Askøy
Municipality · Vestland
About Askøy
Herdla Museum's raised Focke-Wulf 190 fighter, the bird tower and marked trails of the region's richest bird area, and swimming spots at Askøy's northern tip.
What to do and where to stay in Askøy
Places to stay are run locally, with no hotel or campsite chain behind them.
1Herdla Museum and the Focke-Wulf 190 'Yellow 16'History & culture
A museum on Herdla's old German fort about the war years and the island's bird life, with the wreck of the Focke-Wulf 190 fighter 'Yellow 16'.
Herdla Fort, 5315 Herdla (northern tip of Askøy) · 1–1.5 h · all year on Sundays 12–17; more days in spring and summer
2Valen bird tower, HerdlaNature
Herdla is a bird reserve with over 230 species recorded; from the Valen tower you can watch ducks and gulls on the shallows and sometimes a sea eagle.
Herdla, northern tip of Askøy · 30–60 min · all year; spring and autumn migration best
3Herdla coastal walkHike
An easy walk round the 1.6 km² glacier-built island of Herdla, past German wartime fort remains, sandy beaches and rocky shore; allow 2–3 hours.
Herdla, start at the Herdla Fort car park · 2–3 h · spring to autumn best
4KolbeinsvardenHike
Askøy's highest point at 231 m, one of Bergen's traditional seven mountains, with a cairn and small shelter and views to Bergen, Sotra and Herdla.
South-east Askøy, just north of Kleppestø; start at Bergheim · 1.5–2 h return · all year
5FolleseåsenViewpoint
A short climb with some easy scrambling to a 166 m knoll with a bench and fire pit, looking over the Askøy Bridge, Sotra and Hanøytangen.
Follese, south-west Askøy · About 1 h return · all year
6KollevågenSwim
A recreation area on Askøy's west side with walks and several beaches, a naturist one among them, and the arena used by the Lost Weekend music festival.
West Askøy, about 15 km from Bergen · 1–3 h · summer for swimming; walks all year
7Ask: saga farm, church and old churchyard crossHistory & culture
Ask was a royal farm and the scene of a dispute in Egil's Saga; a stone cross marks the old churchyard (c. 1200–1741), about 900 m from the white wooden 1908 church.
Ask village, east coast of Askøy · 30 min · all year (church interior only at services)
8Strusshamn old harbourHistory & culture
Bergen's quarantine harbour in the 1700s–1800s, with wooden houses from around 1800 and a former shoddy mill, which recycled old cloth into yarn, now a cultural centre.
Strusshamn, south coast of Askøy, west of Kleppestø · 30–60 min · all year
9DronningenHike
A 190 m hill reached from Ravnanger centre by road, forest road and path, with a rain shelter and views over Hjeltefjorden, Sotra and Herdla.
Ravnanger, central Askøy · About 1–1.5 h return · all year
10Askøy på langsHike
A 35.9 km marked trail the length of the island from Kleppestø in the south to Herdla in the north, split into four stages that can be walked separately.
Kleppestø to Herdla · one stage: half a day; whole route 2+ days · all year (spring–autumn best)