There are many idyllic places in Bremanger district, Norway. From the outer rocks and sandy beaches, together with the fishing trips at sea to the mountains, fjord landscapes, hunting and fishing experiences in the inner parts of the district. Bremanger muncipality has approximately 3.950 inhabitants and covers a area of 832,8 km2. Nordfjord consists of the municipalities of Stryn, Hornindal, Gloppen, Eid, Bremanger, Vågsøy and Selje. The Huffington post has Nordfjord as The Most Relaxing Places On Earth.
A journey along the Nordfjord offers an exceptional variety of scenery ranging from blue glacier arms and towering mountains to fertile valleys and deep lakes, and taking you right out to the coast and the relentless breakers of the Stadhavet sea. In Bremangerpollen you will find many seahouses and boathouses. The trading posts of Rugsund and Smørhamn from the 17th century tell us that the sea was the most important communication area. Culture is strong in Bremanger and here you find settlements dating back 7.000 – 8.000 years.
The Jostedalsbreen glacier gives the rivers and lakes a special green hue that is found only near the glacier. Here, there is plenty of refreshing water and fresh air for everyone. The noumerous attractions of Nordfjord lie waiting for you. You can take part in some of our many activities or just wander in the sun along white sandy beaches, breathing in the fresh air. Or maybe you would like to explore our cultural history? Regardless of where you are, whether on the glacier or mountains, by the fjord or sea, you will find the small idyllic places that you’ve always been looking for. Such places that you can only see afterwards by closing your eyes.
SVELGEN
Svelgen is the administrative centre of Bremanger. The village is located at the eastern end of the Nordgulen fjord and at the mouth of the Svelgselva river. The Vinge Tunnel is located about 8 kilometres north of the village, connecting it to the northern parts of the municipality. Situated in Svelgen is the largest company, Elkem Bremanger, is a modern metallurgic factory with approximately 290 man-labour years. Svelgen was established as a result of this company, and is today an active and lively community.
KALVÅG
The fishing village Kalvåg is the largest and best preserved fishing village’s in Western Norway. Kalvåg is beautiful and it’s history is even more fascinating. In 1860,there lived over 10,000 inhabitants under the large herring fisheries. Today, there is approximately 500 inhabitants.
It is located on the southeast side of the island of Frøya on the coast along the Frøysjøen strait, the southern entrance to the Nordfjorden. There is a series of bridges that connect Kalvåg to the nearby island of Bremangerlandet. Today, the village of Kalvåg has a unique collection of old waterfront buildings, reputed to be the largest and best-kept waterfront environment in the county. Many of the old wharf buildings have been restored and converted to provide accommodation. The harbor is very good, with spacious public quays. Frøya Church is located about 1.5 kilometres northeast of the center of Kalvåg.
Vamråkbuene is situated in Kalvåg. During the large herring fisheries in the middle of the 18th Century Kalvåg was a true fishing metropole with many thousands of visiting fishermen. Vamråkbuene represents one part of the trading life that the herring fisheries created, and today, is part of the Coastal musuem in Sogn og Fjordane. Here you can have a guided tour (arranged beforehand) and an exciting insight in to how the fish industry has developed from the 18th Century to modern times.
ÅLFOT GLACIER
Ålfoten Glacier the most westerly glacier in Norway is about 1.682 metres above sea level. Ålfot Glacier can be reached by foot on marked footpaths or walking with a guide. Ålfot Glacier can be seen from the road in Ålfoten.
HORNELEN
The legendary moutain cliff is situated straight across the fjord from Vingen rock carving site. Many legends are linked to this mountain which is northern Europe´s tallest sea cliff. It towers over 850 metres over the sea and is a good landmark for ships. Over the centuries it has been a well-known sailing mark. The trip to the top of Hornelen takes approximately 4 hours from Berleneset.
MYKLEBUST FARM
At Myklebust hill farm there is still a working hill farm. You are welcome to look around. If you book beforehand you can order coffee and pancakes, or a traditional dish made with sour cream if you would like. They have livestock here for most of the summer. The hill farm in Ålfoten is authentic and unique in our parts. Whilst many have stopped running these hill farms and following the traditon of moving to the hill farms in the summer.
THE FJORD HORSE
The Døla stallion “Rimfakse” was bought in to Nordfjord at the end of the 19th century. The intention was to use him for breeding purposes to make the Fjord horse a bigger and sturdier working horse, but after some time weaknesses became apparent in Rimfakse’s descendants. Their colouring was unattractive and they became bad-tempered. At a meeting in Innvik a decision was made to remove horses of Døla descent from breeding.
