Barmen on Barmøya: Discover Cultural Heritage and Nature

Barmøya lies between the mighty Stad Peninsula and the open sea to the west. The landscape brings together sea and mountains; the island’s fish-rich waters and excellent mountain hiking areas are close to one another. There are also traces of history, ranging from runestones and quarries to old farms and walls. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to focus on culture, hiking or fishing.

Villages and routes on Barmøya

The island has four villages: Barmen, Røyset, Vikja and Fjellet. After arriving by ferry, you reach Barmen first. Røyset is a five-kilometre drive along the shore at Røysetstranda. Vikja lies by the open sea, 4.7 kilometres from the ferry quay in Barmen. These locations will help you get your bearings on the different parts of the island when choosing a holiday apartment as your base.

Runestone, burial mounds and quarries

At Korsneset on Barmen, there is a group of burial mounds and standing stones. These include Barmen’s best-known runestone, the Barmen Stone. The ancient stone stands on the eastern side of the island at Korsneset and is about 1.55 metres high. If you are interested in early cultural history, you will find several different traces of the past in one place: burial mounds, standing stones and the runestone.

Further traces of stoneworking can be found at Barmen Ytre, where there are two historic soapstone quarries with several visible extraction pits. There are also five unfinished pot blanks at Nerlid. The finds and quarry sites tell the story of how local stone was used, without focusing on any one individual structure. The boathouse rows at Svinevika and on Røyset are also important cultural heritage sites. Svinevika is also home to a well-preserved farm.

Cultural landscape and construction work

The cultural landscape in the hamlet of Fjellet has been shaped by livestock farming over centuries. People built retaining walls to create hay meadows, and distinctive stone walls have been preserved on the farms. The retaining walls at Fjellet and Vikasvingane are also considered cultural heritage sites associated with the landscape and roads. Another example of elaborate stonework is the road to Vikja: it was built in the 1940s and 1950s and is characterised by walls that attest to the skilled craftsmanship involved in its construction.

Hiking and fishing

At 545 metres, Skjolden is Barmen’s highest peak and a popular hiking destination in the region. The Ytre Fjordane Trekking Association regularly organises hikes there. One circular route goes via Skjolden, Branden and Loksvika before returning to Kåsbakkjen. It is about 6.7 kilometres long, with a total ascent of 589 metres. This gives you specific figures for distance and ascent to help plan your day.

Fishing is another activity on Barmøya: freshwater fishing takes place in the island’s small lakes, and fishing permits are available for Lake Fjellvatnet. Tour operators in the village of Barmen also offer fishing activities. Barmøy Grendahus hosts concerts, dances and cinema screenings. This means nature experiences and cultural activities offer different ways to spend your stay.

If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Barmen, you can consider which part of the island and which activities interest you most when choosing where to stay: the open sea by Vikja, the cultural landscape of Fjellet, or the opportunities for hiking and fishing.

You can also explore other destination pages: Selje, Flatraket and Stadlandet.

Back to the main travel overview: Selje.