Nesset has approximately 3.100 inhabitants and covers a area of 1.046,2 km2. The administrative centre is the village of Eidsvåg. Other population centers include Rausand, Boggestranda, Myklebostad, Eresfjord, and Eikesdalen. The farm (Nesset Prestegard) has given name to the township. Originally it was an old official residence. The farm was devided into two parts, where one was crown land. Today, much of it is sold. The settling probably originates from before the Viking Age.
Today there are ten houses on the farm, the former number was fourteen, seven of the houses are scheduled as ancient monuments. On 29 of July 1921, when the Bjørnson stone monument was unveiled, there was 3000 people gathered at the rectory. Since 1597 about 30 vicars have lived at the rectory of Nesset.
The municipality is made up mostly of the Eikesdalen valley which surrounds the Eikesdalsvatnet lake. The lake is fed from the Aursjøen lake on the border of Oppland. The water then flows through the Aura river into Eikesdalsvatnet lake. That water then flows into the Eira River and then on to the Eresfjorden, a branch of the Langfjorden. The mountains Skjorta, Fløtatinden, and Gjuratinden surround the main valley.
The Langfjorden is a 35 km long arm of the Romsdalsfjord which begins between the most easterly point on the island of Sekken and Okseneset. The fjord then continues to the east to the village of Eidsvåg. The fjord´s two arms, Eresfjorden at east end and Rødvenfjorden at the west end are oriented to the south. The fjord is crossed by the Åfarnes–Sølsnes Ferry, as part of County Road 64. The ferry has been proposed replaced by the Langfjord Tunnel. The village of Mittet lies on the south shore of the fjord.
From the shores of the fjord, to the towering mountains at 1,800 metres above sea level, the rural community of Nesset offers the visiting birds a range of habitats, and several interesting areas. One area worth checking is Eidsvågleirene. Though the selection of species will not be high, several of the commoner species can be found. Grey Heron is a characteristic species in the area along with Mallard.
THE NESSET RECTORY
Nesset rectory was home of one of Norway´s greatest writers and community building jumpers, the author Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson. He came to Nesset from Kvikne 5 years old. He took much inspiration from Nesset when he wrote “Synnøve Solbakken” which was released in 1857. Here he was on engagementour with his coming wife Karoline Reimers in 1858. He wrote: “Romsdalen is the small part of the world I love the most. Here I evolved. Of this way of life and these people am I marked.” Bjørnson received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1903. The museum at the rectory (Nesset Prestegard) is open during the summer season.
EIDSVÅG
Eidsvåg is the administrative centre of the municipality. Eidsvåg is located at the end of the Langfjorden. It is located about 8.5 kilometres southwest of Raudsand, about 20 kilometres north of Eresfjord, and 9 kilometres north of Boggestranda. The area around Eidsvåg is known for its scenery, and a variety of possible activities. Eira river and Visa river are excellent salmon rivers, among others visited by English salmon lords. In addition to river fishing, there are good opportunities for water and sea fishing. The area has good bathing / swimming locations.
EIKESDALEN
This area is very mountainous, surrounded by peaks up to 1964 meters high, which caused the architecture in this valley to be different than that of other villages. Eikesdalen village is located at the south end of the Eikesdalsvatnet lake at the mouth of the Aura river. The lake is about 20 kilometers long and 155 meters deep. Kleneggen (1964 meters) is Eikesdal´s highest mountain. The Mardalsfossen waterfall lies about 2.5 kilometres northwest of the village. Majestic Mardalsfossen waterfall remains a tourist attraction during the summer. The total height is 705 meters and this qualifies Mardalsfossen waterfall as the world´s fourth highest waterfall. The Eresfjord village is located about 25 kilometres north, at the other end of the lake. The Aursjøen lake lies about 20 kilometres southeast of Eikesdal.
The legal position in Norway about BASE jumping, also sometimes written as B.A.S.E. are made welcome. Base jumpers from Strandkolvet (1190 meters), Lysefjord (from the mountain Kjerag) is OK. Some other Norwegian places, like the Trollwall, are banned because of dangerous rescue missions in the past. Guinness World Records first listed a BASE jumping record with Carl Boenish´s 1984 leap from Trollveggen (Trollwall). It was described as the highest BASE jump. In 2010 Northern Norway celebrated with a world record with 53 Base jumpers jumping from a cliff.
