Årviksand: Coastal Routes and Local History

Årviksand brings together local history and routes through coastal and valley landscapes. If you’re looking for a hotel in Årviksand, you can choose what to focus on based on your interests: culture and memorial sites, hikes in Årvikdalen or a blue-marked route by the sea. The valley trail leads to the old power station, while the coastal route heads towards Rotvåghula.

Culture and remembrance in Årviksand

The cultural trail traces Årviksand’s history over the past 10,000 years. There is also a memorial stone in Årviksand for those who fell in the Second World War. Every year on 17 May, the 17 May parade stops at the stone to lay a wreath. The cultural trail and memorial stone offer different historical perspectives: a long span of time and a specific tribute to those who fell.

Edmunds fiskarbondemuseum is a private museum in Årviksand. Its extensive collection includes boats, tools and household furnishings from the lives and work of the fishing farmers. It also includes equipment used by merchants and itinerant teachers, as well as glimpses into the everyday lives of children and adults. The museum brings together objects of work and the everyday lives of different generations. Its scope therefore extends beyond boats and tools to include household furnishings and different aspects of life.

Årvikmarka and the old power station

Årvikmarka is a well-developed hiking area in Årvikdalen on the island of Arnøya. The route starts at the youth club building in Årviksand, where an archway marks the entrance to the recreational area. A gravel path leads up through the valley to the old power station. The trail in Årvikmarka is suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs—a practical detail if you’re considering including this route in your travel plans.

The old power station now lies in ruins, having been bombed by the Germans during the Second World War. A barbecue shelter has been built beside the power station. The valley trail thus leads to a place where the surviving ruins meet the history of their destruction.

The coastal route to Rotvåghula

Another trail leads from Årviksand to Rotvåghula. It starts at the end of the road in northern Årviksand and heads north along the sea, marked by blue posts and stones. Rotvåghula lies directly northeast of Årviksand. A memorial plaque there commemorates the partisans who hid in the cave; the route is marked by a dramatic wartime history.

You can choose a route based on its course and destination: Årvikmarka leads through the valley to the old power station, while the route to Rotvåghula follows the coast north and leads to a cave with a memorial plaque. The Årvikmarka trail is described as suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs. Along the coastal route, the blue posts and stones help guide the way.

Getting your bearings

Fylkesvei 347 runs south from Årviksand to Lauksundskaret. From there, ferry services run to Nikkeby on Laukøya and Storstein on Kågen. These place names help put the road and ferry connections in context: the ferries depart from Lauksundskaret for the destinations listed, not from Årviksand. If you’re including a ferry in your travel plans, check the current timetable before departure.

Årviksand offers several points of interest to help you plan your trip: local history and remembrance, the accessible trail through Årvikmarka or the marked coastal route with its historical connection. You can decide which of these appeals to you most when planning your stay.

Discover more destinations: Skjervøy, Arnøyhamn, Uløybukt.

Back to the main travel guide: Skjervøy.