Haugesund - Vormedal Forlag

Gateway to the fjords 

Discover Haugesund 

and districts 

Norways birthplace 

By Tor Inge Vormedal 

2007

Table of contents 

Preface: Norway and Norwegians ............................................................... 6 

Haugesund ....................................................................................................................... 10 

Karmøy ................................................................................................................................ 44 

Tysvær .................................................................................................................................. 66 

Bokn ....................................................................................................................................... 76 

Vindafjord......................................................................................................................... 82 

Etne ........................................................................................................................................ 96 

Folgefonna Glacier .................................................................................................... 108 

Walking and Hiking .................................................................................................. 112 

Sauda .................................................................................................................................... 116 

Suldal .................................................................................................................................... 124 

Utsira..................................................................................................................................... 134 

Sveio ...................................................................................................................................... 140 

Bømlo ................................................................................................................................... 146 

The Triangle Link......................................................................................................... 156 

Stord - Fitjar .................................................................................................................... 158 

Kvinnherad ...................................................................................................................... 166 

Odda ...................................................................................................................................... 180 

Ullensvang ....................................................................................................................... 192 

All Roads Lead to Haugesund ......................................................................... 204 

Cycling Holiday ............................................................................................................ 210 

A Round Trip of Karmøy .............................................................................. 213 

Cycling in Sunnhordland .............................................................................. 217 

The Interior of Haugesund......................................................................... 221 

Round Trip by Car ...................................................................................................... 224 

Golf ......................................................................................................................................... 228 

Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Life ............................................................. 232 

Winter and Snow ....................................................................................................... 246

Røvær 

0 1 km 

Ur 

Ulvøy 

Hillerøy 

Gitterøy 

10 

Bjørkevær 

Haugesund 

Haugesund is the gateway to one of the most beautiful 

parts of Norway. Using this seaside town as your starting 

point, you can reach fjords and mountains, eternal 

snow, historical attractions and unique nature within 

no time. 

Kvalsvik 

Hagland 

Bergstøl 

Bleivik 

Førlandsvågen 

Årabrot 

Smedasundet 

Tornesvt. 

Hauge 

Hasseløy 

Vibrandsøy 

Risøy 

Karmsundet 

Støle 

Førland 

Førlandsvt. 

Tornes 

Haraldshaugen 

Krosshaugen 

Skeisvt. 

0 2 km 

Viksefjorden 

Bakkavt. 

FACTS: 

Inhabitants: 32 303 

Area: 72 km 2 

www.haugesund.kommune.no 

Vikse 

Saltveit 

Saltveitvt. Gåsavt. 

Arka 

Arkavt. 


Rossabø 

47 

Skogland 

Ramsdalen 

47 

Eivindsvt. 

Rotavt. 

Hemmingstad 

Kallandsvt. 

Krokavt. 

Steinsfjellet 

227 m 

Skåredalen 

E 134 

Ørpetveit 

Kalland 

Sandvt. 

Discover Haugesund and Districts - Norway’s Birthplace 

Klauv 

Skardstad 

Kvernavt.

Klauv 

kardstad 

vernavt. 

Stakkestadvt. 

Haugesund is located by the Karmsund strait, the old king’s road, where 

seafarers have sought a safe fairway and a secure harbour since the Viking 

Age. This safe fairway, also called “Nordvegen”, is the origin of the name 

Norway. 

A Town Built on Herring Bones 

From the beginning of the 1800s and 150 years onwards, the coast of western 

Norway was blessed with vast amounts of Norwegian spring spawning herring 

every spring. One of the places where the herring abounded was in the waters 

between Bømlo and Karmøy. A safe harbour and the proximity to these rich 

fi shing grounds, formed the basis of the establishment of Haugesund as a 

town. 

Haugesund was granted rights as a small seaport or ladested, i.e. city status, on 

August 26, 1854. Back then, Haugesund was no more than a small fi shing 

village , with as few as one thousand inhabitants. The extraordinary herring 

fi shery made Haugesund grow at great speed. Around the turn of the century, 

the small fi shing village had become a busy small town nearing 10 000 inhabitants. 

Today, Haugesund has more than 32 000 inhabitants and is the “capital” 

of a region with a population of approximately 150 000 inhabitants. 


11

Feøy 

Sandhåland 

Jarsteinen 

44 

Helganes 

Åkrehamn 

Åkra 

Ferkingstad 

Kvalavåg 

Burmavegen 

Sandve 

Syre 

Visnes 


Lufthavn, 

Karmøy 

Sevlandsvik 

47 

Vea 

Holmavt. 

Ytraland 

Tistreivt. 

Geitungen fyr 

Karmsundet 

Vikjo 

Hauske 

518 

Mjåvt. 

Karmøy 

Torvastad 

Reheia 

Stiklevt. 

Hilleslandsvt. 

Hillesland 

Karmsundbroen 

Salhus 

Norheim 

Bø 

Avaldsnes 

Husøy 

Kopervik 

Stangaland 

K A R M Ø Y 

With its 38 000 inhabitants, Karmøy is the region’s 

largest municipality. Although the island 

is full of ancient monuments, 

Karmøy is a relatively new 

E 134 

municipality. Karmøy 

Municipality was es- 

Kolnes tablished in 1965 by a 

merger of the seven 

previous municipalities: 

Torvastad, Avaldsnes, 

Vormedal 

Stangaland, Kopervik, 

Bukkøy 

Åkra, Skude nes and 

Tuastadvt. 

Tuastad Skudeneshavn.Karmøy 

Røyksund Municipality covers 

47 

an area of 225 km 

Høyevarde Fosen 

Bygnes 

2 , 

of which 50 km2 is 

located on the mainland. 

Skudeneshavn 

511 

Hovdastad 

Til Kvitsøy/ 

Mekjarvik 

Snorteland 

Karmsundet 

Blikshamn 

Våga 

Selen 

0 

Førdesfjorden 

Høvring 

3 km 

FACTS: 


Area: 225 km 2 

www.karmoy.kommune.no 

Discover Haugesund and Districts - Norway’s Birthplace

Karmøy has both rural villages and towns. Karmøy’s three towns are 

Kopervik, Skudeneshavn and Åkrehamn. There are also twenty something 

built-up areas of various sizes. The largest one being Norheim, which is 

located at the mainland. 

Agriculture and fi shery are still important industries in Karmøy. But today, the 

manufacturing and service industry are more important with regard to employment. 

Norsk Hydro, Karmøy Fabrikker is the largest industrial work place 

with around 1500 employees. The municipality also has several companies 

within the mechanical industry aimed at shipping, fi shery and the oil industry. 

One of the country’s largest offshore shipping companies, Solstad Offshore 

ASA, is located in Skudeneshavn. 

The company have 

more than 40 vessels and 1000 

employees. The North Sea gas 

has also had a great impact on 

employment in Karmøy. While 

Gassco makes sure the gas 

from the North Sea is being 

distributed to Europe, Gasnor 

attends to the distribution of 

gas within Norway . 

Solstad Offshore 

Gassco: 

15 per cent of all gas used in Europe comes from Norway, and the main centre 

for the transportation of Norwegian gas to Europe, Gassco, is located at Bygnes 

in Karmøy. Gassco has 270 employees and controls the world’s largest offshore 


From Skudeneshavn 

PHOTO: HEINE BIRKELAND 

45

Nesheim 

Dragavik 

Førresfjorden 

66 

Valhest 

Stakkestadvt. 

Førresfjorden 

Høie 

Hola 

Aksdalsvt. 

Tysvær 

To the east of Haugesund lies Tysvær Municipality, 

with its 9500 inhabitants and covering an area of 419 

km2 . In addition to its stunning scenery of smooth 

coastal rock and high mountains, Tysvær boasts a 

beautiful cultivated landscape of well-maintained 

farms, lined up one after another. 

E 39 

Våg 

Grinde 

Apeland 

Gismervik 

Fuglavt. 

Førlandsfjorden 

Slåttevik 

Sundfør 

Hodnafjellet 

E 134 

Aksdal 

E 39 

Grindafjorden 

Førland 

Tysværvåg 

Stakland 

Hegglifjell 

Storavt. 

Mosvatnet 

Storavt. 

E 39 

Susort 

Hesthammar 

Falkeid 

Kårstø Haugsneset 

Frekasundet 

FACTS: 



www.tysver.kommune.no 

Sagbakken 

Sandbekken 

Hervik 

Skjoldafjorden 

515 Erland 

Skjoldastraumen 

Steinsvik 

Slogvik 

Hervikfjorden 

513 

T Y S V Æ R 

Heskja 

Hundsnes 

Borgøy 

Stong 

Yrkje 

Sandvik 

Espevik 

Liarvåg 

Toftøy 

Lammanuten 

Discover Haugesund and District - Norway’s Birthplace 

Muslandsvåg 

0 

Yrkjefjorden 

Vassendvik 

515 

Nedstrandfjorden 

Lysevt 

Hin 

Tve

Yrkjefjorden 

assendvik 

5 

randfjorden 

Lysevt. 

