Leines: Coastal Scenery, Hiking and Culture

Leines is a peninsula in the southern part of Steigen Municipality. The peninsula brings together a range of experiences for a stay: the challenging Stortinden hike, trails to gapahuk shelters, local history, and cultural and dining options in Helnessund.

Landscape and orientation

In local usage, Leines includes Helnessund, Leines, Grubstad, Skjelstad, Hustoft and Brennvik, among other places. The peninsula lies on the Vestfjord and is surrounded by steep mountains, islets, skerries and white beaches. This landscape forms the setting for the various places to visit on Leines.

From Bodø, it takes about one hour to travel north to Leines by express boat, or about three and a half hours by car. Treat these as approximate travel times: schedules and road conditions can change. Check both before your trip.

Hiking for different time budgets

The challenging Stortinden hike on Leines is a 10.6-kilometre out-and-back route. It takes about five hours and involves a total ascent of 934 metres to the 827-metre summit. The route is listed as suitable from June to September. It starts at Brennviksand and follows a clearly visible trail through the forest to Heimeslvattnet; the summit section begins there. There is no trail across the plateau. The map track is for guidance only; follow the markers on the ground.

From the summit, views extend over Brennviksanden, Brennsund, the Vestfjord and the Lofoten Islands.

Another trail option is the gapahuk shelter by the Synstelva river in Leines. From Brennviksanden, you can reach it in about 30 minutes along a signposted trail. Near Lunvika, you can combine a walk along Brennviksanden with a visit to the Levikhågan gapahuk shelter. At Åsjordvatnet, a hiking trail leads from Åsjorda to a gapahuk by the lake. Local access conditions can change; check them before setting out. For planning purposes, the 30-minute walk to the Synstelva shelter is an alternative to the roughly five-hour out-and-back hike up Stortinden.

History, culture and food

Leiranger Church on Leines was rebuilt in 1911 and consecrated on 6 December that same year. Gammelskola was built in 1797 and appears to be the oldest surviving permanent schoolhouse in Northern Norway. Both places add a cultural and historical dimension to a stay on Leines.

Nybrygga in Helnessund is a meeting place for meals, pub evenings, music and cultural experiences. Nybrygga often focuses on local produce and short transport distances for its food. The programme and menu can change; if a particular evening or meal is important to your plans, ask about current offerings in advance.

You can fish for cod, saithe and mackerel in the sea at Helnessund. Fishing equipment and boats for fishing or shore excursions are available to rent in Leines. If you plan to rent, check availability before your trip. In summer, Leines Idrettslag organises orienteering events and guided mountain hikes. As the seasonal programme may change, ask about dates in advance if you are interested.

Planning accommodation and travel

Prestestua is available to rent for overnight stays from May to September and has sleeping space for four people. Gammelskola is also rented out as accommodation during the summer half of the year, with four sleeping places. If you plan to stay at either property, check seasonal availability before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Våg, Leinesfjorden, Nordfold

Return to the main travel overview: Steigen.