Vatne: Church and Hiking Trails

Vatne lies at the end of Vatnefjord, an arm of Storfjord. Searching for a hotel in Vatne can go hand in hand with considering which of the area’s attractions suit your stay: the church’s long history or the hiking trails to Ulvestadsetra, Ramnfloget and Otrefjellet. The routes differ in their starting points and directions; the information provided can help you choose suitable excursions.

Vatne and its Churches

There has been a church on the site of today’s Vatne kyrkje since at least the 15th century. A cruciform church built in 1761 once stood here; before that, an old stave church stood by Vatnevatnet. This sequence links the present-day church to two different predecessor buildings while also preserving its older connection to the lake. The altarpiece in Vatne kyrkje was created in 1763 by Jakob Sørensen Giskegaard, known as Tavle-Jakob. Its central section depicts eight scenes from the Passion of Jesus. The building history and altarpiece thus offer two different perspectives on this church site: the succession of predecessor buildings and a specifically dated work with a named artist and subject.

Hiking Trails to Ramnfloget and Ulvestadsetra

The hiking trail to Ramnfloget starts on a forest road behind Vatne ungdomsskule and Ravn stadion. The summit, close to Vatne, is 282 m high. From there, the view extends north over Vatne and west towards Grytafjord. The Ramnfloget trail is accessible by bus route 230 between Moa, Skodje, Vatne and Brattvåg. Vatne centre is the nearest bus stop for the hike to Ulvestadsetra; check the current timetable before travelling.

The trail to Ulvestadsetra above Vatne follows a gravel road with a steady incline. It is used year-round as a short evening walk and an excursion for small children; in winter, the trail is not cleared. Benches and tables along the route provide places to rest. There is parking for around 15 cars at the waterworks in Vatne, Bakkegjerdet 60. The trail is not cleared in winter, but a well-trodden track forms quickly. One possible extension follows a rougher tractor track to Ulvestadvatnet. The lake is a source of drinking water for Vatne and Tennfjord, so activities on the water are restricted.

Otrefjellet: Route and Advice

The route to Otrefjellet passes through the centre of Vatne, then heads towards Vatne Vassverk. A large car park along the route offers views of Vatne. Nearby, the trail initially follows a mountain pasture track through spruce and deciduous forest to Ulvestadsetra, where the landscape opens up. On the marked route, a path passes Sagåna and Kjerringholen and continues to Vestresetra. Very deep fissures in the terrain may lie between the ridge with the trail junction and the summit; therefore, follow the marked trail.

Discover more destinations: Longva, Brattvåg, Haramsøy, Helland, Fjørtoft, Haram, Hildre, Kjerstad

Back to the main travel overview: Haram.