Discover Nessa

For planning a trip around Nessa, a hiking route and the mooring options in the harbour provide useful points of reference. If you are looking for hotels in Nessa, you can first consider whether hiking or the harbour is more relevant to your plans. The Stemmen–Nessa route starts at Stemmen and returns there; the harbour information describes various mooring options.

Hiking the Stemmen–Nessa route

The municipal hiking programme leaflet for 2020–2021 gives the route’s approximate length as seven kilometres. Its starting point is at Stemmen, at the western end of Hetlandsvatnet. These two details are useful in different ways for planning: the length gives you an idea of the distance, while the starting point shows where the trail begins.

The Stemmen–Nessa trail is considered easy to walk; some sections follow a cart track. The marked route heads towards Nessa and then returns to Stemmen. Conditions may vary seasonally. If you include this trail in your travel plans, you should therefore plan to start at Stemmen, as specified, and take the season into account.

Mooring in Nessa harbour

For the harbour, the harbour guide, updated on 4 August 2023, lists two options: mooring alongside a quay or pontoon, or anchoring using your own anchor. These are different ways of mooring, depending on how you arrive by boat. Check the conditions before your arrival; the options described do not indicate current availability.

The route and the harbour are two different points of reference for a stay in Nessa. The hiking description identifies a starting point outside the village and a return route to Stemmen; the harbour information concerns mooring in Nessa harbour. This distinction helps you organise your travel plans without treating the route as a trail that starts in Nessa.

Further excursions in the wider Hjelmeland destination

The wider destination of Hjelmeland also includes Skomakarnibbå and the Ritland Crater as two places to visit. The rock formation Skomakarnibbå lies 700 metres above Jøsenfjorden. The round trip hike from the car park takes about five to six hours. The Ritland Crater is a meteorite crater with a diameter of about 2.7 kilometres. The hike starts at the car park in Kleivaland in Vormedalen and runs mostly along a tractor road through easy terrain with good underfoot conditions. For Skomakarnibbå, an approximate total hiking time is given; for the Ritland Crater, the starting point and trail conditions are the key points of reference.

For cultural experiences, Hjelmelandsvågen has a walking trail through old and new architecture. The Skulp-Turen in Hjelmelandsvågen is another walking trail, featuring various sculptures. The wider Hjelmeland destination is also home to Spinneriet, an industrial building dating from 1873 that has been restored for cultural purposes. During the summer season, an exhibition and a summer café are open there; check the latest opening details before visiting. Årdal gamle kyrkje is a Renaissance wooden church, the oldest part of which dates from 1619.

Public transport in Hjelmeland includes bus services, express boats and ferries. Check the timetables against your travel dates before setting off. This lets you consider regional attractions separately from the arrangements for your stay: the hike to Skomakarnibbå has an approximate duration, the starting point and route description help you find your way to the Ritland Crater, and using public transport requires checking the relevant departure times.

Discover more destinations: Fister, Skiftun, Hjelmeland, Jøsenfjorden, Årdal I Ryfylke

Back to the main travel overview: Hjelmeland.