Grytøyra: Harbour Structures and Canning Culture

Grytøyra combines a specific industrial history with harbour structures on the Vilnesfjorden. Canning and crab production dates back to 1928; sardine production began in 1930. At the same time, the dimensions of a concrete angular quay provide an unusually precise picture of the harbour’s layout. The wider region of Fjaler offers further topics: hikes, viewpoints and cultural history.

Canning, Crabs and Sardines

In 1928, brothers Ola and Bernt Skaar began making preserves in Grytøyra. That same year, O. A. Skaar and Bernt Skaar also began crab production there. Sardine production began in Grytøyra in 1930, when four smoking ovens were installed in the factory. The sequence runs from the start of production, through a new product, to the cannery, which closed in 1984. For travellers interested in local economic and cultural history, Grytøyra offers a distinct and clearly defined focus.

Harbour Structures on the Vilnesfjorden

On the southern shore of the Vilnesfjorden near Grytøyra, there is a concrete angular quay with three berthing sides. The north side is 45 metres long, the east side 25 metres and the south side 7 metres. The three sides can therefore be compared directly: the north side is the longest and the south side the shortest. Grytøyra also has an existing breakwater and a small-boat harbour. Alongside the production history, these structures are among the place’s defining features.

Hiking and Landscape in Fjaler

In the wider travel destination of Fjaler, the landscape stretches from the west coast, with the islands of Lutelandet and Lammetun, to the mountain areas on the eastern border with the municipality of Sunnfjord. One destination for views there is the Vidsyn day-trip cabin on Bygdeheia in Ytre Fjaler. From there, views extend in all directions and across the sea to the island of Alden. Vidsyn can be reached from Furset or Skor; both starting points have parking. As parking conditions may vary by season, it is worth checking them before setting out.

The hiking trails also offer different ways to find your way. Around 2010, a project by Fjaler Municipality marked and cleared a total of 20 trails; all are listed on UT.no. TiTur Dalsfjorden is a hiking partnership between Fjaler Municipality, the Fjaler hiking association, other clubs and Askvoll Municipality. Most of the routes in this partnership are described on UT.no and have downloadable GPS tracks. However, not all destinations have marked or signposted trails. So check the information for your specific destination before setting off.

Culture and History in the Wider Travel Destination

Fjaler also offers several different points of interest for culture lovers. The Dale–Leirvik section of the Trondhjem postal road was built between 1801 and 1806 for weekly mail service; a total of 19 stone bridges were built along this route. In Dale, Klokkargarden, the childhood home of the poet Jakob Sande, is the main base of the Jakob Sande Centre for Narrative Art. The centre’s Bestefarstaua houses a museum collection and an exhibition; Løa serves as a cultural venue for events, meetings and rentals. The theatre festival in Fjaler takes place every September, although the specific programme dates vary.

When choosing a holiday apartment, you can make the focus of your trip a deciding factor: should Grytøyra, with its industrial and harbour history, be at the centre, or would you also like to take the hiking and cultural attractions of the wider destination of Fjaler into account when planning?

Discover more destinations: Flekke, Hellevik, Guddal, Fjaler, Dale i Sunnfjord, Espedal, Hellevik I Fjaler.

Back to the wider travel overview: Fjaler.