The Fjord stallion Njål, sold to Sunnmøre in Rimfakse’s time, was bought back and along with his descendants devoted 100% to breeding. Njål from Oppstryn is therefore reckoned to be the common ancestor of all today’s Fjord horses both in Norway and abroad. You can get better acquainted with these beautiful beasts by visiting one of the riding schools in Nordfjord and letting the Fjord horse itself give you a guided tour of its beautiful realm.
RUGSUND
The islands of Storøya and Litleøya (Big island and Little island) lie in the sound, providing shelter for the old trading post at Rugsund. The excellent, sheltered harbour centrally located beside the inner shipping fairway along the coast was popular with seafarers. Today, the harbour is very popular with boat tourists who have seriously begun to discover the attractions of this peaceful, idyllic harbour.
Rugsund Handelstad is a preserved trading post dated back to the 17th century. The historical and restored buildings are clustered around the edge of the sea. At Rugsund Handelsstad you can stay the night ashore. You can rent a room, an apartment, house or tent pitch. Varying standard and price category. It is also possible to rent premises for functions for private occasions. In the Rugsund area there are great opportunities for scuba diving. You can fill your oxygen bottles at the trading post.
Rugsund is a great starting point for trips to Hornelen, the Ålfotbreen glacier, the Vingen prehistoric rock-carving site (Note! restrictions on movement) and superb trips in the surrounding mountains. Enjoyment for the whole family is guaranteed in this great coastal culture setting. The destination is suitable both for adults and children.
Gulebuda at Rugsund is a old sea house which the Coastal Club Hornelen have renovated and are turning it into a coastal culture centre. If you would like to take part and row the old sea lanes from another era without an engine and with time to spare, you can with the Coastal Club Hornelen.
SMØRHAVN HANDELSTAD
Smørhamn Handelstad (Old Trading Post) is from the 16th century, has been central throughout history, and an important junction point for clippers and cutters (sailing boats) between Nordfjord and Bergen. The trading post was important to fishermen and to local inhabitants in the area. Here you could buy everything from sharpening stones, pins, syrup to soap, together with beer and distilled spirits. In 1790, there were approximately 30 houses in Smørhamn. Today, there are a few boat houses and houses. Presently, Smørhamn Handelstad is privately owned and not open to tourists. You can see the trading post from the road and from the sea approximatley 4 km from the centre of Kalvåg.
STRUEN
Struen in Bremanger is a tight cluster of sea houses, which is a memorial to the time when fishing was an important trade along the coast. Struen is situated in the inner part of Bremangerpollen on the northside of the bay. You can see the sea houses from the road. You find a lot of coast culture idylls in the district, Struen and Kalvåg are the two largest and most inhabited places.
GLOFØYKJE
In Skatestraumen you find evidence of settlements dating back 8000 years. Large archaeological excavations in the area were extremely rich and indicated an extensive fishing, hunting, trading and settlement thousands of years ago. Here you have good access to fish and sea animals. Additionally, one could catch birds and go hunting for deer. This is still an important resource.
VINGEN
Not to far from Skatestraumen, you find Vingen, one of the largest rock carving sites in Northern Europe. Animal carvings, human figures and many other abstract symbols are sketched on the mountains. The oldest dates back 4500 years, whilst the youngest perhaps 1000 years newer. In all, there are 1500 figures registered. Vingen has probably been a cultist meeting place in the region for thousands of years.
BOTNANE
If you stop at the grave mounds at Botnane you get a feeling of the bronze age. There are altogether 8 mounds dating back to early stone age and bronze age. Because some of them are so large, it’s easy to see them from the road.
TONGANE COASTAL FORTRESS
Tongane Coastal Fortress lies a little further out in Skatestraumen. This is one of the largest German fortifications which was built in Norway during the 2nd World War. The coastal fort was attacked under the well-known Måløy raid, Christmas 1941. The majority of the fortification still remains, among other the main canons and soldier’s barracks. The fort at Rugsundøy is situated with a good view over the approach to Måløy and the entrance to Nordfjorden.
ÅLFOTEN CHURCH
Ålfot church is the oldest wooden church in Nordfjord. The log timber church was built in 1610 on the site of an earlier stave church. In the small church, its history is still on the walls, which is a testimony to life and destiny of the remote fjord through the ages. Guided tours.
RUGSUND CHURCH
Rugsund church was built at the beginning of the 1930’s, it is a very interesting church and is rich in decoration with wall paintings, Mosaic glass and carvings. The church was designed by Hans Ditlev F. Linstow, who among other designed The Royal Norwegian caslte. It is said to be the most beautiful church in Nordfjord.
