Sjernarøy: Discover the island world and its culture

Sjernarøy is part of a distinctive archipelago in the Boknafjord basin: Sjernarøyane lies in the far north of Stavanger Municipality and comprises larger and smaller islands, as well as numerous skerries and islets. You can experience this island world in many different ways—on marked hiking trails, by bike, while fishing, or by discovering its cultural history. When planning your holiday, it’s worth first considering whether you want to focus on outdoor activities, nature, or historic sites.

Church, burial mounds, and traces of past work

A notable place for anyone interested in culture is Sjernarøy Church, on the Eik farm on Kyrkjøy. It is automatically protected as a heritage site and offers sweeping views across the island landscape. North of the church lies a prehistoric burial ground with several monumental burial monuments. Other large, isolated burial mounds can be found along straits and on headlands. The church and burial ground represent different chapters in the islands’ history and invite visitors to look beyond the landscape alone.

Traces of stone quarrying also tell the story of earlier work on the islands. The millstone quarry on Nord-Talgje was in use from about 1100 to 1600. Numerous traces of the extraction of blanks for hand-mill stones and larger watermill stones are visible along the rock faces on the island’s south side. Several marble quarries lie to the west; they were used from the late 19th century until 1960. Some of the quarries and the shipping port at Rossmorkvågen are still visible today. Anyone interested in the history of crafts and trade will find tangible evidence here, rather than just stories about the past.

The cultural landscape also includes preserved quays, ferry landings and trading sites, as well as farmsteads and boathouse settings that blend in well with their surroundings. A small cultural programme can be arranged at Sjernarøy Church, featuring a look back at life and culture on Sjernarøy, the history of the church, and atmospheric musical performances.

Hiking, cycling, and time by the water

Visitors who want to explore the islands actively will find numerous marked hiking trails on Sjernarøy. A hike to Eikåsen and around Lundarsøylå is offered with a map and route description; guided hikes are available around Lundarvågen or along marked trails on Sjernarøy. A cultural walk around Lundarvågen can introduce visitors to Alfred Hauge’s landscape and include readings from his works. This makes it easy to plan a hiking day focused either on nature or on culture.

A longer cycling route is also described: visitors arriving on Helgøy can ride a 35-kilometre loop. The route passes through Helgøy, Talgje, Tjul, Kyrkjøy, Aubø, and Bjergøy before returning. Fishing is another activity for visitors to Sjernarøy. Sjernarøy Maritim offers boat rentals on Sjernarøy.

For a break with a view of the water, Helgøysund Marina offers a new sauna for rent on the marina’s south side, overlooking the strait. The protected areas complete the picture of the islands’ natural environment: Lundarssøyla is one of Sjernarøyane’s protected areas; Nordheimsøy and Lamholmen are protected as seabird reserves. These places offer a different kind of outing from visiting a church, exploring quarry history, or cycling a loop.

Getting there and choosing where to stay

Sjernarøy can be reached from Stavanger city centre by express boat, or from Judaberg by car ferry. When looking for a holiday apartment in Sjernarøy, you can start by deciding what kind of trip you want: would you like to focus on the islands’ history, with its church, burial ground, and quarries, or would you rather spend your days hiking, cycling, fishing, and enjoying time by the water? The range of activities gives you practical ideas for planning a holiday around your interests.

If you’d also like to discover other destinations, you can find Jørstadvågen, Fogn, Nord-hidle, Finnøy, Talgje, and Ombo here as well.

Return to the main travel overview: Finnøy.