The first pilgrims arrived on the island of Selja more than 1,000 years ago, so you walk on historic ground here. Selja, which is roughly 1.5 square kilometres, is located one kilometre from the mainland. The walk is on a path in flat terrain and is suitable for everyone. The walk is not guided.

Special equipment is not required for this walk. Wear clothes that are appropriate for the weather.

The meeting point is the tourist information office in the centre of Selje. A passenger boat runs from here to Bø on the island of Selja. The trip takes about 10 minutes. Boat tickets can be purchased at the tourist information office.

Bø – Buskehaugen – Helmavikja – Klostervågen
The walk begins once you get off the boat. Turn right at the quay and follow the signs. The walk is on a nature path in flat terrain. The trip is signposted the whole way. There are no rivers or streams to cross. The walk is 1.5 km, and it takes 25-30 minutes at a gentle pace to reach the monastery.

Bø was probably a royal estate when King Olav Kyrre established the Episcopal residence for Western Norway on Selja in 1068. The parish church for Selje was at Bø from as early as the 12th century. After the reformation in 1537, the priest moved to the mainland, but the church was not moved until 1654. The ruins of the church at Bø can still be seen, but they have not been extensively excavated. The farms on Selja remained abandoned until the 1820s when a cotter cleared land for a small farm at Bø.
On the way to the monastery, you will see Ersholmen islet, the large islet east of Selja. Parish pastor Johan D S Landmark was behind the first tree planting initiative in Selje in 1876, planting many species of trees on Ersholmen. There is a memorial to Landmark on the islet. The woods suffered sever damage during the New Year hurricane of 1992.

Buskehaugen is located roughly halfway on the walk between Bø and the monastery. The ruins here are probably from an 18th or 19th century sheep barn.

The marshes on the north side of the island were cultivated while the monastery was still in operation. Later on, peat was cut in the marshes on Selja.

According to legend, Helmavikja – or Heilagramannvik (holy man’s cove) – on the north side of Selja is the place where Sunniva and the Seljumennene men came ashore.

There were wharfside warehouses on both sides of Klostervågen bay until after World War II. Their walls can still be seen.
Selje has many accommodation options. Selje Hotel/Selje Spa Thalasso and Doktorgården Selje are located a few minutes walk from the quay. And Seljevågen Appartement has four high-standard apartments down on the quay.

There is also a brochure with information and a small map of the island, which is available from the tourist information office in Selje. Remember that to do this walk you are dependent on the scheduled boat service.

Please follow these safety tips when you go hiking and walking in Norway.

1. Be prepared
Be sufficiently experienced, fit and equipped for your intended trip.

2. Leave word of your route
Many cabins, hotels and other lodgings have tour notification boxes in which you may put a written notice of your planned route

3. Be weather-wise
You should always be alert to forecasts of bad weather, yet not rely completely on forecasts of good weather.

4. Be equipped for bad weather and frost
Always take a rucksack and proper mountain gear.

5. Learn from the locals
Local people can often tell you about avalanche trails, wind and snow conditions, and the safest routes.

6. Use a map and compass
Always have and know how to use a map and compass.

7. Do not go solo
If you venture out alone, there is nobody to give you first aid or notify a rescue service in an emergency.

8. Turn back in time - sensible retreat is no disgrace
If conditions deteriorate so much that you doubt you can attain your goal, turn around and return.

9. Conserve energy and build a snow shelter if necessary
The stronger the wind, the tougher the walking/skiing. Suit your speed to the weakest member of the party.

Find more detailed safety tips in the Norwegian Mountain Code.