Borkenes – Art, Culture and Routes

Borkenes brings together art and institutional history at Trastad Samlinger with the heritage of everyday life and traditional crafts at Kvæfjord bygdetun. The cultural trail adds a route along the hillside above the meadows. If you are looking for a hotel in Borkenes, you can choose where to stay based on whether you are mainly interested in art and cultural history or an outdoor route. The wider destination of Kvæfjord offers additional regional highlights.

Art and institutional history at Trastad Samlinger

The art collection at Trastad Samlinger comprises approximately 26,000 objects. Works from the collection are on permanent display in Paviljong 7. Trastad Samlinger also presents the history of Trastad Gård, an institution for people with intellectual disabilities, as well as the art created there. The collection, artistic production and institutional history offer different ways into the subject: the number gives an idea of the collection’s scale, while Trastad Gård provides context for the institution’s history and the art created there.

Buildings and everyday history in Borkenes

Kvæfjord bygdetun is centrally located in Borkenes by the Råelva river. The site includes a classroom, a storehouse and two old grain mills. These buildings and facilities draw attention to different aspects of everyday life: learning, storing provisions and processing grain. Kvæfjord bygdetun therefore offers a different cultural focus from Trastad Samlinger, where the collection and the institution’s history take centre stage. These distinct themes are useful points of reference when exploring Borkenes’s cultural sites.

The cultural trail between Skallan and Rå

The cultural trail in Borkenes starts at the car park at the entrance to Skallan and runs along the hillside between Skallan and Rå, above the meadows. From the car park to the road to the shooting range at Rå, the route is 3.8 kilometres long. The start, finish and distance provide concrete information for planning, without specifying a walking time. As the route may change and local trail conditions can vary, it is best to check it before setting out.

Road connections for getting there

Borkenes is 16 kilometres west of Harstad, via County Road 850 and Kvæfjordeidet. County Road 849 runs from Gåre to Borkenes; it begins at the junction with County Road 83. Harstad and the junction at Gåre therefore provide concrete reference points for navigating by road. Check the route and road conditions before setting out, especially if you are planning your journey around a particular route.

Kvæfjord as the wider regional setting

The wider destination of Kvæfjord offers other experiences that differ from Borkenes’s cultural sites. Kvæfjordløyper prepares approximately 38 kilometres of cross-country ski trails in Borkenesmarka; the season usually runs from November to May. Austerfjordbotn is a state-protected recreation area with facilities for hiking, fishing, swimming and boating. The ski trails offer a seasonal activity, while Austerfjordbotn caters to a range of outdoor pursuits. Check current conditions if you are planning around these activities.

Another cultural and historical attraction in Kvæfjord is Hemmestad Brygge. The museum has a well-preserved old brygge building, a shop, and a trading post and post office. Hemmestad Brygge flourished in the 19th century; jekter sailed from Hemmestad to Bergen twice a year. The buildings and trading history offer a different perspective from the art and institutional history of Trastad Samlinger.

Kvæfjord’s regional food culture is also part of its character: the area is considered the home of Norway’s national cake, Kvæfjordkaka. The region’s wildlife includes a diverse range of bird and animal species, including eagles, seals and otters. These themes complement the cultural history with culinary and landscape connections, helping you place Borkenes within the wider destination of Kvæfjord.

Discover more destinations: Refsnes, Bremnes, Gullesfjord.

View the wider travel overview: Kvæfjord.