Kalve: Hiking, History and Coastal Landscapes

Kalve particularly appeals to travelers who want to hike outdoors during their stay while also discovering traces of coastal history and past land use. Around Skansen, Loshytta and Gardavågen, trail landmarks, historic buildings and a cultural landscape that is still in use come together. If you’re looking for a hotel for a trip to Kalve, the trails, the history of Loshytta and the viewpoints offer practical guidance for planning your stay.

Hiking around Skansen and Loshytta

The Kalve-Skansen hiking trail starts at the parking lot in Kalsvik on Kalve. The Kalve-Loshytta trail is called Laksavegen and leads down to Gardavågen; its starting point is by the first barn beyond the parking lot in Kalsvik. This means you can plan your route using different landmarks: the parking lot is the starting point for Kalve-Skansen, while the Laksavegen starts at the first barn beyond the parking lot. The Kvaløy-Skansen/Loshytta circular hike on Kalve takes 3.5 hours and is suitable for children.

From Bakkasund, you can cycle to Kalve and then hike to Skansen along the marked North Sea Trail. Check cycling conditions and trail markers before your trip. This combination pairs a bike ride to Kalve with a hike on the marked trail; it’s another way to include Skansen in your day’s plans.

Historic traces along the trail

A distinctive section of the Kalve-Loshytta trail is Skipmannsstegen: a dry-stone staircase that runs along the rock face. The present-day Loshytta was built around 1890 and used as a lookout for observing ships. It served the same purpose during the Second World War. On April 9, 1940, guards were stationed there and watched warships arrive. The hut thus connects its former lookout function with a precisely dated moment in wartime history.

The places around Gardavågen also tell of the coast’s former uses. Several boathouses once stood there, storing equipment for salmon fishing and fishing with fish traps. Gardavågen also served as a landing place for pilot boats and open fishing boats. These details bring to life the connections between fishing, boats and the coastal landscape.

Landscape and wildlife watching

At Skansen, ice and sea have shaped a natural amphitheater in the rock. From there, you can see the shipping channel and the Marsteinen lighthouse. The rock formation and views of maritime traffic offer a distinctive highlight alongside the historic sites at Loshytta and Gardavågen.

The Kalve-Skansen hiking trail passes stone fences, hay barns and livestock sheds. Parts of the land along the trail are still used as hay meadows, so farming continues to shape the landscape. At Skansen or Loshaugen, you may spot white-tailed eagles, ravens, cormorants, oystercatchers, gulls and terns. Sightings depend on the season and may vary.

Kalve in the wider destination of Austevoll

The wider destination of Austevoll is an island realm of 667 islands. Its landscape includes rocky shores, straits, heathland and pine forests. To explore beyond Kalve, Austevoll has marked hiking trails through forests and heathland to peaks with views across the island realm. Popular routes are on Stolmen, Selbjørn, Hundvåkøy and Storekalsøy. These regional hiking options complement the practical information about Kalve’s trails, for example if you want to include different Austevoll landscapes in your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Storebø, Bekkjarvik, Vestre Vinnesvåg, Torangsvåg, Bakkasund, Våge, Litlakalsøy, Stolmen.

Back to the main travel guide: Austevoll.