Tveit 

Øvrabø 

Kvam 

Nessa 

Øverland 

The administrative centre of Tysvær is Aksdal, only 12 km 

from Haugesund. Here you will fi nd Tysværtunet, the 

municipality’s cultural centre, which has an indoor 

swimming pool, as well as a cinema and concert hall. 

Nedstrand With 260 operational farms, farming is still an impor- 

Holekleiv tant industry in the municipality. Around every tenth 

household in Tysvær carries on some form of agricul- 

Til Jelsa tural activity. The main place of employment in the 

municipality is, however, Statoil’s gas processing 

Til Hanasand complex at Kårstø. This is Europe’s largest gas terminal, 

with 1000 employees. 

5 km 

Kårstø: 

Though Tysvær has numerous sights in the form of stunning scenery and historical 

landmarks, it is the gas processing plant at Kårstø that puts the municipality on 

the map. Gassco is the operator of Kårstø, while Statoil is the technical services 

provider. Tysvær hit the jackpot when, in 1981, the Norwegian Parliament 

decided that Statoil could land gas from the Statfjord oil fi eld at Kårstø. From 

being a poor rural municipality experiencing major depopulation, Tysvær became 

a wealthy municipality with an infl ux of new residents. Thanks to the 

gas terminal at Kårstø, the municipality presently receives property tax from 

the plant as well as income tax from all those working at the terminal. 

Of Tysvær’s total budget of about NOK 500 million, NOK 100 million is 

Hinderåvåg 


Hodnafjellet Mountain 

67

Grønestadvågen 

Trosnavåg 

76 

Breivik 

Gunnarstadvt. 

Grønestadvt. 

Sunnalandstraumen 

Klepp 

Bokn 

Bokn is a small island-municipality in the middle of the 

shipping lane at the southern end of the Karmsund 

strait. With its 800 inhabitants and a surface area 

covering 47 km 2 , Bokn is one of the smallest municipalities 

in the country. 

Vestre Bokn 

Kjeøy 

Boknafjellet 

Ulvånå 

Hognalandsvt. 

Alvestad 

Vatnaland 

Vatnalandsvt. 

Hognåsen 

Arsvt. 

Are 

Boknafjorden 

Arsvågen 

Ognahabn 

Ognøy 

Ognasundet 

Nydal 

Kro 

Øvrabøneset 

B O K N 

Føresvik 

Boknabergvt. 

Alvestadkroken 

Laupland 

E 39 

E 39 

Ognakalven 

Austre Bokn 

Tåganes 

Boknasundet 

Til Mortavika 

0 

Våga 

Nipa 

Nore 

Vågaholmen 

200 m 

FACTS: 

Inhabitants: 793 

Area: 47 km 2 

www.bokn.kommune.no 


Nautøy

Western Bokn. 

Bokn consists of three islands: Western and Eastern Bokn and Ognøy. Its 

administrative centre is located on Western Bokn, which is the largest of 

the three islands, and where most of the inhabitants live. 

Bokn was connected to the mainland in 1991 when the new coastal highway, 

E-39, was built. The ferry service over Boknafjorden used to cross from 

Skudeneshavn to Tungesnes, but today the ferries go between Arsvågen and 

Mortavika. Arsvågen is located at the southernmost tip of Western Bokn. If 

you’re going from Stavanger to Haugesund or Bergen by car, you’ll have to 

cross the three islands at Bokn. But Bokn has more to offer than nice freeways. 

In stead of rushing across the islands at high speed, you should take your time 

and make a few longer or shorter breaks. 


77

E 134 

82 

Ålfjorden 

Årvikhamn 

Årvik 

Ålfjorden 

Isvik 

Kvamshamn 

Haraldseidvågen 

Vindafjord 

Vindafjord got new borders in 2006 when it merged 

with the neighbouring municipality Ølen. In the debate 

over the name of the new municipality, Vindafjord drew 

the longest straw. The new Vindafjord Municipality 

stretches out from Sunnhordland in the north to Ryfylke 

in the south. With a surface area of 641 km 2 , Vindafjord 

is the fourth largest municipality in Rogaland. 

