Øksendal: River Delta, Beach Meadows and a Historic Village Landscape

Øksendalsøra lies in a river delta at the mouth of the Usma; beach meadows and heritage buildings also shape the village. This can help you decide whether you are primarily looking for a river and cultural landscape or an activity by the water.

River Delta at the Usma

The Øksendalsøra nature reserve lies at the mouth of the Usma. The village is located in a river delta at the same mouth, and the Usma flows into the Sunndalsfjord. This connects three landscape features: the river, the delta and the fjord. Together with the beach meadows and distinctive buildings, they form a living cultural heritage site of considerable conservation value.

Village History and Heritage Buildings

Over time, Øksendalsøra developed into a beachside settlement and a kind of centre for the village and the former municipality of Øksendal. In 1990, it was voted the best-preserved settlement in Møre og Romsdal; today, the beachside settlement comprises around 30 heritage buildings. Two aspects therefore sit side by side: the village’s former role and the recognition of its state of preservation. A walk among the well-maintained houses is recommended as a visitor experience. It brings the architectural ensemble to the fore and makes the houses themselves the focus of your stay in Øksendalsøra.

Walks and Time by the Water

There are places to swim at the harbour and by the boathouses in Øksendalsøra. You can have a picnic on the quay or at the beach. A break by the water offers a different focus from the recommended walk among the houses: here, the shoreline and swimming spots shape your stay, while there, the village landscape draws your attention. You can plan your time according to whether you would rather spend it by the water or among the houses.

Location on Route 62

Øksendalsøra lies between Sunndalsøra and Molde on Route 62. This road location adds a point of reference along the named route to the landscape description. The river delta and the mouth of the Usma describe the natural setting; Route 62 locates Øksendalsøra between the two destinations mentioned.

Culture and Landscape in the Wider Sunndal Destination

In the wider Sunndal destination, Leikvin Cultural Heritage Park is another cultural attraction. It includes the Sunndal bygdemuseum as a visitor centre, as well as an Iron Age burial ground, a botanical garden, a mill house and Løykja Cemetery. The museum was founded in 1935 under the name Leikvin Bygdemuseum and has grown to include 13 buildings, which showcase many facets of Sunndal’s history. Leikvin offers a different cultural perspective from Øksendalsøra, whose village landscape is shaped by the river delta, beach meadows and heritage buildings.

Vinnufallet waterfall offers another landscape focus in the wider Sunndal destination. It originates from Vinnubreen, the largest glacier in Møre og Romsdal, and cascades down the mountain slopes in lower Sunndal in several stages over a distance of around 860 metres. From the Holsskeidet rest area on Route 70, a prepared path and the Sherpa steps Vinnutrappa follow part of the waterfall. This makes the waterfall its own landscape and walking destination, while Øksendalsøra is defined by its river delta and the walk among its houses.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Grøa, Gjøra, Ålvundfjord, Sunndalsøra, Ålvundeid

Return to the wider travel overview: Sunndal.