Hosteland

Hosteland is part of the tranquil outer archipelago of Masfjorden, characterised by islets and skerries. The water and island landscape give the place a distinctive character: a paddling trip through Nordbygda can start in Hosteland and combines sea and lake sections. If you would like to extend the trip, you can spread it over two days, with an overnight stay in a tent. This lets you plan your trip around a specific question: Should one day be devoted to paddling, or should the trip be part of a longer nature experience?

Waterways and excursions nearby

There are also several ways to spend time by the water nearby. At Ardo, you can paddle and swim in sheltered coves just a few minutes away—but only if you rent a boat along with accommodation. For a stay in Nautesund, fishing, mountain hikes, swimming and paddling are all mentioned. Marked trails lead to nearby peaks. Depending on your interests, these activities offer different highlights from the two-day paddling trip through Nordbygda: here, the focus may be on the water, fishing or trails leading towards the peaks.

Areklettsanden is a shallow sandy beach near Hosteland, about a five-minute drive away. This approximate driving time is a helpful guide when planning your day. If you would like to include another seasonal paddling option, you can canoe on Sleirsvatnet at Litle Sleire, depending on the time of year. The beach, the trip through Nordbygda and canoeing on the lake are different ways to experience the area, so they should be considered separate excursion options.

Ferry history and hands-on discoveries

The Hostelandsferja is part of the area's history. Sverre Kvinge, one of the last ferry builders in Masfjorden, built it in 1957. This small, lightweight ferry is one of the few with only three plank strakes. In Hosteland, it was used, among other things, for small-scale fishing and other minor errands. Its year of construction, design and former use tell the story of a ferry whose significance is measured not only by its size, but also by the tasks it served in everyday life.

If you are interested in local products, you can discover Solvang Gardsmat: the farm's sheep are used to make salsiccia and lamb sausages, while the farm's own lambs provide sheepskins that are tanned in Norway. If you would like to visit the farm and its animals, Solvang Gardsmat invites you to get in touch by message. At Litle Sleire, visitors can also learn to bake their own lefse and flatbreads. Nearby, Atelier Treskhuset offers ceramics classes for groups by prior booking. These are different discoveries to enjoy: a farm visit and the processing of its own products, baking together or a pre-booked class.

Practical information for your stay

Spar Hosteland sells groceries, fresh bread and baked goods, as well as hot dishes from a delicatessen counter. You can also buy pharmacy items and collect parcels through Post-i-butikk or PostNord. These services add useful everyday amenities to the places you can visit in town. When choosing a holiday apartment, it may therefore help to first organise your planned activities: Will your paddling trip start in Hosteland, will you focus on excursions to the beach, or are you especially interested in farms, crafts and local food? Your answer can help you shape your stay around the discoveries you want to make, without combining the different places and offerings into a single excursion.

Discover more local pages: Masfjordnes, Haugsvær, Matre.

For the main travel overview: Masfjorden.