Norddyrøy: Coastal Heathland and Island Views

Islands, islets and skerries shape Norddyrøy’s coastal landscape. On the circular route over Langvarden and Brannøyhaugen, two high points combine with views of the Holasundet and a detail worth bearing in mind when planning: at low tide, you can explore Bessholmen and Bessholmsanden. If you’re looking for a holiday apartment, the landscape and the opportunities for excursions offer concrete clues about which experiences you want to shape your stay.

A coastal landscape with a character of its own

Nord-Dyrøya is one of two Dyrøya islands in the municipality of Frøya and lies west of the northern tip of the main island of Frøya. The island is part of Yttersida, an area highlighted on Frøya as a particularly valuable cultural landscape. This coastal cultural landscape is characterised by its many islands, islets and skerries; Yttersida is also shaped by coastal heathland. This makes for a different kind of trip from a holiday focused mainly on urban attractions or one large natural area: here, the indented coastline and the various islands take centre stage.

The connections between the islands are also part of finding your way around locally. The Trøastrømmen Bridge connects Norddyrøya to Kvernøya. The Dyrøya islands are connected to one another by bridges and linked by road via bridges to “mainland Frøya”. This means you can enjoy the island world from more than just the water; when planning your holiday, it is also worth distinguishing between exploring Norddyrøya and taking trips around the wider island area.

The circular route over Langvarden and Brannøyhaugen

The circular route passes over the two high points of Langvarden and Brannøyhaugen. There is a bench on Langvarden with views of Setra, Stranda and the northern end of the Holasundet. It’s a chance to take a break while enjoying a specific view of the coastal landscape. Another important planning detail is the condition for a detour: at low tide, the route gives you the opportunity to explore Bessholmen and Bessholmsanden. Bear this changing condition in mind if you want to include these particular places in your tour.

Part of the route follows the old road on Dyrøya. So as well as its high points, the tour includes a section connected to the island’s older transport route. Its different stops—Langvarden, Brannøyhaugen, the view of the Holasundet, and the places you can explore at low tide—give you several specific reasons to make the circular route the focus of a day during your stay, while ensuring that each part of the experience is different.

Getting to the islands and finding the routes

By car, you can reach the circular route via County Road 714. After Vågan cemetery on Dyrøya, turn towards Norddyrøya; about 0.3 kilometres later, the signposted parking area is on the right. The distance given is approximate. Dyrøy ferry terminal is in the north of Norddyrøya. Ferries and express boats depart from there daily for the outlying island chain; routes 825/820 serve the area.

There are also other boat connections: ferries run from the Dyrøya islands to Mausund and Sula, and express boats go to the islands of Froan. If you’d like to include crossings and other islands, you can take the connections from Dyrøya into account when planning your trip.

Culture and experiences in the wider travel area

An unusual technical detail in the island’s history is the Norddyrøy slipway, also known as “slipa i Holet”. It was operated solely by mechanical means using old boat engines. For visitors interested in local technology and cultural history as well as the landscape, this site adds a different perspective to exploring the coastal landscape.

Scuba diving is also offered in the wider Frøya travel area: the area is promoted for its clear water, diverse underwater life, varied underwater topography and shipwrecks. Wold Kysttransport also offers a five-hour island-hopping tour departing from Dyrøya or Sistranda. It visits Sula and Bogøyvær and, if time allows, Mausundvær. These experiences broaden the range of possible interests beyond Norddyrøy; the circular route and low-tide exploration, on the other hand, are directly connected to Norddyrøya.

Discover more destinations

For more trip-planning ideas, you can also explore the pages for Sula, Titran, Kverva, Dyrvik, Sistranda and Mausund.

For the overview of the wider travel area: Frøya.