In August to Vestkapp
In August 2009, I spent over two weeks traveling through western Norway. Among the many impressive landscapes, two stood out: the remote Stadlandet peninsula with Vestkapp - Norway’s westernmost point on the Atlantic - and the famous Kjeragbolten stone wedged between cliffs near Lysefjord.
We drove to Hirtshals, Denmark, then took a fast ferry to Kristiansand in southern Norway. After more ferry rides - including across the Hardanger Fjord - we reached Stadlandet and Vestkapp after two nights.
Stadlandet, Honningsvåg and Ervik
Stadlandet is part of Selje municipality, the northernmost in Sogn og Fjordane. It’s sparsely populated, with forests only in valleys. Some 500-meter-high mountains offer great views - and so do the sheep grazing on green slopes. We stayed in Honningsvåg.
The Atlantic is ever-present - often rough, but sometimes calm. Stadlandet is Norway’s closest point to Iceland. In Ervik’s cemetery, older names still follow Icelandic patterns (e.g., Paulsdatter = Paul’s daughter). Surnames often reflect former place names (Aarvig = Ervik).
Sognefjord and Glacier Hiking
Though I first visited Norway in 1995, my 2009 trip included my first glacier hike - on Bøydalsbreen. The weather was mild, and walking on a vast ice tongue felt surreal.
We spent days near Sognefjord, Norway’s largest fjord. On our return south, Låtefoss thundered down into a valley.
Kjerag and Kjeragbolten
The highlight of the trip was hiking to Kjerag, a 1000+ meter high mountain range beside Lysefjord. The rock is smooth, polished, and bare - no plants grow here.
The 12-km round-trip hike took us six hours. Most of the path is smooth, polished rock. Iron chains assist on steep sections. Rain or fog can make the trail dangerous. I tested Kjeragbolten’s stability - jumping on it - and it held firm.
Between two cliffs sits Kjeragbolten - a 5 m³ egg-shaped stone. Below it, Kjeragfossen waterfall drops 715 meters. Lysefjord lies nearly 1000 meters diagonally below. Vertical cliffs drop up to 900 meters. An extreme place.
Link Tips
- Stadland ship tunnel through the rocks
- Base jumping at Kjerag
- Formation of fjords at Wikipedia
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... more hiking areas in Norway:
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... more of South-Norway:
