Nerlandsøy: Hiking Trails, Coastal Heath and Cultural Heritage

Nerlandsøy offers several reasons to explore: trails to peaks and coastal points, a circular route through the forest, and landscapes bearing traces of early settlement. If you are looking for a hotel for your trip, these destinations can provide useful information: the trails vary in length, terrain and views, while the cultural landscape tells the story of the island's long history of human use.

Hiking Trails with Different Profiles

The trail to Storevarden on Nerlandsøy is well marked and equipped with reflectors for hiking in the dark. From Storevarden, the view extends across the islands of Havlandet to the Sunnmørsalpane. As the markings may change from place to place, it is advisable to check the latest route information before setting out.

The trail to Golleneset is a short hike over easy terrain. It leads to the northernmost point of Nerlandsøy and to the Golleneset Fyr lighthouse. Kjemperøysa, a burial mound believed to date from the Bronze Age and possibly around 3,500 years old, lies along the trail. The site is protected under Norwegian law.

Varmyr-runda is a five-kilometre circular route through forest, along trails and on gravel roads. A shelter is located about 100 metres from the starting point. Outside the forest, the route is marked with reflectors and is considered suitable for hiking in the dark. The trails therefore differ clearly: Golleneset offers a short hike to a distinctive coastal point, while Varmyr-runda is a specifically designated loop through several types of terrain.

Ridge Views and Viewpoints

Kvalsvikryggen is a marked ridge hike over several peaks, from Golleneset to Muletua. It is considered an easy hike along rugged cliffs above the Atlantic. From the route, you can see the surrounding islands, the Sunnmørsalpane, Skorpa and Svinøy fyr. The trail thus combines a longer ridge with changing views.

Teigetua also offers views of the Sunnmørsalpane, both from the summit and from the picnic tables placed along the trail. When choosing a hike, you can therefore choose between a ridge route over several peaks and a trail with viewpoints that also include the picnic areas.

Coastal Landscape and Cultural Heritage

Mulevika is a bay on Nerlandsøy in Herøy. It has shallow water, fine sand and large waves; the amount of sand naturally changes. The northwest side of the island is also home to a distinctive cultural landscape: an extensive, grassy and stony pasture with several stone structures, probable traces of settlement and burial monuments. Here, coastal scenery and traces of past cultures meet in the same place, but remain distinct aspects of the bay.

Nerlandsøy has large areas of well-preserved coastal heath, actively maintained by farmers. This landscape is therefore not just a scenic backdrop, but also a preserved cultural landscape managed for agriculture. When exploring the island, it is worth distinguishing this character from that of the hiking trails: the routes lead to specific destinations, while the coastal heath shapes a wider landscape.

Archaeological Traces on Nerlandsøy

A settlement from the Middle Neolithic, dated to 3000–2350 BC, is located in Kvalsund. Finds include decorated slate points, axes, shark teeth and Baltic amber. These finds provide a tangible link between the settlement and the people who lived there in prehistoric times.

Kjemperøysa on the trail to Golleneset is a separate site: the burial mound is believed to date from the Bronze Age and may be around 3,500 years old. Together, the two sites show different archaeological connections on Nerlandsøy—a dated settlement in Kvalsund and a protected possible Bronze Age burial monument on the route to Golleneset.

Discover more travel destinations: Tjørvåg, Runde, Bølandet, Moldtustranda, Leinøy, Fosnavåg

For the main travel overview: Herøy.