Bjoa 

Skredfjellet 

Langavt. 

Vikebygd 

Bjordal 

Haraldseid 

Gardavika 

Skjold 

Utbjoa 

Dalselva 

Vikefjellet 

513 

Til Sydnes/ 

Halsnøy 

Bjoavatnet 

Innbjoa 

Eikås 

Haugsfjell 

Eikeland Aurdal 

Velde 

Knapphus 

Vatsvt. 

Solheim 46 

Nesheim 

Otertong 

Vats 

Åmsosen 

Stråtveit 

Vatsfjorden 

Raunes 

Ølensvåg 

Viland 

Romsaøyene 

543 

Ilsvåg 

Gjerdesdalsvt. 

Dreganes 

Ølensfjorden 05 km 

Ølen 

V I N D A F J O R D 

Skjoldafjorden 

FACTS: 



www.vindafjord.kommune.no 

Eide 

Stokkadalsvt. 

Yrkjefjorden 

Sandeidfjorden 

Hovåsen 

Oselva 

514 

Øklandsvt. 

Stuhaug 

Sandeid 

Rødneelva 

Vikedal 

Hogganvik 

Imsland 

Vindafjorden 


46 

E 134 

Låkafossen 

Mo 

Vikedalselva 

Fjellgardsvt. Stølsm 

Haugland 

Ølmedalsvt. 

Horganut 

Aksland

dsvt. Stølsmarka 

Horganuten 

Aksland 

46 

View of Ølensvåg 

Vindafjord is the largest agricultural municipality in the Haugesund 

district, with nearly 500 operational farms. The municipality’s 

major attractions are beautiful nature and a well-kept cultural 

landscape. 

Ølen has always been an important junction in the district with a regular 

ferry service to Bergen. Today, it’s the European route (E-134) between 

Haugesund and Oslo that makes Ølen an important junction. This is 

why Ølen was chosen to be the municipality’s new administrative centre. 

Ølen also has a motel, a bank and a shopping centre, as well as primary, 

secondary and upper secondary schools. 

Ropeid 

T Today, the new Vindafjord Municipality has a little over 8000 inhabitants. 

As in most other rural municipalities, it has a scattered population. 

The nine rural communities in Vindafjord are: Vikedal, Imsland, 

Sandeid, Vats, Skjold, Ølen, Ølensvåg, Bjoa and Vikebygd. Several of 

these villages used to be independent municipalities. 

Rønnevik 

Although Vindafjord is a major agricultural municipality, it also has a fair 

amount of industry. Large parts of Vindafjord’s industry are centred in Ølen 

and Ølensvåg. Here you’ll fi nd both a slaughterhouse, a ship yard and a computer 

company. Fatland is one of the country’s largest privately owned slaughterhouses. 

Of a total of 500 employees in the Fatland group, 200 work in Ølen. 


PHOTO: PEDER LUNDEGÅRD 

83

Sandvik 

Børkjenes 

96 

Leknes 

Taraldsøy 

Skånevik 

Ebna 

Osnes 

Bjørgjo 

E 134 

Sørstranda 

0 5 km 

Etne 

In addition to having one of the world’s 

most majestic and beautiful waterfalls, 

Etne can offer wild, beautiful and varied 

nature. Here, you’ll fi nd fjords, waterfalls, 

eternal snow and vital rural communities. 

FACTS: 



www.etne.kommune.no 

Til Matre/ 

Utåker 

Tungesvik 

48 

Etne Grønstad 

Stødle 

Håfoss 

Kyrping 

Håland 

Stordalsvatnet 

Kvammen 

Litledalsvatnet 

Skarstøl 

Rus Krokavatnet 

Ilsvatnet 

Forevatn Bjønndalen 

Frette 

Flåte 

Åkrafjorden 

Teigland 

Eikemo 

Tysse 

E T N E 

Markhus 


Folgefonna 

Sandvikevatnet 

Mosnes 

Langfoss 

Fjæra 

Vaulavatnet 

Rulle 

Rulle

olgefonna 

atnet 

æra 

vatnet 

Rullestad 

E 134 

Rullestadvatnet 

Skromme 

The statue of King Magnus Erlingsson outside Etne Courthouse. 

