Important information
It is difficult to find drinking water on the island, but drinks and light refreshments are sold in Kyrkjestova (Church hall) when there is a host present. We recommend sturdy footwear, as the trails can be wet at times. There are sheep on the island, so dogs must be kept on a leash all year round. Tents can be set up west of the church. Remember the right of public access! The church has a toilet. Defibrillator: Gry Seim, phone 915 81 178.
When you’re heading home from Kinn, you must notify the boat thirty minutes before it departs from Florø.
Hike around the island
Study the information board at the ferry dock before heading up to the signpost by the white house. Turn left and follow Kystpilegrimsleia/Sunnivaleia, which goes over Høyskaret to Kinna Church. Along this trail, there are QR codes where you can read about the cultural heritage sites along the route. There is a beautiful view from Heilefjellet by Førdefjorden to Atløy, Tviberg, Alden, Værlandet, and Bulandet in Askvoll municipality. Before starting up the hill through Høyskaret, you can rest in the Olav Tryggvason cave in the mountain straight ahead. Especially in the morning or early afternoon, it is nice to sit there in the sun.
At the top of Høyskaret, there is a stunning view northwards towards Ytterøyane and Nærøyane. In the mid-1800s, thousands of people lived on Nærøyane during the herring season. Now, there are only a few remaining boathouse ruins. Follow the trail down on the north side and turn right around the mountain. After a few hundred meters, you will reach the church. This hike is 4.5 km and takes about 2 hours. From the church to the dock, it is a 1.3 km gravel road.
Additional points of interest
1. Høyskaret/Høyskarhellaren
2. Store Byrjehillaren
3. DNT Cabin
The schoolhouse was built around 1920 and used as a school until the early 1970s. The cabin has 10 beds. Contact Signe Nordvik at tel. 415 30 520 for cabin bookings.
4. Kinn Guesthouse /Pilgrim hostel Offers 7 beds in 4 bedrooms. For more information and bookings, contact Gry Seim at tel. 915 81 178.
5. Kinn church
Dating from the early 1100s, it is the oldest church in Sunnfjord and a key site on the coastal pilgrimage route. The lectern inside dates back to 1250 and is the best-preserved in all of Europe. The church was the main church of Kinn parish until 1882 when the church in Florø was completed. It is still used for baptisms, confirmations, weddings, funerals, and services. It is also used during Kinnaspelet. For more information about the church, inquire with the hosts at Kinn. The hosts are volunteers and keeping the church open as a summer church incurs costs, so donations are welcome. Vipps 115101. Open church from June 24th to August 29th. There are prayers on weekdays at 13:30 and 19:00, Saturdays at 13:00, and Sundays at 19:00. Everyone is welcome to participate. The church is also open weekdays from 13:30 to 19:00,
Saturdays from 11:30 to 14:30, and Sundays from 15:30 to 19:00. If there are hosts on site outside of these times, they are happy to open the church for you.
Visit kinnakyrkja.no for more details.
Kyrkjestova (Church hall) is likely over 150 years old. It was originally erected just north of Florø before being moved to a small island in Batalden. During the herring fishing around 1850, the house was relocated to Nærøyane north of Kinn, where up to a couple thousand people stayed in sea shacks and boats. Just before 1900, the house was moved from Nærøyane to Kinn and is now used as a sacristy and residence for volunteers associated with the old church.
“Søre Stauren”
The two sharp peaks in the Klova are called “staurane” and stand at 221 and 196 meters above sea level, respectively. There is a marked trail from Høyskaret leading up to them. The top offers panoramic views of the islands and Kinn Church. On the way back down, you can take a path/track towards a tarn and continue down towards the sea on the south side of the island. Alternatively, you can return the same way you came.
Kinnaklova
On the island tour, many start by walking to Kinn Church, where a clear path continues towards Kinnaklova. The initial stretch is flat and can be slightly wet due to crossing a small marshy area. There’s a sort of trail up to Klova, but it can be slippery in the lush vegetation. If you prefer not to return the same way, there’s a nice, though steep, descent down the slope towards the sea – the most beautiful spot on Kinn! Avoid continuing left as the mountainside (Geiteberget) there is difficult to navigate. Take a right past the Wishing Stone and the two Byrjehellaren caves. Enjoy a break there with views of the sea, islets, skerries, and Ytterøyane with a lighthouse towering 50 meters above sea level. Down by the sea, there are rocky outcrops shaped by weather and wind, and it’s worth taking a detour down to the shore!
Kinnafjellet
The hike starts 200 meters north of the ferry dock (towards the church). The trail up is marked with signs to Kinnafjellet and further with blue-painted poles. There are ropes along parts of the trail that are helpful to hold onto. It begins very steep and then levels out. There are some damp sections midway up. At the top, there are splendid views westward over the ocean and across the entire archipelago. It’s best to return the same way. Length: 1 km one way, Elevation: 315 meters above sea level, Duration: 1 hour one way.
Kinnaklova 5. Kinn church 4. Kinn Guesthouse 3. DNT Cabin Path to Kinnafjellet Ferry Dock Kinnafjellet 315 masl 1. Høyskaret Søre Stauren 221 masl Walks and hikes 2. Store Byrjehillaren