Leka
Municipality · Trøndelag
About Leka
Walk across exposed ancient ocean-floor rock, Norway's Geological National Monument, then see Solsem cave's paintings on a guided visit and the huge Herlaugshaugen mound.
Leka is a group of islands at the north-west edge of Trøndelag. The main island has a wide, flat shore around a ridge of yellow, red and grey peaks, bare on the west side and green with farmland to the east. The seabird islands of Sklinna lie far out to the north-west.
A day trip from the ferry is possible, but a night or two leaves time for the trails over Kvaløya and the walk to Lekamøya.
Good to know
- Getting there: Fv771 to Gutvik, then a 20-minute ferry to Skei, about hourly. Gutvik is about 2 hours from Grong, 2 h 30 from Namsos.
- Season: The trails are for May–October; Leka Steinsenter opens a few hours a week from May to September, and Solsem farm's café in high summer.
- Sleeping: Leka Motell og Camping, which also houses the island's stone centre.
- Food: Vertshuset Herlaug by the ferry quay at Skei serves café food, lunch and dinner all year, with longer hours in summer.
What to do and where to stay in Leka
Places to stay are run locally, with no hotel or campsite chain behind them.
1HerlaugshaugenHistory & culture
A burial mound about 60 m across at Skei from around 700 AD; rivets found in 2023 point to a ship burial, the oldest known in Scandinavia.
Skei, by the ferry landing and guest harbour · 1 h (Kong Herlaugs sti, 1.5 km) · All year
2Solsemhula (Solsem cave)History & culture
A 40 m cave with more than twenty red-painted figures, found by three local lads on 3 May 1912 and long Norway's only known cave paintings; guided visits only.
Solsem, south-west Leka · 2 h guided tour · Guided tours only, late July–mid August (visitleka lists 14:00 on 18, 28, 30 July and 1, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13 August)
3Ørnerovet – the eagle abduction siteLocal oddity
On 5 June 1932 an eagle carried off three-year-old Svanhild and left her on a ledge, where she was found alive seven hours later; the ledge is visible from the road.
Kvaløya area, western Leka · 15 min from the road; longer as a side trip from Støypet · May–October for the trail; ledge visible all year
4Støypet trailHike
A waymarked walk over rocks from deep in an ancient seabed to a pebble beach 90 m above today's sea, used by Stone Age people about 10,000 years ago.
Kvaløya, western Leka · 1 h (1.5 km return) · May–October
5Geology Trail, Våttvika to BukkatalgenNature
Small white arrows lead along the shore over yellow-brown rock from a slice of ocean crust and mantle pushed onto land about 400 million years ago.
Våttvika and Vardvika, western Leka · 1–2 h · May–October
6Skeisnesset heritage trailsHike
Five trails with over 20 signs wind through coastal heath between Stone Age dwelling sites, cairn graves and viewpoints such as Ivarshallaren.
Skeisnesset, north of Skei · 1–3 h · May–October
7Lekamøya from HaugHike
A 2 km walk past the old houses at Solsemvågen to Lekamøya, a 124 m sea mark shaped like a woman and the heroine of the island's legend.
Haug, south Leka · 1.5 h (2 km) · May–October
8Leka SteinsenterSight
A free exhibition at Leka Motel og Camping on the island's rocks and geology, with stones from Leka and elsewhere, open a few hours a week in summer.
At Leka Motel og Camping · 30–60 min · 1 May–30 Sep Saturdays 12–14; July also Tue and Thu 12–14
9Vertshuset Herlaug / HerlaugskroaFood & drink
Café, restaurant and pub next to the Herlaug mound, guest harbour and ferry quay at Skei, with café, lunch and dinner on longer summer hours.
Skeisveien 7, Skei · 1 h · All year, extended summer hours
10Lauvhatten viewpointViewpoint
A short 0.5 km walk to an 80 m lookout where the mountain ridge ends and the green farmland of eastern Leka opens out below.
Eastern Leka, on the round road · 30 min (0.5 km return) · May–October