Askvoll
Municipality · Vestland
About Askvoll
Six bridges hop out to the fishing islands of Værlandet and Bulandet, and Alden, 'the Norwegian horse', rises 481 metres straight from the sea.
What to do and where to stay in Askvoll
Places to stay are run locally, with no hotel or campsite chain behind them.
1Alden – "the Norwegian horse"Hike
A 481 m mountain island rising almost straight from the sea, seen more than 100 km out; a 5.2 km marked path climbs from the pier to the top.
Alden island, off Værlandet · About 3 h (5.2 km, 481 m ascent) plus boat · Spring to autumn; snow-covered roughly Nov/Dec–Feb/Mar, hiking not advised then
2Værlandet–Bulandet bridge roadViewpoint
Six bridges and 5.2 km of road link Værlandet to Bulandet, Norway's westernmost active fishing community on 365 islands; you can walk or cycle it.
Værlandet to Bulandet, west of Askvoll · Half a day to a day incl. ferry · All year
3Kamskjel – the scallop shell seatLocal oddity
A short rough path off the Bulandet road on Gjørøy ends at a giant scallop shell you can open and sit inside, looking west over the open sea.
Gjørøy, Bulandet, off the Værlandet–Bulandet bridge road · 30–45 min · All year
4Heileberget (Fløgen)Hike
A steep 5.5 km return hike from Otterstein, by the north end of the Dalsfjord bridge, to Heileberget's 761 m top above Dalsfjorden; graded red (challenging).
Otterstein, north (Askvoll) end of Dalsfjordbrua · 3–4 h (5.5 km, 761 m ascent) · March–November (snow- and ice-free)
5Vilnes kyrkjeHistory & culture
A wooden church from 1674 at Vilnes on the island of Atløy, where Dalsfjorden meets the sea.
Vilnes, Atløy · 20–30 min · All year (exterior); check opening hours before you go
6Brurastakken geology trailNature
A marked trail climbs a mountain on Atløy striped black, white and green, its rock layers recording three mountain-building events.
About 2 km from Herland, Atløy · 2–3 h · Snow-free season
7Ingólfur Arnarson statue, RivedalLocal oddity
A statue of the Viking who left Dalsfjorden and founded the first settlement in Iceland stands in his home district at Rivedal.
Rivedal, north shore of Dalsfjorden · 15–20 min · All year
8Anders Askevold cultural walkHistory & culture
A one-hour phone-guided walk through Askvoll village with ten stops tied to the life and paintings of 19th-century painter Anders Askevold.
Askvoll centre · About 1 h · All year
9Stongfjorden industrial heritage walkHistory & culture
A 1.2 km trail with nine stops through the village where Norway's oldest aluminium works was started by a British company in 1908.
Stongfjorden village · 45 min · All year
10LaukelandsfossenViewpoint
A protected waterfall dropping about 135 m into Dalsfjorden on its north shore, up to 100 m wide after heavy rain, in view from the car park by the Dalsfjord bridge.
North shore of Dalsfjorden, east of Dalsfjordbrua (Fossedalen area) · 10–30 min (longer on the Fossedalen path) · All year; biggest after rain and in snowmelt