Discover Åheim: Church, olivine and hiking trails

St. Jetmund’s Church in Åheim is one of Norway’s oldest stone churches. Together with the collections in the old Thue School, traces of olivine mining and hiking destinations, it offers several ways to shape your stay: cultural history, geology and views over the Vanylvsfjord.

Church and collections in Åheim

St. Jetmund’s was built around 1150 and is Romanesque in style. Marble details can be found on the west façade, the arches, the surrounds and the chancel portal; the rest of the building is made of fieldstone. Inside, you can still see the carved and painted pulpit from 1630 and a gilded medieval altarpiece.

At the old Thue School, the Valborg Collection displays local household items, textiles, farming and fishing equipment, as well as a furnished classroom showing what one looked like in the past. The collection comprises around 500 items. Most date from approximately 1800 to 1900; the oldest dated item is a pewter bowl from 1690. The Norwegian Olivine Centre is also located in the old Thue School. Themed exhibitions about the history and future products of olivine, as well as myths surrounding it, and rocks such as eclogite and garnet peridotite are planned. The centre also serves as a starting point for guided tours in the surrounding area, with a focus on mineral deposits. Check before your trip whether a tour is available.

Hikes and viewpoints

The Around Åheim route can start at Misjonshuset, at the junction in the village centre or at the stadium in Løvold. Free parking is available at Misjonshuset, by COOP/Spar and at the stadium; check local parking information before you travel. The hike first follows a country road along the south side of the Åheimselva, then continues on a path to a bridge near Gusdalsvatnet. The return journey follows the county road. Allow about one hour for the hike.

Benkjen starts in Åheimslida, where parking is available at the trailhead. This short, easy hike offers lovely views over the Vanylvsfjord and is suitable for small children too. A longer option can start at Åheim School. This lets you choose Benkjen according to your preferred route, while the Around Åheim route takes approximately one hour.

The destinations also offer different views: the trail to the Løvollsnipa viewpoint starts in Åheim and goes via Lyngfjellhola. From there, the view stretches south and west towards the village and over the Vanylvsfjord. Tusshornet is another viewpoint overlooking the entire Vanylvsfjord; at sunset, the view reaches the sea beyond the village.

Olivine, coast and local history

The old olivine quarries along the Åheimselva can be explored near Åheim. In Sundalen, visitors can search for minerals in the gravel; check the practical details of taking part locally. The landscape also offers something for anglers: the Ørnetua route from Gusdal/Åheim passes Skjevatnet, where fishing is possible.

Sandvik-sanden near Åheim is a gently sloping, child-friendly beach. The Around Åheim route offers another glimpse of local history: it passes an old mill from the mid-19th century, with all its equipment intact. Birkedalen is an old farm from the 19th century that was inhabited until 1960. During the annual “Around the Village” fitness trail, the farm and its farmhouse serve as a refreshment station.

Discover more destinations: Åram, Rovde, Eide, Sylte, Fiskå, Myklebost.

Back to the main travel overview: Vanylven.