Askvoll: Island World, Rock Art and Fishing History

Fjords and mountains give way to an outer island archipelago in the municipality of Askvoll. The landscape therefore ranges from distinctive peaks to island communities by the sea. When planning your trip, the main question is which experiences you would like to focus on: hiking trails on Værlandet and Bulandet, cultural history on Atløy, or island nature around Værlandet.

Island Nature and Hiking Trails

Sørværet Nature Reserve is a protected wetland near Værlandet. Wildlife there includes seals, otters, eagles and deer. If you enjoy observing nature, you can consider this area one of Askvoll’s distinctive landscapes. The protected nature and island trails appeal to different interests: the wetland shapes the character of the reserve, while several marked hiking trails on Værlandet and Bulandet invite you to explore the islands on foot.

One of the longer routes is Nordsjøløypa. It includes both flat terrain and some peaks, as well as signposted viewpoints. This mix gives the hike its own character; when planning your day, you can consider whether a longer route with varied terrain suits the kind of outing you have in mind. There is also a cycling route connecting two island ferry docks: the Værlandet–Bulandet route is about 10.8 kilometres long and runs from the ferry dock on Værlandet to the dock on Bulandet.

Between Værlandet, Bulandet and Alden

Bulandet is Norway’s westernmost active fishing community. Fishing also features at the Bulandet Temapark on the island: located in the old schoolhouse, it offers an overview of life in the island community, past and present. This lets you combine an active day on the island trails with an insight into the history and daily life of the island community.

Alden is in the municipality of Askvoll, between Værlandet, Bulandet and Atløy. The hike to the summit reaches an altitude of 481 metres and offers panoramic views. If you plan to visit Alden, getting there is part of the outing: take the ferry from Askvoll or Fure in Fjaler to Værlandet, then continue by boat. Contact your accommodation to arrange boat transport.

Rock Art and Island History

At Cape Staveneset, the rock art site comprises 11 locations with Bronze Age rock carvings dating from approximately 1800 to 500 BC; most of the motifs depict boats. The approximate time span and recurring boat depictions make this a special destination for anyone interested in early traces of human culture.

Vilnes Church stands in Vilnes on the southern tip of Atløy. Built in 1674, it is a wooden long church with 130 seats. A stone cross in its churchyard commemorates the so-called Olav’s Cross on the island of Svanøy. Together with the rock art at Cape Staveneset, the church offers another way to explore the municipality’s history. For families looking to accommodate different interests, it is easy to choose a focus: hiking and island nature, fishing and island history, or cultural sites such as the rock carvings and the church.

Getting Here and Finding Your Way to a Holiday Apartment

The free car and passenger ferry MF Nordfjord connects Askvoll or Fure in Fjaler with Værlandet and Bulandet. There are several daily sailings from Askvoll to Værlandet. For Alden, you will also need to plan for boat transport from Værlandet.

Another way to discover the islands is the post boat island-hopping route between Solund, Bulandet and Værlandet. The route is extended from mid-June to mid-August. Passengers can get off and explore the islands on their own. On Værlandet, Hamnaholmen houses a café, pub and shop in a former general store. Hamnaholmen is close to Værlandet guest harbour and about 1.5 kilometres from the Værlandet ferry dock. This information may be useful if you would like to plan a stay on Værlandet around the ferry dock and guest harbour.

For more town pages in Askvoll: Holmedal, Kvammen, Stongfjorden, Korssund, Atløy, Askvoll, Bulandet and Værlandet.

For the broader travel overview: Sogn Og Fjordane.