Kråkvåg: Archipelago, Coastal Landscape and Fort

Kråkvåg combines a varied archipelago with an actively managed coastal cultural landscape. Extensive coastal meadows, species-rich pastures and limestone-rich heath give the destination its distinctive character. There is also a longer cycling route, opportunities for fishing and traces of the former coastal fort—several reasons to spend your holiday outdoors or exploring the area's history.

An archipelago with connections

Kråkvåg is an archipelago in the municipality of Ørland in Trøndelag. It includes Kråkvågøya, Kommersøya, Litjslåttøya and Storslåttøya; causeways connect the islands. A bridge connects Kråkvåg to Storfosna, from where a ferry runs to Garten. A stone embankment with a bridge crosses the Kråkvåg-svaet. These geographical connections provide a clear point of reference for planning your trip: Kråkvåg does not stand alone, but is part of a sequence linking the islands, Storfosna and Garten.

Storfosna and Kråkvåg form an actively managed coastal cultural landscape. The pastures are species-rich, the heath is limestone-rich and the coastal meadows are extensive. So if you mainly want to experience the landscape during your stay, you will find not just one natural feature, but several distinct elements of a coastal landscape managed by people. The cycling route to Kråkvåg also passes through varied coastal countryside; the terrain is well suited to cycling.

East of the islands lies the Kråkvågsvaet bird sanctuary. It is part of the Ørland våtmarkssystem Ramsar site. The protected-area context is therefore also part of the geographical picture around Kråkvåg. Alongside the islands and the cultural landscape, the surrounding landscape and nature can shape your impression of the destination.

Cycling and fishing

The Garten–Storfosna–Kråkvåg cycling route is 57.4 km long and is considered easy. If you want to make cycling the focus of your trip, the specific route length provides a useful guide for planning your day. The route recommendation suggests visiting Kråkvåg fort; the fort has been decommissioned. This outing therefore brings together a longer ride through coastal cultural landscape and a destination with its own history, without having to think of the scenic route and the historic site as separate experiences.

Fishing is another possible activity in the area: the bridge over the Kråkvåg-svaet offers good fishing opportunities. This is a different focus from cycling and can play a separate role in your holiday plans. If you are weighing up active days on your bike against time spent fishing, Kråkvåg offers two distinct options based on the activities described here.

Traces of the coastal fort

Kråkvåg fort was built between 1986 and 1990, placed in reserve in 2001, decommissioned in 2006 and dismantled in 2012. One of the three 120 mm rapid-fire guns still stands on the site. Two other gun emplacements are now marked only by small concrete pads; an ammunition depot also remains. These different remnants make the fort's history visible through tangible structures rather than telling it through dates alone.

The surviving ammunition depot is called “Haraldshall” and is used, among other things, for social gatherings. The former officers’ mess at Kråkvåg fort is also well preserved and is run by a local welfare association. Both buildings therefore have a connection that goes beyond their military history: anyone interested in Kråkvåg fort can also learn about Haraldshall's current use and the operation of the former mess as part of the site's story.

A historical note also takes us to Storslåttøya: the 1875 census reports that the cottager Kornelius Olsen (1825–1898) had moved to Storslåttøya from Nordlandet on Storfosna. The farm at Storslåttøya is assigned to the cadastral farm Kråkvåg (G.nr. 159/5).

When choosing a holiday rental in Kråkvåg, you can therefore consider what you want your stay to revolve around: the coastal cultural landscape, the Garten–Storfosna–Kråkvåg cycling route, fishing from the bridge or the history of the decommissioned fort. If you would like to explore more places, you can also find Brekstad, Opphaug and Storfosna here.

For the broader travel overview: Ørland.