Discover Hennebygda on the Nordfjord

Hennebygda lies in the heart of the Nordfjord, on the Nordfjorden. The village stretches from the fjord up to the farms at Ladehaug, 250 metres above sea level. Rock art, traces of historic farms and hiking destinations give the area its varied character. If you are planning a drive along the Panoramavegen on the Nordfjorden, you can include Hennebygda as a detour: the recommended route runs between Blekjesvingen near Stryn and Lote.

Between the Fjord and the Farms

The development of road access is also part of the village’s history. Hennebygda had no road connection until 1980; the road between Lote and Hennebygda was built from 1976 to 1980. After that, residents of Hennebygda could drive to Nordfjordeid. Another milestone was the opening of the Fv 698, Panoramavegen, in 2005. It made it easier to travel east from Hennebygda towards Hopland and Randabygda, and onward via Fjelli to Stryn.

Rock Art and Local History

At Ytre-Hennane, Bronze Age rock carvings depict four ships, with crew lines on the largest ship. Other rock carvings on rock faces on both sides of the quay in Hennebygda date from the Iron Age. These different dates place the motifs in two distinct periods of the village’s history.

The Katlafossen quarry adds the history of material extraction to these early traces. Soapstone has been quarried there since ancient times for cooking pots and similar objects. Around 1730, soapstone was extracted from the quarry for shipment to Bergen.

Nearby, north of Åseneset between Lote and Hennebygda, lies a protected deciduous woodland area. It is one of 13 protected deciduous woodland reserves in what was then Sogn og Fjordane. The mountain farm at Øvre Åse (Øvreåsane) also preserves the remains of a smokehouse dated to 1819. Fruit- and berry-growing traditions have long shaped Hennebygda, and are associated with its mild climate.

Hikes with Different Highlights

The Henneskarsvatna/Henneskaret hike starts in Hennebygda and is about eight kilometres long. It first follows an old summer-farm path, passing a smithy, a farm outbuilding and a mill. A detour leads to Indre Hennestøylen, with three summer-farm cabins and two outbuildings. One is a partially ruined stone outbuilding, described as a good subject for photographs.

Other hiking destinations include Hennjeskaret and Svartegga, as well as the three summer farms locally known as støylane. The hike from Hennebygda via the roadless farms of Åsane to Lotsberg is also described as a route.

The circular walk through Hennebygda has a different focus: it passes several old boathouses along Sjøavegen, then follows a forest path and continues along the village road by the fjord. Old boathouses in Ytre Hennevika are also traces of local history. The hiking options therefore differ mainly in their focus: the approximately eight-kilometre hike combines the route with farm and work buildings, while the circular walk takes in boathouses and the village road along the fjord. When planning, it is worth checking the current route and conditions.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Stårheim, Nordfjordeid, Kjølsdalen, Eid, Haus, Torheim, Holmøyane, Heggjabygda

Go to the main travel overview: Eid.