Kvitsøy: Lighthouse, Coastal Paths and Island History

Kvitsøy combines marked paths with clearly distinguishable historic sites. If you are looking for a hotel for your trip, these sights and the distances along the paths can help you plan your time on the island. The themes range from the lighthouse and church to the lobster museum and routes along the coast.

Lighthouse, Church and Stone Cross

Kvitsøy Lighthouse was built in 1829 and is Norway’s oldest lighthouse still in operation. In 1998, it was listed as a protected heritage site by Riksantikvaren. Kvitsøy Church also tells the story of different eras: construction is believed to have begun before 1591; with its altarpiece and pulpit, it was completed around 1620. It was Linstow’s first work in Norway and is among the country’s early examples of the Swiss style.

A soapstone baptismal font in the church dates from around the 12th century and originally stood in St. Clement’s Church. Its ruins lie 200 metres from the stone cross. The stone cross rises almost four metres above the ground and is believed to be at least 1,000 years old. In earlier times, it served as an important navigation mark and harbour cross.

A marked path in eastern Kvitsøy leads to the stone cross and the ruins of St. Clement’s Church. The route is 400 metres each way. This makes it easy to distinguish the short path from the longer routes that branch off between the lighthouse and Håland.

Hiking and Cycling

The Turstien Vest hiking trail runs between Kvitsøy Lighthouse and Håland through open pastureland and cultivated landscapes; the surrounding area also includes rugged coastal terrain. Between the lighthouse and Håland, the trail splits into an inner route of 2.1 kilometres and an outer route of 2.3 kilometres. The distances provide a guide when choosing a route; trail conditions may vary. From the ferry terminal, the trailheads at the lighthouse and Håland are about 1.6 kilometres and 1.8 kilometres away by road, respectively.

Another hiking trail leads from Ydstebøhavn to the lighthouse and continues west towards the sea. A signed side trail, about 250 metres long, branches off the main trail to the Røde Skjegg day-use cabin. The cabin has a hiking library, a wood-burning stove and an outdoor toilet; these facilities may change. On Kvitsøy’s marked paths, you should stay on the marked trails and keep dogs on a leash.

Kvitsøy’s short distances and few hills make it well suited to cycling. PaaHjul has six bicycles available for hire; check availability in advance. On Langøy, a marked, 1.2-kilometre circular trail crosses pastureland and descends to the sea. Sandrenna has a barbecue, a shelter, a bathing beach and toilets that are open during the season.

Museum and Practical Information

The Kvitsøy Lobster Museum is housed in an older boathouse on Grøningen. Its three exhibitions are “The Boat and the Engine,” “Lobster – From Pot to Silver Platter” and “Fishing All Year Round.” The exhibitions may change in the future. At the lobster hatchery, visitors can see adult and young lobsters; whether any animals are on view may depend on operating conditions.

The viewing platform at Kvitsøy Traffic Control Centre has benches and a digital information board with details about attractions, ferry times and hiking trails. The information on the board may change. To get there, the ferry connects Mekjarvik and Kvitsøy; the crossing takes 35 minutes and is served by the M/F Vollsøy. The Kvitsøyruta express boat connects Kvitsøy with Mekjarvik and Stavanger. The crossing takes about 20 minutes from Mekjarvik and about 35 minutes from Fiskepiren in Stavanger. As schedules and connections may change, it is advisable to check the current timetable.

Kvitsøy Event offers boat tours to Kvitsøy for groups of up to twelve passengers. Check availability before booking. This lets you consider the historic sites, hiking trails and journey there as separate aspects of your trip planning, without combining them into a single route.

For the main travel overview: Kvitsøy.