Bergen – Stavanger

By Svenn Owe Haugland - Norwegian Canoe Association

Translated from Norwegian for Rutland Canoe Club by Miss A Larson

I. Bergen – Austevoll

People living in Bergen sometimes start this tour in Halhjem, but it’s a special feeling to do the whole distance. The trip to Austevoll is through relatively calm water, passing by quite a few small islands with ideal places for a camp.

Bergen

The Hanseatic town – capital of Vestlandet ("The Westland"). Kai Gjessing is suggesting some really nice one day tours by kayak in his own guide.

Alvoen

First passage after Sotrabrua. One of the oldest industrial towns in Norway with paper production and mills. The older parts on Alvoyen are a worthwhile visit for persons enjoying old island houses.

Sotra

In the west you will find Sotra as a continuation towards the south of the islands. The guesthouse Brattholmen ( 18^th Century ) on Lillesotra is a beautiful stop. The mountains north of Tellnes/Haganes consist of hundreds of climbing routes ( towards west ).

The small islands outside Flesland

Just outside Flesland, and also outside Bjoroy, there are many beautiful but small islands. This is the first good place to camp, and maybe go for a swim. These islands have many beautiful inlets perfect for snorkelling.

Hjellestadoyene and Bukken

Outside Hjellestad there are also many beautiful islands. Bukken had a guesthouse in the 17^th Century already, nowadays it’s a private house but still worthwhile to pass. The islands west of Bukken are good for camping, look for some small beautiful islands, full of cabins.

Arboretet on Milde

A variety of flowers and plants could be found on Aboretet, where it’s easy to go ashore. Good facilities for swimming.

Austevoll

The biggest fish breeding place in Norway. Easy to fing a place to spend a night. The outer part to the east of Store Kalso ( Great Island ) is the most beautiful area, also the continuation westwards of Mokster to Kvalsvag on Stolmen ( tradeplace from 1655 ). This whole demands good weather! Huftaroy and Selbjorn are also good places … for those of you passing here early in the day – Fitjaroyene will be the next stop.

II. Austevoll – Bomlo

In Fitjar it’s easy to get lost among all the islands. Preferably you should pass on the inside of Bomlo because it’s seldom the weather is good enogh to paddle all 55 km to Haugesund on the outside.

Fitjar

If you want to make an extra tour anywhere, it should be in Fitjar. Aim for Gisoy and the shopping place in Brandasund. Then it’s just to make way eastwards and then southwards between Bomlo and Stord.

Bomlo and Royksundkanalen

The passage from Stokksund to Spyssoya is not the most interesting, but on the south side of Bomlo there is a lot to see. On Olavskolen they are building kayaks in the traditional way. Go to the westside of Spyssoya and into the Royksund channel.

Moster

Had a church in Olav Trygvassons time already and Mostratinget ( 1024 ) was probably the first parliament where rules and laws were made for the kingdom after the christening of the country made by Olav Haraldsson. In July the Mostraspelete makes a performance about this in Moster Amfi in the old limestone mine, strongly recommended for people passing in July!

Mosterhamn

Boatharbour for as long as anyone can remember, maybe the oldest trading place between Bergen and Stavanger.

III. Bomlo – Haugesund

A lot of things to see for people who don’t mind a little detour. The house of the count in Rosendal and Folgfonna are situated on the way in to Hardangerfjorden, and the beautiful fishing village of Espavaer is southwest of Bomlo. Then you come to the exposed and feared Sletta outside Haugesund. Here you depend on good weather! Have a look at Haugesund and then move on, possibly all the way to Bokn wherever your arms have had enough.

Espevaer

Espevaer is a pearl worthwhile a visit – if the weather lets you. Espevaer was built during the wealthy "herring years" around 1850 and is one of the best preserved, and still inhabited fishing villages in Vestlandet.

Sletta

To get to Haugesund, one has to pass Sletta. This is a notorious distance where bad things have happened during the years. Not a place to be in a kayak during a bad weather day. Paddle past Fartein Valens old home in Valevag, Tjernagelshaugen and the lighthouse on Ryvarden. It’s worthwhile to notice that ther are good places for a tent all over Bomlafjorden. It’s always a special feeling to make a long crossing!

Haugesund

Sildajazz a film festival are the most famous happenings here, but the town itself is also worth a visit. The entrance especially is beautiful. Not many campsites. Go to Karmsundet.

IV. Haugesund – Stavanger

Boknafjorden can be quite wavy. The height of the waves around Cape Skudeneshavn and Cape Tungenes can be high, even if the rest of the sea seems to be much calmer! Another problem is the long distance, check the weather report! Even so, on a good day this is a beautifil tour, especially the outer route outside Kvitsoy.

Avaldsnes

Harald Harfagre ( famous viking ) had his property in Avaldsnes on Karmoy. From here he could rule Karmsundet, one of the most used passages during the viking time.

Kopervik

Capital of Karmoy and biggest village. The place has a charming mixture of old and new houses.

Bokn

Find the channel on Vestre Bokn by Aukland. Here you can find many places to camp on the other side of the bay. Good place to stop overnight thinking about next stage over Boknafjorden. The view from Boknafjellet ( mountain ) is beautiful. Skudeneshavn is another possibility.

Skudeneshavn

Cosy place with wooden houses, but more exposed tour from here to Kvitsoy.

Kvitsoy

365 little islands are surrounding this fishing village. About 500 people live here, far out. The church is from 1620, the stonecross from the viking time and the lighthouse are the biggest attractions. It’s possible to get up in the lighthouse if you ask around a little. If beautiful weather – the tour around Kvitsoy has more beautiful things to see than the short route about Utstein Kloster ( monastery ).

Utstein Kloster on Mosteroy

The only monastery from the middle ages in the country. Was originally the home of the king in the area and built during the 9^th century. Worth a visit! Open 1/5 – 15/9 Tuesdays to Saturdays 10 – 16 and Sundays 12 – 17. Coffeeplace!

Tungenes Fyr

Lighthouse has been showing seamen the way since the middle ages. The lighthouse you find there today was built in stages from 1860 to 1950. Consists of a coast museum and paintings made by Oscar Sorreime. Open during the schoolholidays and Sundays. Nice place for a rest – it’s still a bit to go to Stavanger.

Stavanger

The entrance of Stavanger is marked by the fact that it’s the " Oiltown ". It’s not unusual to see platforms. Cosy wooden houses and a square is the first impression. Summertime the outdoor life is one of the best in the country, so it won’t take you long to find your well deserved pint…

V. Weather and Streams

You need quite good weather. Sletta should not be crossed if it’s windy. Wind from the west is the worst, but wind from other directions can also be troublesome.

Across Boknafjorden it’s also good to remember that even if it’s not really windy and the waves are small on one side – they might be much bigger on the other side when you reach there and you are tired.

Normal stream direction is from the south towards the north, but is not normally any trouble. As the tour is recommended for good weather only and this is normally associated with high pressure over the North Sea, it’s usually hardest to paddle from North to South.

Remember to check the weather reports!

Other things to think about

Mosquitos - Yes

Camping - A bit outside towns and villages, it’s easy to find a place to put your

Tent up - Some of the islands are covered with small trees and

Mosquitos - If the weather is good, it might be a good idea to choose a place outside the vegetation.

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