Brandasundsåto

Brandasund has a long history as a trading and lodging venue. The hike is first on path and the last part is stairs to the top.

The excellent sheltered harbour has played a central role in life along the outer coast line in this area for over a thousand years.

The name Brandasund is probably derived from the tradesman
Jacob Brandt who lived here around 1660. During the
great herring era during the 1700 and 1800"s, Brandasund was
full of life and vitality.
You can see buildings standing as silent monuments of the
abundant herring years, when the sea provided the source of
good living for the local inhabitants.

Terrain: Footpath, slack incline, steps up the final
ascent. Return to the parking lot and follow the
road to the centre
Time: About 1.5 hours
Start: The car park near Brandasundsåto
Starting at the parking lot follow the road further to the sign to
Brandasundsåto. Take the footpath to the right, approx. 20
minutes each way. The first section is easy, open terrain, later an incline and steps up the final ascent. Near the bottom of the steps you
will find an adobe hut which was used by German soldiers during World
War II. Brandasundsåto has been a look-out post and signal station since World War I. 

Views from the summit:
Northwest: Slåtterøy Lighthouse, designed in 1858 by the Lighthouse
Director Carl Frederik Diriks and built in 1859. One of the few lighthouses
in the country that are still manned. The Norwegian National Trust wishes
to add the building to its preservation list.
North: Stolmen, Selbjørn, the mountains of Bergen, Rekstern and Tysnes.
Southwest: Siggjo (See walk 13 A).
« They say that you can see the English coast in clear weather»
Take the same pathway back to the road and turn right to the centre and
the harbour.
The dam and lake you can see on the right hand side of the road was
dammed to provide power for the canning factory. An electricity generating
plant was built on the island in 1917. The plant supplied the whole of
Brandasund with hydro-electric power.
The inhabitants of the area were among the lucky few that had electric power
in those days. Nowadays the lake is the local source of drinking water.
A little further down the road turn left on the «old road» towards the
centre. The houses of most interest are:
(1) The baker's house
(2) Outside lavatory (Private Property)
(3) The Blacksmiths, built 1908
(4) Raised storehouse/outhouse built 1850
(5) Boarding house
(6) Bakery with dwelling quarters, built 1907
(7) The Moses Loft from the 1700"s, named after Moses Hansen who
once lived here.
(8) The Main House built between 1600 - 1700 in two or more stages. The
house was extended in 1860 to accommodate the new telegraph station
(9) The canning factory, built in 1897 and trading both nationally and
internationally. Fish from Brandasund was proof of excellence and was
awarded a gold medal. Now a cafe, and the old shop in the cellar offers a
variety of goods as well as newly baked buns and coffee
(10) A commercial building from 1931.
(11) An old boat house where Naustvika Wool & Stone Workshops can be
found. Souvenirs of wool from wild sheep and other items may be purchased.
Return the way you came, back to the parking lot.