HERØY

H E R Ă˜Y We l c o m e t o t h e i s l a n d k i n g d o m

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H E R ØY KO M M U N E 01: Bridges link the islands

02:Herøy boasts a rich cultural life 03: Everything is close by

With the sea as its closest neighbour and only a short distance away from Ålesund, Ulsteinvik, Volda and Ørsta, Herøy is a place of plenty. The enormous resources provided by a sea rich in fish have always been the foundation for human settlements, growth and development in the area. The boat was and is a mainstay of life for Herøy’s 9000 inhabitants – and much of Norway’s fishing and offshore industries is located in this municipality. A successful and socially engaged business community also contributes to outstanding and varied leisure options for permanent residents and visitors alike.

The area offers an impressive array of cultural activities: choirs, sports teams, adult education, drama, concerts, clubs and associations of all kinds.

In 2012, Herøy was named the most youth-friendly municipality in the county. All the inhabited islands in Herøy are linked to each other and to the mainland by bridges and tunnels (Eiksundsambandet). Only short distances separate one area of spectacular natural beauty from the next.

The bird island of Runde is the third largest in Norway and is one of the country’s richest in its number of bird species. Runde is also known for the Runde treasure. But the rest of Herøy also has much to offer both in terms of outdoor activities and urban entertainment.

Photo: Kay Åge Fugledal

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Photo: Oddbjørn Monsen

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F O S N AVÅG 04: The natural harbour provides shelter

05: The marina is a cultural arena

The municipal centre of Fosnavåg grew up around its sheltered natural harbour which has provided a refuge for both boats and men for centuries.

The small coastal town has several times been named the most business-friendly city in Norway. Fosnavåg has no large shopping centres, but the city boasts a wealth of niche shops with a very different range of products to what is found in chain stores. Many visitors travel here from afar to find something special. The city offers a hotel, cinema and cultural centre, water world, cafés and restaurants, bakery, the Norwegian Wine and Spirits Monopoly, grocery stores, visitors moorings and bicycle hire. The tourist office can be found in the centre by the town hall.

Photo: Kay Åge Fugledal

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Photo: Stargate

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RUNDE 06: Goksøyra with a track to the bird cliffs

THE RUNDE TREASURE 07: Runde treasure gold coins

8: Puffins swarm in the evenings

The bird cliffs on Runde are a national icon and famous far beyond Norway’s borders. The cliffs are easy to reach on foot – but also fantastic to

In 1725, the Dutch ship Akerendam sank in a terrible storm near the

experience by boat. In the spring and summer, the steep cliffs teem with life, both in the air and on land. Expect to see puffins, gannets, skuas,

northern peak of Runde. All 200 people on board perished. The ship

different species of gull, razorbills, guillemots and cormorants. Majestic eagles patrol the skies. Experiencing the swarms of puffins on a spring or

was sailing with a cargo of 19 chests of silver and gold coins when

summer evening is unforgettable!

it went off course on its way to Indonesia. Five of the chests were recovered. The tragedy was almost forgotten until 1972 when three

The bird cliffs are vulnerable and protected during the breeding season. Visitors must keep to paths and trails and are not permitted to disturb the

divers found enormous amounts of coins on the seabed.

birds. During the tourist seasons, local boats are on hand to take visitors to the bird cliffs several times a day.

The Runde treasure includes more than 57,000 coins – as well as a wide range of other items from the Akerendam. Most were stored at Bergen Maritime Museum for nearly 40 years. In 2011, Runde Environmental Centre brought the treasure home and has exciting exhibitions telling the story of the shipwreck.

Runde Environmental Centre also shows the The Silver of the Sea, an award-winning nature documentary that tells the story of one of the largest biological events in the sea: the herring spawn off the northwest coast. The ocean currents, winds, fish and birds explain why Runde is Norway’s third largest bird island and why Herøy is among the most important fishing areas in the country.

Photo: Stargate

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Photo: Oddbjørn Monsen 07

Photo: Oddbjørn Monsen

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N AT U R E A N D H I S TO RY 09: An Eldorado for divers

10: Enjoy the Herøy Coastal Museum

All of Herøy offers spectacular natural landscapes that are easily accessible – from sea to mountain tops – with fairy-tale views and sign-posted hiking trails. On one side, Herøy boasts an archipelago, sheltered coves and floodlit pistes; on the other, the deep blue sea and bird colonies. Skorpa is home to a herd of wild goats, a seal colony can be found on Grasøyane and, if you are lucky, you may even see killer whales up close.

Herøy Coastal Museum not only tells the fascinating history of the old trading post, but houses a copy of Kvalsundfæringen, a Viking rowing boat. It was found in a marsh in Kvalsund in 1920. The original dates back to approx. 690 and is Norway’s oldest reconstructed vessel. A copy of the Kvalsund ship is on display at Sunnmøre Museum in Ålesund.

Several other ancient trading posts also exist in the area, from the time when shipping was the main form of transport. Burial mounds and runes bear witness to settlements in even earlier times.

Herøy is an eldorado for hikers, photographers, bird watchers, kayakers, land and sea anglers, cyclists, swimmers, divers and history enthusiasts.

Photo: Per Eide

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Fosnavåg offers bicycle hire, and several places offer boat for rent.

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Photo: Mariann Skorpen Berge

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ACCO M M O DAT I O N 11: Visitors marina in the centre

12: Runde Lighthouse is a holiday home

Overnight guests have a wealth of options in Herøy – from tents to hotels. Herøy offers camp sites with cottages and pitches for caravans, cottages including boat hire, holiday apartments, guesthouses, rooms for rent and a visitors marina for tourists arriving by boat. Runde Lighthouse is the most popular holiday accommodation available from the Ålesund-Sunnmøre Tourist Association.

Photo: Oddbjørn Monsen

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Photo: Sindre Nakken

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F O S N AVÅG

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13: Nothing is far away in Herøy

G Goksøyra

RUNDE

HERØY

FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT HERØY CAN BE

ULSTEIN

FOUND AT: K Kvalsvik

www.heroy.kommune.no www.visitfosnavaag.no

REMØYA

NERLANDSØY Kvalsund

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LEINØYA Sande

Fosnavåg

Torvika

BE BERGSØYA

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Flåvær ær

Herøy

K SANDE

K

Moltustranda Sandvika Tjørvåg Myrvåg

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Leikong

Leikanger

Photo front page: Stargate

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