Vevelstad
Municipality · Nordland
About Vevelstad
Hike or paddle into Lomsdal–Visten National Park, take the fast boat to roadless Visten, and see the 1700s trading post at Forvik by the ferry.
Vevelstad is a narrow strip of low shore under granite mountains, many over 800 m, with half its land inside a national park. The island of Hamnøya lies across a narrow sound; there is no real village centre, and most people live along the coast road near the ferry.
It works as a slow stop between two ferries rather than a goal of its own. See the new rock-art museum, Ristning-Tjaalege, or take a bike on the boat to Hamnøya for beaches and the loop over Veten.
Good to know
- Getting there: Fv17 Kystriksveien, with ferries at both ends: Horn–Andalsvågen to the south and Forvik–Tjøtta to the north. About 30 minutes from Brønnøysund plus the ferry.
- Season: Kystriksveien ferries sail less often in winter. The Vistnesdalen rock carvings are best May–October, and Krambua at the trading post opens daily in summer.
- Sleeping: Handelsstedet Forvik, at the old trading post by the ferry quay.
- Food: Naustloftet, in a boathouse loft at the trading post, serves coastal food; book ahead for boknafisk, semi-dried cod, with rhubarb pie.
What to do and where to stay in Vevelstad
Places to stay are run locally, with no hotel or campsite chain behind them.
1Krambua café and coffee roastery, Forvik Old Trading PostFood & drink
In the old general store of a trading post licensed in 1792, Hanne roasts coffee by hand and sells it with chocolate, liquorice and Forvik's own coffee soap.
By the Forvik ferry quay, Fv17 · 30–60 min · Daily in the summer season; off-season hours on their Facebook page
2Ristning-Tjaalege, Vevelstad MuseumHistory & culture
A museum building by Atelier Oslo, opened in 2024, on rock carvings, runes and Helgeland's Stone Age to Viking past, beside an open-air museum of 11 old buildings.
Next to Vevelstad Church, just south of Forvik ferry quay · 1–1.5 h · Outdoor area all year; buildings in opening hours (summer; check helgelandmuseum.no)
3Vevelstad ChurchHistory & culture
A white timber long church from 1796, lengthened in 1871, standing beside the museum a short walk from the Forvik ferry; it seats about 250.
Forvik, by the museum · 15–30 min · all-year (exterior); interior at services
4Vistnesdalen rock carvingsHistory & culture
Carvings of moose, reindeer, halibut and people on rock a short path from the road north of Forvik; free to visit.
Vistnesdalen, north of Forvik · 20–30 min · May–October (snow-free)
5Opus for Heaven and EarthLocal oddity
A 9.8 m circle cut and polished into a mountainside beside Fv17 in 1993 by Oddvar I.N. Daren, part of the Artscape Nordland sculpture project.
Fv17 between Andalsvåg and Forvik, about 10 km from Forvik, east side of the road · 15 min · all-year (path slippery when wet or frosty)
6HøyholmstindanHike
A demanding black-graded climb of about 1,000 m from Ytterhaugen to twin peaks of 1,015 and 1,000 m, looking over the Helgeland coast, Vistenfjord and Lomsdal–Visten.
Ytterhaugen, between Vevelstad's two ferry quays on Fv17 · 6–8 h (4 km each way, 3–4 h up) · Late summer (snow can linger on the upper trail into early summer)
7Hamnfjellet loop, HamnøyaHike
An 11.2 km loop over the island of Hamnøya to the 278 m top Veten, past odd rock formations, the lake Storvatnet and a canyon-like cleft near Hamn.
Hesstun, Hamnøya · About 4 h (11.2 km, 332 m climb) · all-year
8Strauman tidal current, InnervistenNature
At roadless Aursletta, at the head of Vistenfjord, a narrow tidal current runs salt water up into Lakselvvatnet lake and back out again with each tide.
Aursletta, Innervisten (inner Vistenfjord) · Overnight trip (boat schedule); trail on to Tøymvasshytta is 15 km, about 5 h one way · June–October
9Vevelstad Gjestegård farm shopFood & drink
A family-run guesthouse farm on Vevelstadsundet with a farm shop in the old storehouse selling its own and other local produce, and home-cooked traditional meals to order.
Near Vevelstad centre, by Vevelstadsundet · 30 min–1.5 h · all-year (call ahead for the shop and meals)
10Festvika beach, HamnøyaSwim
A beach on the west side of Hamnøya, sheltered behind small islets, a short bike ride from the Vågsodden ferry quay; facilities are few, with a campsite nearby.
West side of Hamnøya · 1–2 h · June–August
Book something local
boat / kayak rental
Boat and kayak rental, Vevelstad Gjestegård ↗
A farm guesthouse near Vevelstad centre that rents boats and kayaks for exploring Vistenfjord and the islands, and sells its own produce in the storehouse.
Vevelstad Gjestegård og Rorbuer · Near Vevelstad centre, Fv17
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