Åfjord
Municipality · Trøndelag
About Åfjord
Climb the 951 steps of Vettan above Bessaker, linger at Stokkøya's beach bar, and peer into the 130-metre Harbakhula cave near Stoksund.
Åfjord runs from the outer Fosen coast some 30 km inland up long valleys, with two fjords cutting in between. Out west, bridges link a string of islands to the mainland, and the old Roan area to the north has a stone church from 1702.
Fv715 makes it a natural stop on the slow coast road from the Trondheim ferry to Namdalen. Stay a night or two for island beaches, short climbs above the fjord and the standing stones at Dragseid.
Good to know
- Getting there: Fv715 runs through from the Flakk–Rørvik ferry to Osen. Åfjord centre is about an hour from Rørvik and 2 h 15 from Namsos.
- Season: Hikes such as Mælanakken are best from May to October; the Vettan stairs are open all year, but take care when icy.
- Sleeping: Stokkøya Strandhotell, Fosen Fjordhotell in Åfjord centre and four campsites, among them Langnesodden Camping, open all year.
- Food: Stokkøy Bakeri bakes on the island and runs a café at Parken in Åfjord; hours change with the season.
What to do and where to stay in Åfjord
Places to stay are run locally, with no hotel or campsite chain behind them.
1Vettan Stairs (Vettantrappa)Viewpoint
A wooden staircase of 951 steps, opened in 2022, climbs about 1 km from the shop at Bessaker to the 145 m Vettan lookout, with views to Flatanger and Frøya.
Starts at the shop, Bessakersjøveien 37, Bessaker · 45–60 min return · all year (take care on ice)
2HarbakhulaNature
A sea-carved cave 120–130 m deep with a 30–40 m high mouth, reached by a steep 0.9 km path from Harbak; it has hosted summer exhibitions and concerts.
Harbak, just before Stoksund on Fv723 · 1–1.5 h (1.8 km return) · all year
3Dragseid standing stonesHistory & culture
One of Norway's largest groups of standing stones and burial mounds, from around AD 400, at a rest area with info boards and rocks for swimming nearby.
Dragseid junction, on the road to Stoksund · 30 min · all year
4HosensandSwim
A small protected landscape on north-west Stokkøya, set up in 1987 to keep its drifting sand and sea-buckthorn scrub by the beach.
North-west Stokkøya, by Strandbaren · 30–60 min · summer for swimming; walks all year
5Bessaker fishing villageLocal oddity
A fishing village of about 200 people north of Brandsfjorden, start of the Vettan stairs; Hurtigruten now calls here only on special occasions.
Bessaker, north of Brandsfjorden · 1 h (longer at festival time) · village all year; festival in summer
6Linesøya by bridgeLocal oddity
Two bridges, the 2000 Stokkøybrua and the 2011 Linesøy bridge, let you drive ferry-free to Linesøya, a 6 km island topped by 230 m Linesfjellet.
Linesøya, beyond Stokkøya · 1–2 h · all year
7Roan Church (Fosen Cathedral)History & culture
A stone basilica from 1702 with about 450 seats, known as the Fosen Cathedral, that served as a polling church for the 1814 Constituent Assembly.
Roan village · 20–30 min · all year (outside); interior at services/events
8MælanakkenHike
A steep 1.5-hour climb of about 350 m from the road near Årnes to a top looking out along Åfjorden to the islands and, on clear days, Halten lighthouse.
Near Årnes (Åfjord centre) · 2–3 h (about 5.4 km loop) · May–October
9Jultjuven and LavatnetHike
A clear path from Saltbuvikvatnet past the Venæs memorial and a sandy beach to Lavatnet, a lake with a campsite, fire pit and swimming, about 50 minutes in.
East end of Saltbuvikvatnet, on the road to Sydskjør · summer
10Stoksund ChurchHistory & culture
An octagonal timber church from 1825, given cross arms in 1885, with a blue star-painted ceiling and a model frigate given by its builder Hans Wiige.
Refsnes (Revsnes), Stoksund · 20–30 min · all year (outside); interior at services