Hestenesøyra: Hiking Trails and Fjord History

Hestenesøyra combines a hike to Eikenesstøylen with remarkable traces of trade and transport along the Nordfjord. There is also the Eika på Eikenes: an old tree at the point where the Hyefjord meets the main Nordfjord. If you are looking for a holiday rental, you can weigh up the natural experiences here against a place with a layered history.

Hike to Eikenesstøylen

The hike starts at the Rv 615 by Eikenes on Hestenesøyra and leads to Eikenesstøylen. You can take either the forest road or a well-marked trail. Along the trail, numerous signs point out local place names—an opportunity to pay attention to the names of the area as you walk. The two options described therefore differ first and foremost in the type of route: a forest road or a marked trail.

Parking at the starting point is free. If there are many vehicles there, you can also park down at Øyra or by the schoolhouse. This gives you a practical guide to where to start the hike, without committing you to either the forest road or the trail.

The Eika på Eikenes

The Eika på Eikenes stands at Gardneset, where the Hyefjord meets the main Nordfjord. Its crown has a circumference of about 60 metres, and its trunk has a circumference of about 6 metres. Experts previously estimated the tree to be 500 to 600 years old; more recent information may indicate that it is even older. The age is therefore a previous estimate, while the measurements are approximate.

The tree offers an unusual perspective on nature: it stands out not only for its size but also for its great age. Its location at Gardneset places the Eika exactly where two fjords meet. If you prefer an active outing, you can focus on the hike to Eikenesstøylen; if you are interested in nature and landscape features that have developed over a long time, the Eika offers a different focus.

Trade, buildings, and old roads

The history of Hestenesøyra is also a story of trade at the quay. Gloppens Spare- og Forbrugsforening took over the property later owned by Lothe in 1880 and began trading there. The Lothe shop was located in one of two large boathouses on J. H. Lothe’s property. The exterior of the boathouses has changed little since they were built in the late 19th century. The buildings at the quay tell a story of trade and transport spanning many generations.

The premises of the Lothe shop preserve the furnishings and inventory from when the shop finally closed in 1985. A handsome house, built around 1912, stands between the two boathouses. An old stretch of road dating from around 1890 can also be seen on Hestenesøyra in Hyefjorden. Together, these details illustrate different chapters in the history of the place: the shop and the movement of goods, a house between the boathouses, and an older road.

The former brass production is also part of the story. Kornelius Eikenes moved his brass foundry from Kleppenes to “Karnils” on Hestenesøyra and continued production there. Some of the production equipment remains in the building where the brass was made; however, the building cannot currently be visited. This is important for planning: you can learn about this history as part of the place, but a visit to the building itself is not currently possible.

From the steamboat quay to the road

A warehouse still stands at the old steamboat quay, used for goods that arrived on the Fylkesbåtene or were to be shipped with them. As late as the mid-1960s, the Fylkesbåtene regularly called at Hestenesøyra on their Bergen routes. On Sunday mornings, connecting services ran on local boats to Hyen and “Innfjorden”.

The Sande–Hestenesøyra stretch was the first stage of a road between Hyen and Sandane that was free of ferry crossings. In 1971, Hestenesøyra became accessible by car. The boat Nesjar, owned by a shareholder partnership in Hestenesøyra, also shaped the history of transport: for around 50 years, it was a familiar sight in the middle and inner parts of the Nordfjord, until it was sold around 1970.

As a guide when choosing where to stay: the road from Hestenesøyra to Kleppenes is 6.5 km long, and Å is 14 km away. If you are looking for a holiday rental, you can decide whether Hestenesøyra suits you based on whether you would prefer to spend your holiday hiking, exploring natural features, or discovering the place’s historical traces.

More places to discover: Gloppen, Byrkjelo, Sandane, Hyen, Vereide, Breim.

Back to the main travel overview: Gloppen.