Beautiful beaches

Malnessanden/Hovden

There are places where it feels like you have reached the end of the Earth. This tiny, windswept fishing village of Hovden, on the shoreline facing the open ocean, at the end of the road, is precisely such a place. Mysterious, ghostlike, evoking a strong premonition of fate. In the hushed, insistent breeze of a summer’s evening, only the soft knocking against the drying rack of hung dried cod can be heard on a summer’s evening, in competition with the chattering of the colony of kittiwakes. White sand flowers get lodged between our toes at Malnessanden, the largest, chalk-white beach. Children sand-surf on the wide, undulating sand dunes. But the distinctive feature of this place is the range of black, inhospitable Modor mountains on the north-western horizon on the far side of the sound. You can also go beach-hopping to Timstokkan or Finnbogsanden. Text: Christine Baglo

Åsandstrand

This precious little gem of a beach is located in cosy, protected seclusion. No road leads you there, so you will have to go there on foot or by boat or kayak. It is also easy to walk there, for example from Husvågen or Spjelkvågen. If you take the coastal trail between Straumsjøen and Vinje, you will also run into Åsand Beach, but this is a somewhat lengthy hike.  Read more about the coastal trail here. 

Nordahlstranda

Starting at the Vinje churchyard, there is a road to this lovely beach – with shallow water quickly warmed by the sun. Time your visit to coincide with low tide – roll up your pant legs and wade over to Svinøya. Here you will find the largest concentration of Iron-Age grave mounds in all of Northern Norway.

Fjærvollsanden

This 800-metre wide beach is the longest and most popular beach in Vesterålen. It is easily accessible and a good bathing spot! Besides, you are not far from Nybaka, which is just on the other side of the road. And there you can buy freshly baked cinnamon rolls to take along on your trek. 

Sandviksanden 

This beach is a popular recreational spot on fine summer days. From the car park at the highest point on the road, you can easily ascend to the summit of Bufjellet above Nykvåg, with a vista out towards the six characteristically steep rock islands and their myriad sea birds.

Søberg and Skårvågen

Two rural communities with popular beaches. You can get there by car via Straume. The Søberg beach is a good bathing spot.

Rullesteinsfjære (Pebble Beach)

Bø has a fantastic pebble beach stretching 3.5 kilometres between Hovden and Nykvåg. It is Norway’s longest pebble beach and is a natural preserve. The pebbles were formed by stormy water, wind and glaciers that lay in the valley above for thousands of years.