With the wind in your hair and the heather under your feet, pure air in your lungs and the taste of wild berries on your tongue, walking gives you the opportunity to study the fjord, the mountains and the flora and fauna at close quarters.
More than 230 signposted trails lead through varied terrain: The inner parts of Nordfjord (Stryn and Hornindal) with its tall mountains and glaciers, and the central parts of Nordfjord (Gloppen and Eid) with its mountaintop forests and the typical coastal landscape of the fjord estuary (Vågsøy and Selje).
At the tourist information you will find maps and descriptions of walks in Nordfjord. The tourist information can also help you book guided walks.
Tour suggestions
Gryta Mountain (480 – 1,032 metres above sea level)
Gryta lies just north of Stryn. From the top you have a great view over the centre of Stryn, several mountain tops, the Jostedalsbreen Glacier, Lake Hornindalsvatnet, Lake Stryn and the Nordfjord.
This popular route follows a good, dry, child-friendly path a large part of the way. It starts with a steep incline above a mountain farm until you get above the tree line, then ascends gently in a south-easterly direction before veering north-east along a shelf halfway up the mountain.
Finally, you turn south up a fairly steep slope to reach the summit. There is an outstanding viewpoint at an altitude of 960 metres above sea level just south of the summit. Local walkers sometimes take the alternative route up Marakråna, which follows a narrow, exposed mountain path up through the crags and cliffs on the south side of the mountain. Bring water!
- Season: May - September
- Time: 2 - 3 hours
- Starting point: Bøasetra Farm in Stryn
- Parking: Bøasetra Farm in Stryn
- Directions to starting point: From Stryn town centre, drive north towards Stryn Ski Centre, approximatley 4 kilometres, then continue onwards up to Bøasætra Farm, approximately 800 metres.
- Good rest stop: At the top of Gryta Mountain
Trollenykjen (898 metres above sea level)
The path is good and the route is well-marked. Walk between the Eidsfjord and the Gloppenfjord. Splendid views most of the hike.
- Time: 5 - 6 hours
- Starting point: Start at the highest point of the road over to Hunvik, Hanshjellen
Historical walk on the island of Selja (10 – 201 metres above sea level)
On the island of Selja, a 15-minute boat trip from Selje, lie the ruins of Selje Monastery with its tower still intact. The monastery was built by Benedictine monks early in the 10th century in honour of St. Sunniva. The legend of St. Sunniva who was martyred here lives on.
Norway has two male saints (St. Olav and St. Hallvard) and one female one, St. Sunniva, the guardian saint of Western Norway. According to legend, Sunniva, daughter of an Irish king, fled when her country was conquered by heathens and the new king wanted to marry her. She came ashore on the island of Selja. The St. Sunniva cave where Sunniva is said to have died is a large cavern containing remains of walls and traces of the first church dedicated to the Archangel Michael.
There is a good path from Bø to the monastery. From the monastery to Bø on the south side of the island there is a well-marked path, moderately difficult on a few short stretches. A path goes through the forests to Varden (a cairn), 201 metres above sea level. From Varden the path takes you to the monastery or you can return by the same route. You can also take the family-friendly path on the north side of the island. This path is about 1,5 kilometres long and takes about 30 minutes to walk.
- Season: May – September
- Distance: 1,5 kilometres
- Time: 30 minutes
- Starting point: Passenger boats several times daily (May to September) from Selje town centre to Selja Island (Bø)
- Parking: By Selje harbour, in the centre of Selje
- Directions to starting point: Drive road rv. 616 to Selje town centre
- Recommended stops: Selje Monastery
Skåla Mountain (29 - 1,848 metres above sea level)
Skåla is the highest mountain in Northern Europe with a foot in the fjord. It is possible to spend the night in the tower at the top of the Skåla. From there you have a magnificent and breathtaking view.
The first hour you follow the usual steep path to a typical mountain pasture farm, then you follow a cascading river before ascending by a twisting path, reminiscent of a mountain road, to Lake Skålavatnet.
The next two hours take you across snow and rocky terrain before you receive some encouragement - 1,000 stone steps and a magnificent view of the Nordfjord. At this point you have climbed to 1,848 metres and are up at the Skålatårnet Tower, originally called Klaumannstårnet (built in the 1890s).
After a little rest at the top, you can chose to return the same day or stay overnight in one of the three semicircular beds that reputedly have room for 22 people. It is unlikely that you will be turned away, but if you are planning to go at a weekend it can be wise to contact the owners, Bergen Turlag, to hear whether any large groups are planning on staying overnight.
The next day, you can either return by the same route or, if you have booked a glacier guide, you can take a spectacular 6 - 7 hour walk over the glacier to arrive at Bødalssætra where the mountain touring association has a cabin.
- Distance: 8,2 kilometres
- Time: 4 - 6 hours
- Starting point: Tjugen Farm in the Lodalen Valley, Stryn
- Parking: You can park between the road and the river
- Directions to starting point: From rv. 60 at Loen, take the road to Lodalen. You can park at Tjugen Farm
- Good rest stop: Lake Skålavatnet
In mid-August every year you can take part in Skåla Uphill, Northern Europe's toughest mountain race, one of six Grand Prix races in the world.