KYSTRIKSVEIEN

The coastal route

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“One of the 101 most scenic drives in the world”

National Geographic

Herøy island in Helgeland .
Photo: Jonas Berglund / HelgelandReiseliv/Heroey

For thousands and thousands of years, the sea was the highway on this long, wild and beautiful coastline.

Rowing in Helgeland .
Photo: CH / Visithelgeland.com

These days, you can go on a stunning road trip along the coast. If you drive from south to north, the road starts in Steinkjer in Trøndelag and ends up in Bodø just north of the Arctic Circle.

650 kilometres of narrow winding roads, past small fishing villages and white sandy beach coves sheltered by mighty mountains.

And with some of the fanciest resting places in the world – like the toilet at Ureddplassen.

Ureddplassen, Norwegian Scenic Route Helgelandskysten .
Photo: Kåre Eggesvik / Moldjord.no

On your journey northwards, you can sit back and relax in incredible surroundings on at least six ferries – more if you want to visit the islands.

Ferry to Rødøy .
Photo: Olav Breen

Ferry along Helgelandskysten .
Photo: Jonas Berglund / Helgeland Reiseliv/heroey

To get even closer to nature, you can travel on two wheels.

You don’t have to cycle all the way, though. You can book ready-made cycling packages with accommodation and bike rental included on both the Namdal coast and the Helgeland coast.

Cycling along Kystriksveien .
Photo: Coldfeet media / Kystriksveien reiseliv

The drive along the Helgeland coast, the northern part of Kystriksveien, is recognized as one of the most beautiful of the 18 Norwegian Scenic Routes.

Much thanks to detours to unique places like The coastal museum in Rørvik and the red island of Leka, Norway’s geological national monument.

The island is actually a little piece of North America that was left behind here in Norway 60 million years ago.

Leka at the Namdalskysten coast in Trøndelag .
Photo: Olav Breen

But there are plenty of famous rocks to climb along the way. Like Torghatten, the most distinctive mountain in this part of the country.

As you can see, there’s a hole right through it.

Torghatten in Brønnøy, Helgeland .
Photo: Coldfeet media / Kystriksveien reiseliv

It looked quite small, right?

Now, imagine standing there …

Torghatten in Brønnøysund .
Photo: Jan Inge / Helgeland Reiseliv/Broennoey

Torghatten in Brønnøysund .
Photo: Magnar Solbakk / Visithelgeland.com/Broennoey

… or lying here, on Dønnamannen …

Dønnamannen in Helgeland .
Photo: Terje Rakke / Nordic Life / Helgeland Reiseliv

… or taking a (very chilly) dip in turquoise waters here, after a hike in mountains like The seven sisters in Alstahaug.

Swim with a view at the Helgeland coast .
Photo: CH / Visithelgeland.com

While you’re in Alstahaug, you must explore the modern museum dedicated to Peter Dass, a local Lutheran priest and beloved poet.

Next to the museum lies the beautiful medieval Alstahaug Church where Dass was a vicar in the late 1600s.

The Petter Dass museum in Alstahaug .
Photo: Erlend Hårberg / Visithelgeland.com/Alstahaug

Petter Dass Museum in Alstahaug, Helgeland .
Photo: Erlend Hårberg / Visithelgeland.com/Alstahaug

It is possible to drive the whole of Kystriksveien in two days. But that would be a pity. You need at least five.

Then you’ll have time to explore the islands.

Check out the red-painted fishing villages at some of the 6,500 islands in the UNESCO World Heritage archipelago Vega, before you try the taste of the ocean.

Vega in Helgeland .
Photo: Terje Rakke / Nordic Life / Visit Helgeland / Helgeland Reiseliv/Vega

A fishing village at Vega in Helgeland .
Photo: Terje Rakke / Visithelgeland.com/Vega

Jon Aga at Vega havhotell, one of many excellent chefs in the area, will tell you about today’s catch. Prepared with the freshest of local ingredients, of course.

Vega Havhotell at Vega .
Photo: Anton Ligaarden / Visitnorway.com

The Helgeland coast is a paradise for kayakers as well.

Crystal clear waters and thousands of small islands are waiting. Local guides will take you to their own favourite places.

Kayaking at Rødøy in Helgeland .
Photo: Terje Rakke / Nordic Life / Helgeland Reiseliv / Visithelgeland.com/roedoey

Kayaking at Herøy in Helgeland .
Photo: Jonas Berglund / Helgeland Reiseliv/Heroey

Many of the incredible islands along the coast have ferry connections. Like Træna, with its mountains that rise sheer out of the sea, an hour and a half from the mainland.

Boatride to Træna in Helgeland .
Photo: Terje Rakke / Visithelgeland.com/traena

Or the neighbouring island Lovund, where you can choose between a modern design hotel and small, charming fisherman’s cabins by the sea if you want to spend the night.

Fisherman’s cabins and Lovund hotel in Helgeland .
Photo: Lovund hotell

These guys do.

A myriad of Atlantic puffins always arrive here around “lundekommardagen” 14 April.

A little further north you’ll find the world’s most remote whisky distillery on Myken island, which has only eleven inhabitants. But even there, you’ll have no trouble finding a bed for the night and a place to eat.

Atlantic puffin at the Helgeland coast .
Photo: Erlend Haarberg / Visithelgeland.com/luroey