Ombo: Rock Art and Landscape

Ombo brings together rock art, church architecture, mountain and lake scenery, and a range of activities. When planning your trip, you can prioritise places according to your interests: Trettestykkje and Borgaråsen represent different traces of history, while Bandåsen, Holmavatnet and the lakeside trails highlight the landscape. Fishing and swimming add to the things you can discover on the island.

Rock Art and Historic Sites

The Trettestykkje rock art site on Ombo contains at least five ship figures. Their slanted, continuous lines between the keel and the gunwale are a distinctive feature; this form is considered unique among the rock carvings in Rogaland. Visitor information updated on 7 August 2025 mentions a nature trail through the area and signs on site. There is no car park or wheelchair-accessible route.

Jørstad Church on Ombo is built in the Neoclassical style and was consecrated as a chapel on 14 October 1928. Another rock art site lies at Løland, near Eidssund. A hillfort is located on Borgaråsen and is among the best-preserved in Ryfylke. The Holmavatnet–Borgaråsen route includes a short detour to the site; the remains of the walls are clearly visible. A local name can also help you find your way: the people of Ombo call Ombogubben Adam.

Mountains and Lakes

Bandåsen is Stavanger’s highest mountain. The landscape around Bandåsen on Ombo combines a steep mountainside, small-scale farming by the fjord and botanically diverse vegetation. Pine and birch trees grow by Holmavatnet; there are also sparkling streams and small rapids. On Ombo, you can experience both a striking mountain landscape and bodies of water with their own distinctive features.

Trails and Activities

There are many places on Ombo where visitors can fish. Vatlandsvatnet has a designated bathing area, listed in the municipal recreation map from 2020. Facilities may change, so check the current conditions before your visit. A marked trail by Lauvåsvatnet follows an old school route near Ombo oppvekstsenter. The municipal recreation map was compiled in 2020; trail conditions may vary, so check them before setting out.

In the Turboklubben area by Medåstjørn, a municipal visitor guide from 2021 lists a trampoline, a climbing frame, a lake, swings and other facilities. Check before your visit whether all the listed installations are still there. The beach by Jakobstjørn was created using sand from the Beach Volleyball World Championship. A municipal visitor guide from 2021 gives this as the sand’s origin; check current beach conditions before your visit.

Nearby, Eidsholmen has a Friluftsrådet site for mooring, camping, swimming and fishing. Facilities may change, so check the site’s current status before setting out. From Eidssund, Solbergfjellet is an easily accessible viewpoint; check current trail conditions before visiting.

Getting There and Finding Your Way

You can reach Ombo by express boat from Fiskepiren or by car ferry from Judaberg or Hjelmeland. Check current departures before travelling. If you arrive by car, the access point at Ombo oppvekstsenter provides access to the whole island. The municipal recreation map from 2020 shows a quay and a car park there.

Discover more destinations: Talgje, Jørstadvågen, Finnøy, Nord-hidle, Fogn, Sjernarøy.

Return to the main travel overview: Finnøy.