century until it was adapted for motorized vehicles in the 1950s. This makes it possible to see in one place how closely the buildings and work at the harbor were connected.

The Sanden property also preserves a special part of local history: it comprises five buildings, preserved as they were during the lifetime of the last owner. The historic settlement area “Været” is characterized by houses standing close together. Along with Angelhusnaust, Sanden offers another perspective on the area’s traditional buildings. Veiholmen fiskevær is classified as a fishing-village and maritime economic cultural environment.

The statue “Feskarkjerringa” also stands in the middle of the settlement. It depicts a fisherwoman, a small boy and a cod. The statue offers a tangible connection to fishing on a walk around the village, while Angelhusnaust and Sanden showcase different examples of historic buildings.

Kayaking or walking by the sea

A guided sea-kayaking tour lasts two and a half to three hours and goes around Veiholmen. It also passes through narrow channels. There are good chances of spotting white-tailed eagles, eider ducks and terns. The tour combines time on the water with the opportunity to observe the local wildlife. If you like to spend your vacation days actively, it offers a different way to experience Veiholmen than a walk on land.

A walk leads to the Valen skerries on the outer edge of Veiholmen. From there, you can enjoy views of the sea, Haujegla Lighthouse and the sunset over the sea. You can choose between a guided tour around the village and a walk with views of the skerries, lighthouse and evening sky. These different experiences can help you decide what you would like to focus on during your stay, without requiring an extensive itinerary.

Local history and special events

The Småbåtfestivalen takes place on Veiholmen each year around the transition from August to September. When planning your travel dates, this recurring event offers a specific seasonal point of reference. Brenneriet tells a different story: it was originally a fish-oil rendering plant dating from the 1880s and was taken over by Veiholmen Fiskesamvirke in 1995.

The OlsenNaustet restaurant is also housed in a renovated old boathouse, whose beams date back to the 1770s. The restaurant is therefore set in a building whose structural elements have a long history. When choosing a holiday apartment, these cultural and local connections may matter just as much as whether you would rather spend your time on the water or out walking.

Choose Veiholmen as your holiday destination

A road connects Veiholmen to the main island of Smøla. This route includes bridges, embankments and protective breakwaters. This makes one thing clear when deciding where to spend your vacation: Veiholmen is not just a single harbor area, but is connected to Smøla by road. If you are considering accommodation in Veiholmen, you can base your choice on the interests described here: fishing-village history, the guided kayak tour, the walk to Valen or the annual festival held around the transition from August to September.

More pages about the area: Smøla, Holberg, Edøya and Korsvoll.

Back to the main travel overview: Smøla.