Averøy: Road Route, Stone Age Traces and Coastal Culture

The Atlantic Ocean Road and the Stone Age traces near Bremsnes reveal two very different sides of Averøy: a road connection across bridges and a landscape that tells the story of early settlement. There are also paths around Bremsneshatten, a lighthouse at the island’s northeastern tip, and a museum with historic buildings. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to focus mainly on the road route, cultural history or paths through nature.

The Atlantic Ocean Road and Averøy as a Starting Point

The Atlantic Ocean Road is 36 kilometres long and runs between Kårvåg and Bud. From Kårvåg on Averøya, the road crosses eight bridges to Vevang on the mainland. The sequence of bridges makes this a distinctive road connection that you can plan as a destination in its own right. If you enjoy discovering different places along the way, this route is an obvious focus for your time on Averøy.

The route is also relevant for cyclists: the Atlantic Ocean Road is part of National Cycle Route 1, and this section is signposted. The road and cycle route offer different ways to include the journey in your trip. When choosing your holiday rental, you can therefore consider which experiences interest you most.

Bremsneshatten: Cultural Trail, Cave and Climbing Areas

The Bremsneshatten cultural and outdoor area brings together several themes at one excursion destination: it has equipped climbing areas and numerous paths up the mountain and around the area. One of the paths leads to Bremsneshola. A cultural trail has also been created around Bremsneshatten and the cave. Along it, you can discover numerous older and more recent Stone Age settlement and activity sites in about an hour. The approximate time gives you a guide for planning this walk.

Bremsneshola brings the scale of the site to life: its main chamber is about 80 metres long and between 4 and 12 metres wide. The large cave was used as a dwelling in prehistoric times. Numerous finds from the nearly 10,000-year-old Fosna culture were made on the south side of Bremsneshatten. A visit therefore takes you not only to a cave, but also to traces of early human activity. If you are interested in archaeology, you can explore this history alongside the cultural trail and paths around Bremsneshatten.

Lighthouse and Coastal Culture

Another historical landmark is Stavneset Lighthouse. It is located at Stavneset, at the northeastern tip of Averøya, and was first lit on 1 September 1842. This precise date anchors the lighthouse in the history of seafaring. Together with the Stone Age sites, it shows the variety of historical themes you can explore on Averøy.

The Gamle Kvernes bygdemuseum explores life in earlier times through historic buildings and collections. It comprises 11 historic buildings and a varied collection spanning different periods. A dedicated maritime section, with a rorbu and several boathouses, illustrates coastal culture and the lives and work of fishing farmers. The museum thus complements the archaeological sites with insights into a different historical way of life. If you like to combine your trip with culture and local history, you’ll find a different theme here than on the paths around Bremsneshatten.

More local pages to explore: Kårvåg, Kjerkevågen, Langøyneset, Vebenstad.

For the broader travel overview: Averøy.