Hommelstø: Hiking Trails, Nature and Cultural Heritage

Hiking Trails, Nature and Culture in Hommelstø

Hommelstø combines nature trails with insights into the region’s history. Hommelstø is home to the Drivkraft/Juhtiehtidh exhibition by the Brønnøy Museum at Gamle Samvirkelaget. It shows how the forces of natural resources have shaped the livelihoods of people in the region. A visit also raises the question of what role natural resources played in local life. This cultural focus complements the trails and nature destinations in Hommelstø and the surrounding area.

Nearby is Nøstvik kirke, also called Velfjord kirke. It is considered the oldest wooden church in Northern Norway, is built of log planks and was completed in 1674. The church houses a portable altar (altar portabile) or reliquary from before the Reformation; it is the church’s only medieval object. Those interested in church architecture and older sacred objects will find a distinct cultural-history highlight here. The details about its construction, completion and medieval object also make the church a specific topic for trip planning in their own right.

Minnetun has thirteen buildings dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. They show different aspects of rural life during that period. Another cultural monument is located in Hammarlian: it comprises around 450 steps and was probably built between 1910 and 1920. The two places offer different historical perspectives—rural life represented by several buildings in one, and a monument with a remarkable number of steps in the other.

Trails with Different Destinations

The Krokstien hiking area in Hommelstø has several circular trails, a barbecue hut, a shelter and rest areas. Kirkestien is also part of the Krokstien area. It follows a historic route that people once took to get to church. In this way, one of the trails in the area connects with the history of the routes people used to take to church. The circular trails, huts and rest areas are other features of the area.

The individual trails differ in length, route and destination. Rugåsnesstien is about 700 metres long and leads to the old marble quarry and the stone quay at Rugåsnesodden. Svanvatnstien is about 600 metres long, follows a forest path without any particularly steep sections, and ends at Svanvatnet. When choosing a route, you can weigh up a trail to historic sites against a forest path with a lake as its destination.

Krokvasstien is suitable for trips with strollers and wheelchairs. Brennaflågstien offers a different kind of trail: it is about 400 metres long and climbs steeply for a short stretch to a bench with some views of Krokvatnet. Elgstien is about 900 metres long and connects with Hamptjønnstien. Kirkestien is about 700 metres long and leads to Osen on the Sørfjord; Hamptjønnstien is also about 700 metres long and leads to Osen on the Sørfjord.

A Lake and a Boat Trip

Engavatnet is a small lake on a peninsula at the innermost end of Velfjord, about 3 kilometres north of Hommelstø. It can disappear completely—an unusual feature of this natural attraction. From Hommelstø, you can rent a boat from providers such as Velfjordferie for trips into Lomsdal-Visten National Park. So, alongside trails and cultural attractions, boat trips into the national park offer another option for your trip.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Hommelstø, consider which of these interests you want your stay to focus on: the trails in the Krokstien area, cultural-history destinations, Engavatnet or a trip to the national park. This can help you decide whether Hommelstø suits the kind of trip you have in mind.

If you would like to compare other places, you can also find Brønnøysund and Tosbotnet.

For the broader travel overview: Brønnøy.