Eid muncipality in Norway has approximately 5.910 inhabitants and covers a area of 469,1 km2. Nordfjord consists of the municipalities of Stryn, Hornindal, Gloppen, Eid, Bremanger, Vågsøy and Selje. 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. “Eidsgata” with it’s charming 19th century buildings is the main trading centre in Nordfjord. The Huffington post has Nordfjord as The Most Relaxing Places On Earth.
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.
The main attractions are Fjordane Forsvarsmuseum close to Eidselva river, Burial Mounds at Myklebust in Nordfjordeid, Eidatunet close to Eidsfjorden, Leikvin Art Gallery, Tippatunet Farm museum at Haugland 5 km west from Nordfjordeid, Orheims Collection lies at the farm Stårheim, Farmmuseum at Myrvold, Myrold Fruit Farm lies 15 km west from Nordfjordeid, “Hjelmelandsdalen” with Nordfjord ski centre and many walks. “The Norwegian Fjord Horse centre” the national stud and expertise centre for fjord horses is right by the and offer help with lessons and trekking. Several churches Eid Church, Kjølsdalen Church, Stårheim Church and Heggjabygda Church.
NORDFJORDEID
Nordfjordeid has much to offer in the way of education – its schools include the Folk High School, which offers courses linked to Fjord horses and provides the only circus education in Norway. As in the rest of the region agriculture has a strong position here, but trade and industry are also important, Frislid Konfeksjon (textiles) and the Hellesøy Nordfjord shipyard among others. Its central location puts Nordfjordeid in a unique position as regards commerce, with Eidsgata in the centre of town offering a wide range of goods. There is a National Fjord Horse centre in the municipality, its task being to boost the breed’s standing. Nordfjordeid is also the host for Malakoff Rockfestival.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
The Norwegian Fjords rated as the best destination in the world. National Geographic Traveler´s results are rated on a 1-to-100 scale. Norway´s fjords, rated at 82, are the top-scoring destination. The survey, conducted by National Geographic Traveler and Leeds Metropolitan University in England, involved a global panel of over 200 experts in sustainable tourism and destination quality.
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.
THE NORWEGIAN FJORD HORSE CENTRE
The Norwegian Fjord Horse Centre was founded in 1989, the national centre for breeding and use of Fjord Horses, lies close to the centre of Eid. Riding for families, mountain riding for 1 or 2 days and one hour riding trips.
EID CHURCH
In the city center is Eid Church. The church was built in 1849 and restored by Lars Kinsarvik in 1915.
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.
Nordfjord Skicenter at Harpefossen in Hjelmelandsdalen. A skiing resort that have more than lifts and hills to offer. Nordfjord Skicenter have several kilometres long cross country track, skiing course, children lift and café.
More than 230 signposted trails lead thorugh varied terrain: the inner Nordfjord (Stryn and Hornindal) with its tall mountains and glaciers, the middle Nordfjord (Gloppen and Eid) with its mountaintop forests and the typical coastal landscape of the fjord estuary. The diverse range of tours offer ranges from a half-hour walks for the whole family up to 10-hour tours for those who are really fit. Also well worth seeing are northern Europe´s highest sea cliff, the Hornelen (860 metres) and the Skålatårnet (1.848 metres), where you can spend the night in a stone tower (22 beds).
Nature and cultural trails
There are 10 nature trails along the Nordfjord, each with its own information brochure. Each trail will teach you a lot about the local flora and fauna, the glaciers, salmon fishing and the historical landscapes and transport routes. We can also arrange a guided trip if you wish.
Mountain walking
Good walking maps can be bought in the municipalities mentioned. Choice of walks for families and for those who like the challenge of mountain tops well over 2000 metres above sea level. There are lots of good fishing lakes here as well.
Ljøsureggja mountain
Drive to Harpefossen Fjellstove lodge in Hjelmelandsdalen. Two kilometres on from there the path up to Ljøsureggja (1.205 metres) starts by a bridge. A good family walk.
Sagetennene (the saw´s teeth)
Starting point at Lote. Take the turning for Lotsberg, follow the road to Lotesetra where there is an easy walking trail to Sagetennene. Suitable for children. About 2 hours.
Movatnet – Langevatnet lakes
Parking by the RV 1 in Stigedalen. The track up the Fladalen valley is suitable for children. The track passes Sagesetra and continues to Movatnet and Langevatnet lakes.
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.
The municipalities of Stryn, 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
Nordfjord Golfclub is a golf course with 9 holes and a variation of difficulties. The course lies at Stokkenes, in idyllic scenery by Eidselva river.