VICARAGE
The poet priest Claus Frimann lived and worked in Davik. Claus Frimann (1780 – 1822) was like so many other priests of this time progressive, this progression started amongst other with tree planting and established a reading room for the village´s young men and women. But he didn´t just carry out unselfish activities. In his offical capacity he also looked after the large estate and was also known to be rather zealous in collection of debts and land taxes. Frimann is best known as a “poet priest” and he has often been mentioned in the same connection as Petter Dass. His poetry popular among ordinary people for many years. He took ordinary people’s everyday lives as a starting point for his poetry. The best known is perhaps “Evil often plagues the fisherman” and “A Birkebeener song”. The vicarage is situated on the priest’s farm estate. Here you can take a cultural history stop. You find a memorial column to Claus Frimann at the church.
VETVIK
In its time a prosperous village with well kept farms. Today, ther stands the abandoned houses and reminds you of what once was here.
MYKLEBUSTDALEN
Myklebustdalen is a part of a special geological area – a Devonian rock area with step formations. Here it is rich in trout and a large deer stock.
OLDEIDE
The ferry to Meløy.
NORDFJORD
Nordfjord is a traditional district of Norway. The region is located in the northern part of Sogn & Fjordane. The Nordfjord region covers an area of about 4,295 square kilometres.
The fjord is the sixth longest in Norway stretching 106 kilometres from the island of Husevågøy at the mouth to the village of Loen at the other end. The region encompasses the rough coastline of the Stadlandet peninsula to the Jostedalsbreen, Europe´s largest mainland glacier. The region also includes the Hornindalsvatnet lake, Europe´s deepest lake at 514 metres below sea level. The glacier Briksdalsbreen is particularly scenic. The Stryn area provides year-round alpine skiing, and there are numerous old fishing communities along the fjord going back to pre-Viking times.
SKIING
In idyllic Myklebustdalen you find good skiing terrain for cross country skiing. At Langesjø, there is a lighted path, cabins for rent and a paradise for the whole family. Here there is space for several families in the cabins and together with the lovely sunny terrain.
SWIMMING
Grotlesanden is a two mile long sandy beach by the village Grotle. Here there is silky soft sand as far as the eye can see. Grotlesanden is located in Ytre Bremanger on the west side of the island Bremangerlandet and west of the village of Hauge. Grotlesanden is an attraction in good weather, but maybe even more fascinating in stormy weather, when the storm comes in.
Vetvika is situated on the western side of Bremangerlandet (island). There isn´t a road to Vetvika, so you can either walk or travel by boat. Vetvika has a beautiful sandy beach. If you are lucky you can have the whole beach all to yourself. Vetvika is deserted, but there are still remains of several houses. The largest farm in Bremanger in early times was the farm Solheim at Vetvika. The farm is situated on the northern side of Vetvika.
FISHING
Eidselva river is a good salmon river. There’s also plenty of fish in the Eidsfjord. Nordfjord is a veritable Eldorado for angling in lakes and rivers.
If you are looking for good sea fishing, you cannot do any better than outer Nordfjord. Here you can catch a huge cod or the salmon of your dreams, not to mention other delicacies such as wolf fish and monkfish! The fishing in this area is rich and varied, and it is possible to catch most of the different kinds of fish that live along the coast.
Sea-angling trips are available from Bremanger and Selje. You can take a trip on a fishing boat with a local expert, take a boat out yourself or take your fishing rod out to a headland or some rocks. The whole of the Nordfjord coast is rich in fish and there are plenty of opportunities for angling all year round.
There is great variation here between fjord fishing, fishing in among the islands and skerries and deep-sea fishing. You can catch most kinds of fish in this area. The currents and the nutritional content of the seawater make for unusually rich fishing. The most common species of fish are cod, haddock, saithe, pollack and mackerel. A certain amount of deepwater fish such as tusk and ling are also caught in the area. In Kalvåg in autumn and early winter you can go fishing for crabs, either using crab pots or by raking them directly off the rocks.
The municipalities of Gloppen, Stryn, Eid, Hornindal and Bremanger issue a joint fishing permit for inland fishing that covers more than 500 lakes and rivers. Fishing permits are available for salmon and trout in ten or so river systems. Up the fjord arms and valleys you will find large, deep “fjord lakes” offering good inland fishing. These often have good stocks of trout and char.
GOLF
Golfclubs in Sogn & Fjordane.