The two islands Lurøy and Onøy are beautiful destinations for both relaxed days and outdoor activities in the summer. In this sheltered archipelago, visitors can experience Helgeland’s genuine and welcoming coastal culture, and just a short boat ride away they’ll find beautiful hiking and excursion areas such as Aldersundet, Kvarøy, and the Solvær Islands.
Onøy and Lurøy are connected by a bridge and lie just a short ferry ride from Stokkvågen. Together with the smaller island of Røssøya, they form a sheltered and beautiful archipelago with many islets, narrow sounds, and sheltered coves with good beaches. It’s a lovely area to explore by boat or kayak.
Life here is closely tied to the sea, and generations of weather and wind have shaped the coastal culture that can still be experienced today. Visitors can stop by the Coastal Museum on the island, where traces of life on and by the sea are on display. One example is an old Lovundkutter, a distinctive wooden motorboat that was once widely used in the area. The museum also exhibits several old boat engines, fishing gear, and the skeleton of a sei whale.
On the largest island, Lurøy, the Lurøyfjellet mountain rises high above the sea and the surrounding islets. It’s a popular hiking destination, and its 685 metres of elevation offer broad views of many of Helgeland’s most striking mountains. At the foot of the mountain, visitors can also explore the beautiful Renaissance garden at Lurøygården. More than 200 years old, it features a range of interesting plants, including a large copper beech.
Other destinations around Lurøy is the Solvær Islands, Kvarøy and Aldersundet.
The Solvær Islands are considered one of the best kayaking areas in Helgeland, with almost 2000 islands, islets, and skerries closely scattered between shallows and sandy beaches. None of the islands or islets are particularly high, so wherever you go, you have a panoramic view of the midnight sun in the summer or the northern lights in the fall and winter.
Aldersundet is a remarkably beautiful part of the Helgeland coast and the Coastal Highway, where a long, narrow sound meanders between the stunning island of Aldra and the high, steep mountains on the mainland where the Coastal Highway runs.
Kvarøy is a small island located between Lurøy and Hestmona, on the northern part of the Helgeland coast. The island has beautiful beaches, a local store, good dining options, a fantastic playground with a cool pump track. It is also a lovely starting point for sea excursions by boat or kayak, or trips to the other islands in Lurøy and Rødøy.
Source: Visit Helgeland