The Jæren beaches - protected landscape area & Hope Spot

Jærstrendene is the beach area from Tungenes in the north to Sirevåg in the south and has a total length of 70 km. The area is a mix of 25 km of sandy beaches, the rest is pebble beaches and moraine coast. A distinctive feature is that there are no skerries between the land and the open sea.

The beaches of Jæren were protected already in 1977, and in 2009 it was revised to what today is called the Jærstrendene landscape conservation area. Parts of the beaches are additionally plant and bird protection areas. The protected area is long and narrow. The width varies between 10 and 650 m. Some areas of the landscape protection area are also part of Jæren wetland system, protected as an internationally important wetland area. You must always visit on foot. 

The plant area here is rich, and several of the plants are also endangered and found on the Norwegian Red List of Species. Four of the plants that grow along the Jæren beaches are protected under the Nature Conservation Act: marsh helleborine, saw-wort, northern marsh orchid and sea holly. 

Past the beaches are the sand dunes, and at the far end are the white front dunes, an unstable area very vulnerable to all sorts of traffic. In the middle area, are the gray dunes with less sand erosion. This is where the marram grass and the sand ryegrass grow, keeping the sand in place. Further in are the established sand dunes covered in grass that are shorter and stabile. 

Jæren coast is an international Hope Spot
The Jæren coastline is accknowledged as an international Hope Spot by the organisation Mission Blue. Hope Spots are special places critical to the health of the ocean - the blue heart of our earth. 

Orre friluftshus
At Orre recreation centre (Friluftshuset) you can  learn more about the beaches of Jæren, the scenic reserves, and a wide range of outdoor activities available in the area.

The following beaches are signposted:
Ogna, Brusand, Nærland and Refsnes (Hå), Orre and Bore (Klepp), Hellestø, Byberg, Vigdel, Ølberg and Solastranden (Sola), Viste and Sande (Randaberg).

Get to the beaches by public transport: 
Train: 
Brusand beach: Train to Brusand station (about 45 min from Stavanger), follow road 400 metres north on underground footpath underneath fv. 44, then continue 5 minutes on footpath down to the sea.

Ogna beach: Train to Ogna station, (50 min from Stavanger). Follow the footpath and bike path 300 metres north along fv. 44, continue on the marked path down to the beach. About 15 min walk. See https://en-tur.no/ for departures. 

Bus:
Viste beach: bus 8 from Stavanger to Viste Strandhotell. See the travel planner for routes.