The Jæren beaches - protected landscape area & Hope Spot

Our region boasts the longest sandy beaches in Norway, 70 km in all, and long stretches of sand dunes with their own special flora and fauna. The entire beach areas of Jæren are classified as a conservation area, and segments are also plant and wildlife conservation reserves.

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

There is a rich plant area and several of the plants are endangered and are on the Norwegian Red List of Species. Four of the plants that grow on the Jæren beaches are protected under the Nature Conservation Act: marsh fleas, thistle, purple marigold and sea buckthorn.

Within the sandy beaches there are dunes. At the far end you will find the white front dunes, which are an unstable area very vulnerable to all kind of traffic. Inside are the gray dunes that have less sand escape. Here, mare straw and beach rye grow that hold the sand in place. Further in are the established dunes that are covered with grass and are lower and stable.

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 find out all you need to know about the beaches of Jæren, which are 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.