Smøla: Nature, Culture and Coastal Trails

Smøla offers a range of ways to shape your stay: marked hiking trails, coastal pilgrimage sites, archaeological traces and activities on the water. If you are looking for a hotel on Smøla, you can plan your trip around whichever of these interests matters most to you.

Arriving on Edøy

Gurisentret is a regional culture and coastal pilgrimage centre on Smøla. The pilgrimage centre is located right by the harbour on Edøy; Smøla is one of four regional pilgrimage centres along the Coastal Pilgrim Route. Gurisentret has a waiting room for travellers and toilets available year-round. The waiting room is open daily from 06:00 to 23:00.

Edøy gamle kirke is also a notable landmark on arrival: it is the first landmark you see from the sea when arriving on Edøy. The stone church dates from the 12th century. Those who reach the place by water will therefore encounter it as part of the arrival view.

Hiking Trails and Landscape

There are 22 marked hiking trails across Smøla. One leads to Måbergtua and into the Midt-Smøla Nature Reserve. The protected landscape is part of the route here; conditions on hiking trails can change, so it is a good idea to check the current conditions before setting out.

The trail to Rosvollhaugen is a short route for the whole family; there is a shelter at the top. Cycling is also an option on Smøla: the flat landscape and long, straight roads are well suited to it.

Culture and Archaeological Traces

Edøystjerna, a star-shaped stone setting, was discovered during archaeological investigations connected with the construction of Gurisentret. It is thought to date from sometime between about 200 and 800 AD. This date is approximate. The remains of the Edøy ship include a keel about 13 metres long; this suggests that the ship was 17 to 18 metres long overall. The keel measurement and the inferred length of the ship are therefore two different measurements.

On Kuløy, a replica of the Kulisteinen stands at the original discovery site. In Veiholmen, the statue Feskarkjerringa is located in the built-up area. The Norwegian Mire Museum is housed in the Moldstad Experimental Farm building and focuses on peat extraction, peat production, the construction of peat huts and mire landscapes. These sites have different points of focus: from a stone replica and a statue to a museum about peat and mires.

Gurisentret is also the open-air venue for the play “Fru Guri av Edøy”. This adds to the centre’s role as a cultural venue, without implying a specific performance date.

Boat and Kayak Tours

Smøla Naturopplevelser offers a two-hour boat safari to see white-tailed eagles in the archipelago around Smøla. Smøla Kajakk runs guided kayak tours from Veiholmen lasting three and a half to four hours, and rents out kayaks for exploring the archipelago. The company also offers a guided sea kayaking tour that visits Haugjegla Lighthouse out at sea. The stated tour durations help you compare the time involved: the boat safari is shorter than the guided kayak tours. Dates and booking conditions may change; check them before making plans.

Discover more destinations: Holberg, Veiholmen, Korsvoll, Edøya.

Back to the main travel overview: Smøla.