Stord – Island Nature, Culture and Experiences

On one island, Stord brings together mountains, sea, fjords, lakes, small islands and forests. The destination offers a wide range of themes for your holiday: water and coastal paths, natural areas, hikes, culture and insights into mining. When choosing your holiday apartment, consider which of these aspects interests you most. Each of the places and experiences described has its own focus – from a hike to a summit to exhibitions and guided tours underground.

Forests, a coastal path and distinctive trees

Hystadmarkjo is a nature reserve known for its rare black alder forest. The coastal footpath in Hystadmarkjo is suitable for fishing and swimming. Forest nature and activities by the water therefore offer different ways to enjoy the area. If you like to shape your trip around experiences in nature, these attractions can help you decide what you would like to focus on during your stay.

The gardens at Rommetveit are home to a remarkable variety of plants, with more than 150 tree species from Scandinavia and more exotic regions of the world. Here, the focus is on the diversity of trees, while Hystadmarkjo is characterised by its rare black alder forest and coastal footpath. These different nature themes give you a reason to get to know Stord not only as an island of sea and mountains, but also through its forests and tree species.

Hikes with different destinations

At 724 metres, Kattnakken is the second-highest point on Stord. The hike to the summit reaches an altitude of 724 metres and takes about one to two hours. The stated elevation and approximate duration give you a practical guide for planning your day, without equating this summit with other hiking destinations. If reaching a summit is your main goal, Kattnakken offers a clearly defined experience on the island.

Another destination is the day cabin Utsletteslottet on Utslettefjellet in Sagvåg. The hike from the parking area to the cabin takes about an hour. Kattnakken and Utsletteslottet differ in their destinations and the stated walking times, so you can consider which outing better fits your plans for the day. Utsletteslottet is in Sagvåg; the time given refers to the hike from the parking area to the day cabin.

Culture, a museum and a mine

Sunnhordlandstunet in Vidstenparken on Stord is the visitor and administrative centre of the Sunnhordland Museum. Eleven buildings from different places in the Sunnhordland region have been brought together at the museum farm. Visitors can explore the exhibitions in the main building. The buildings and exhibitions offer different ways to discover the museum and the region.

Stord Church also tells stories of different periods: it was built in 1857 on the foundations of a stone church dating from the 14th century. The church is within walking distance of the centre of Leirvik. Storddøra, a sculpture, also stands by Leirvik’s harbour quay. If you are interested in history and art, you can include these themes in your travel plans alongside nature and hiking experiences.

At the mine in Litlabø, the programme includes guided train rides to Høgåsen and walking tours through the mine tunnels. Visitors can take the mine train into the dark tunnels. This experience differs from hikes above ground: it leads into the mine tunnels and offers a choice between a train ride and a walking tour.

Leirvik as a point of reference

Leirvik’s guest harbour is close to the centre of Leirvik, and Stord Church is also within walking distance of the centre. This information can help you consider Leirvik as a possible point of reference for your trip. If you value being close to the centre when choosing accommodation, consider Leirvik alongside the island’s other attractions. This lets you give different priority to nature, culture or the mine when planning, without combining the individual destinations into one walking route.

For further orientation, see the pages for Jektvik, Sagvåg, Kåravika, Leirvik and Huglo.

For the main travel overview: Stord.