Sörland West: Culture in Røstnesvågen and a Hike to Håheia

Sørland is the main centre of Værøy. If you are looking for a hotel in Sörland West, you can explore Sørland through several themes: travel, maritime history, architecture, and hiking. Local points of reference range from the old trading post to the starting point of the hike to Håheia.

Getting There and Finding Your Way Around

A municipal overview of the area, last updated in 2021, lists eateries, handicrafts, and a second-hand shop in Sørland. Tyvnesodden is a specific point of reference for arriving: the ferry docks there. If you are travelling by ferry, check the current timetable before departure. This lets you consider the landing point and the timing of the crossing separately.

Boats and Telegraphy in Røstnesvågen

The restored Fyrnaustet is part of the old trading post at Røstnesvågen. Built in the 19th century, the boathouse was moved from the lighthouse in 2015 and now houses six Nordland boats of different ages and origins. The oldest dates from 1830. Both the boathouse and the collection are therefore central: the boats offer different points of reference in terms of age and origin, while the building itself has its own construction and location history. The dates refer to different things: 1830 is the year of the oldest boat, and 2015 is the year the boathouse was moved.

The trading post is also home to Telegrafen, a wireless telegraph. It was commissioned in 1910 as the third of its kind in the world; King Haakon visited it that same year. Together, Fyrnaustet and Telegrafen offer two different ways to explore history: a collection of boats and an example of wireless communication. Those interested in maritime history can therefore focus on different details from those interested in early telegraphy.

Church and Hike

Værøy nye kirke in Sørland was designed by architect Harald Sund. The hike to Håheia also starts in Sørland; restored eagle-catching huts can be seen along the way. The local highlights therefore differ in form: the church is a named building associated with an architect, while the hike leads to a destination and offers visible cultural-historical features along the way. When planning, you can compare these two themes with the individual sites at the old trading post.

Værøy in Regional Context

Værøy has other historical points of reference. From the 17th century until protection began in 1968, eagles were caught there by hand. Værøy’s old church is the oldest church building in Lofoten. The telegraph station on Værøy opened in 1910 and is now a cultural heritage site that tells the story of local history. These examples represent different aspects of Værøy’s history: eagle catching, church architecture, and telegraphy.

The landscape and location also relate to Værøy as a whole: the island lies between Moskenes to the north and Røst to the south, and has white sandy beaches, bird cliffs, and distinctive natural scenery. At Hagsletta in Sørlandshagen, traces of settlement from the Stone Age, Iron Age, Middle Ages, and modern era are concentrated. The regional perspective thus encompasses both landscape and traces from several historical periods.

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Go to the main travel overview: Værøy.