Vevelstad: Fjord Scenery, Rock Art and Coastal Trails
Accommodation in Vevelstad
Stone Age rock carvings, a protected marine area and a summit with views of the fjord and coast give Vevelstad a distinctive character. Experiences range from short walks through coastal and agricultural landscapes to a challenging mountain hike. Cultural history is part of the picture too: you’ll encounter it in rock art, a church and a historic trading post.
Fjord and Mountain Scenery
The Vistenfjord is a protected marine area. It begins at Forvik and extends inland towards Lomsdal-Visten National Park and the protected Strauman landscape. The national park’s wilderness areas lie east of Vevelstad. Those interested in nature and water will find very different aspects to explore on a trip: the fjord as a marine area and the wilderness areas farther east.
The summit of Høyholmstindan is 1,015 metres above sea level. From there, views stretch west over Vevelstad and the Helgeland coast, north towards the Vistenfjord and east to Lomsdal-Visten. The hike to the summit is rated challenging; it includes steep sections and some scrambling. This is a different kind of nature experience from a walk through the lower-lying coastal and agricultural landscapes.
Trails with Different Scenery
The Vistnesstien trail, about 3 kilometres long, passes through coastal and agricultural landscapes and has several viewpoints. If you’d like to include a manageable walk in your day’s plans, its length can serve as a guide. Along the Trollpikken trail, there are stone and wooden steps as well as benches. These trail features differ from the steep sections on Høyholmstindan; the right hike for you depends on the kind of outing you’re looking for.
There are also experiences to be had on the water: in Vevelstad, you can take boat or kayak trips from the mountain to the fjord or from beach to beach. This offers an alternative to hiking on land.
Rock Art, a Church and a Trading Post
The rock carvings in Vistnesdal were made around 4,000 to 5,000 years ago, during the Stone Age. They depict deer, halibut, people and abstract figures. The motifs reveal the area’s long cultural history, quite distinct from the active experiences of hiking trails and the fjord.
Vevelstad Church is a timber long church with wooden boarding; its first construction phase dates from 1796. Another historic site is the Old Trading Post at Forvik, which dates from 1792. Traditional boknafisk and homemade rhubarb cake are served there in the trading post’s historic surroundings.
At the Ristning/Tjaalege open-air museum near Vevelstad, visitors can explore everyday life in the 19th century through guided tours and hands-on activities. The museum complements the rock carvings and trading post with a different perspective on the past: its focus is on everyday life in that period.
Choose Vevelstad as Your Destination
Vevelstad lies along the Coastal Route on County Road 17 between Brønnøysund and Sandnessjøen. Express boats operate between Tjøtta, Forvik and the Vistenfjord.
Your preferred style of travel can help guide your accommodation search: if you mainly want to explore rock art, the church and the museum, you’ll have different priorities from someone focusing on the challenging summit trail or trips on the water. The range of experiences can help you plan your holiday, without requiring every interest to involve the same kind of outing. For more information about the area, you can also visit the pages for Vevelstad and Visthus.
For the main travel overview: Nordland.
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