Rennesøy: Mountain Views, Hiking Trails and Cultural History

A 234-metre-high peak visible across large parts of Ryfylke defines the landscape of Rennesøy: Rennesøyhornet. At its summit is a fortification dating from the Early Iron Age. The hiking trails, designated cultural landscape and historic sites also reveal different sides of the island. Which of these interests you most may help guide your choice of holiday apartment and excursions.

Cultural Landscape and Nature

The designated cultural landscape on Rennesøy comprises three areas: Hodne-Dale-Sel, Førsvoll-Austbøheia and Helland-Bø. Together, they are home to 480 plant species, including many rare or threatened species. Five of these species are found nowhere else in Norway. The Helland-Bø plateau and its steep slopes down to the Mastrafjord are also an important habitat for several bird species, including peregrine falcons and eagle-owls. Around Førsvollvatnet, wetlands form the Førsvollvatna Nature Reserve. Rennesøy thus showcases open cultural landscapes, steep slopes and protected wetlands as distinct natural features.

Hiking on Rennesøy

For a circular hike starting from Helland, the trail leads from the car park up to the plateaus of Kitlingen and Varabrekk. It then descends through a heathland area to Flekkstadmyra and returns to the starting point along a farm track. The marked trail network at Flekkstadmyra includes routes of 2.5 km, 5 km and 2 km and runs mostly through dry terrain. The Flekkstadmyra circular hike is an easy, family-friendly route through actively grazed countryside.

Another hiking option starts at the prepared car park in Bø and leads to the viewpoints at Nibben and Knott. The trail network around Rennesøyhodnet offers both circular hikes and routes that cross the island. Trailheads are in Vikevåg, Sel and Hegglandslia in Østhusvik. From the summit of Rennesøyhodnet, the view stretches from Haugalandet and Karmøy in the north across inner Ryfylke to Jæren in the south. Vikafjellet above Vikevåg is one of the two most visited viewpoints on Rennesøy.

The hikes described differ in their routes and landscapes: you can choose a loop over plateaus, heathland and farm tracks, or explore viewpoints and a trail network with both circular and cross-island routes. For families, the circular hike at Flekkstadmyra, described as easy and family-friendly, is a specific option. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, you can start planning your trip by deciding which of these hiking experiences you would like to focus on.

Church and History

Sørbø Church is a medieval stone church on the island of Rennesøy. It was built between 1130 and 1150 and represents the transition from the Old Norse faith to Christianity. Visitors can see a medieval baptismal font, a stained-glass window by Victor Sparre, and traces of the Viking Age and ecclesiastical power.

The Galta farm in northwestern Rennesøy also tells the story of early settlement: remains of a Stone Age settlement, believed to be 11,000 to 12,500 years old, were found there. Bakken is a former smallholding below the Dalakergarden farm. Its living quarters are built using the log construction method, while the barn is built using the post-and-beam method. Bakken lies directly beside the road between Vikevåg and Østhusvik. A cultural trail leads from the farm buildings by the sea up to Dalestemmen.

Getting Here and Choosing a Base

The E39 crosses Rennesøy via the subsea Rennfast road tunnels and connects with the Mortavika–Arsvågen ferry route. When choosing accommodation, you can use your interests in local excursions as a guide: viewpoints and hiking trails offer a different focus from church and settlement history.

Other destinations in the same wider area: Bru, Østhusvik and Mosterøy.

Return to the overview of the wider destination: Rennesøy.