Mardalsfossen waterfall is one of the ten highest waterfalls in Europe. The falls are on the Mardøla river which flows into the Eikesdalsvatnet lake, about 2 kilometres northwest of the Eikesdalen village. The waterfall is depicted in Nesset´s coat-of-arms. The total fall is 705 metres and consists of two large drops and several smaller ones lower down. The highest vertical drop, which is 358 metres, is one of the tallest in Norway. It is on average 24 metres wide. It is a tiered waterfall. The water, which has been tapped for hydroelectric use, flows over the falls during the summer tourist season of 20 June to 20 August. At other times the water is channeled through the hydroelectric scheme. There is a 45-minute walk from the parking in Mardalen.
MONUMENTAL STONE
Arne steinen at Utigard. “I wonder what I shall discover over the high mountains”. A quotation from the novel Arne, wrote by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson. The monumental stone is put up as a memory of the visit of Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson. He visited Eikesdalen in 1858 and wrote parts of the famous novel there, sitting under a huge elm tree.
AURSJØVEIEN (FINSETLIA) ROAD
Starts in Finset in Eikesdalen. The narrow, winding road continues alongside the Aursjødam (862 meters) and runs down the Litledalen valley to Sunndalsøra. The road offers many magnificent views and is a good starting point for walking trips in the mountains. Tollroad, open from mid-June.
ERESFJORD
Eresfjord village is located along the Eira River between the Eresfjorden and the Eikesdalsvatnet lake. The mountain Skjorta lies just to the east of the village. The Myklebostad village lies about 17 kilometres to the northwest through the Vistdal valley and the Boggestranda village lies about 10 kilometres to the north. Agriculture, salmon fishing, and tourism are the main form of income in the area. Eresfjord also has its own hatchery (built in 1956) that provides salmon and sea trout to the Eira River and Eikesdalsvatnet.
Eresfjord church is an octagonal church built in 1869. It is also called Sira Church, which was the formal name of 1774. Eresfjord church is built of wood and has 307 seats.
VISTDAL
Vistdal is surrounding by mountains and the village extends from Vistdalsbukta and along Visa river up to Vistdalsheia. Vistdal has a rich and varied terrain in both summer and winter, and both tourists and locals are trails and mountain roads frequently used by visits to mountain tops, summer farms and lodges in the area. In the center of the village is school, daycare, housing facilities for the elderly, COOP-market and Vistdal church. With a short walk down to the lake is easily accessible even for those arriving by sea. Vistdal main industry is agriculture, but other industries also have a good foothold in the village. Both Hanset Sand and Romsdal Steinindustri known at both regional and national basis, and also smaller businesses run from Vistdal. In addition, there are more people who commute to the municipal center Eidsvåg or neighboring Rauma and Molde.
BOGGESTRANDA
Boggestranda is located along the east side of the Eresfjorden, about 10 kilometres south of Eidsvåg and 10 kilometres north of Eresfjord. There are some very old rock carvings in Boggestranda. Date from a time when people lived from hunting and fishing. They are possibly records of valutable hunting grounds and large herds of game, carved onto the mountain during the Stone Age. The carvings can be found in three separate locations and the oldest dates back over 4000 years.
RAUDSAND
Raudsand or Rausand is located along the Tingvollfjorden about 9 kilometres northeast of Eidsvåg and 8 kilometres south of Angvika.
MYKLEBOSTAD
Myklebostad village is located along the south side of the Langfjorden, just west of the mouth of the Eresfjorden, about 10 kilometres southwest of Eidsvåg. The Eresfjord village lies about 18 kilometres to the southeast through the Vistdal valley.
FISHING
There are good opportunities for trips in the mountains and fishing in Langfjorden, Sunndalsfjorden and Eira river, Visa river and Oselva river are salmon rivers.
GOLF
Golfclubs in Møre & Romsdal.