Etne is located 60 kilometres from Haugesund and is surrounded by the 

municipalities Odda, Sauda, Suldal, Vindafjord and Kvinnherad. This scenic 

municipality covers a surface area of as much as 708 km 2 . Half of the 

municipality’s 3900 inhabitants live in the built-up areas Etne sjøen and 

Skånevik. Etnesjøen is the municipality’s administrative centre. In the 

north-east, Etne borders Folgefonna National Park and the Folgefonna 

glacier. (See separate chapter on Folgefonna on page 108-111.) 

The rich soil has formed the basis for Etne’s growth and prosperity for generations. 

Archaeological fi ndings suggest that there have been settlements at Etnesjøen 

for thousands of years. Farming is still an important industry in Etne, but 

not the most important one. Today, there are less than 200 operational farms in 

Etne, which means that one in seven households is involved in farming. Today, 

trade, tourism and the public sector are the municipality’s major employers. 

Etne sjøen has a complete offer of all public services for the community’s inhabitants, 

such as nursing home, day-care centre, primary school and lower and 

upper secondary school. There is also a wide selection of shops, sports installations, 

a marina and a culture centre with cinema and concert hall. There is even an 

authentic American saloon on “the prairie” of Etne; the Old River Saloon, where 

they strike up the dance music every weekend. 


97

Hustveitsåta 

1188 

116 

Nordstøldalen 

Saudasjøen 

Svandal 

Svandalsfossen 

Honganvik 

Hustveit 

Sauda 

At the innermost end of the Sauda Fjord lies the industrial 

municipality Sauda with its 4700 inhabitants. The municipality 

is surrounded by high mountains and covers a 

surface area of 514 km 2 . 

FACTS: 



www.sauda.kommune.no 

520 

Saudafjorden 

Buer 

Åbøbyen 

Ramsnes 

Vanvik 

Maldal 

Storelva 

Reinsnuten 

1169 

Slettedalen 

Indrejord 

S A U D A 

Sauda 

Skorvenuten 

1124 

Slettedalsvt. 

Minnehaugen 

Hellandsbygd 

Storli 

Storlivt. 

Allmannajuvet 

0 5 km 

Kyrkjenuten 

1602 

N. Berdalsvt. 

(Vinterstengt) 

520 

Ø. Berdalsvt. 

Førstadvt. 

Skaulen 

1540 


Breiborg 

Holmavt. 

Ø. Sand 

N. Sa 

Svartevt.

Svartevt. 

rg 

Ø. Sandvt. 

N. Sandvt. 

It was the vast water resources that were the foundation for Sauda as 

an industrial community. Before Aktieselskapet Saudefaldene tamed the 

waterfalls, Sauda was a poor farming community with only a few hundred 

inhabitants. 

In 1913, they started to pipe the waterfalls. Access to vast amounts of cheap 

energy and an ice-free harbour was the reason why the American company 

Electric Furnace Products (EFP) built a ferroalloy plant in Sauda. In the golden 

era from the mid 50s to the mid 60s, the factory had 1300 employees. Since 

the smelter started producing manganese in 1923, it has had several owners. In 

1982, Elkem bought the company and named it Sauda Smelting Plant. Elkem 

ran the plant until 1999 when they sold it to the French industrial company 

Eramet. Today, more manganese than ever is being produced in Sauda, but the 

number of employees has been substantially reduced. Today, around 400 people 

work in the plant itself, and 200 of these are employed by Eramet. Just like so 

many other industrial communities, also Sauda has been forced to reorganise. 

Today, Sauda has several smaller industrial companies and a constantly growing 

tourist industry. 


117

Til Nedstrand 

Jelsafjorden 

124 

Rosseid 

Kjølvik 

Hebnes 

Foldøy 

Til Hanasand 

Suldal 

Suldal is located south-east of Haugesund and is a part 

of the region Ryfylke in Rogaland County. This widespread 

municipality is like a small piece of Norway, with 

sheltered fjord landscapes, deep forests and high 

mountains. 

Finnvik 

Marvik 

Israelsneset 

517 

Jelsa 

FACTS: 


Area: 1727 km 2 

www.suldal.kommune.no 

Ropeid 

46 

Sandsfjorden 

520 

Saudafjorden 

Sand 

Lovraeid 

Tysse 

Vanvik 

Mo 

Hålandsdalen 

Erfjord Hålandstunet 

Foreneset 

Erøy 

Bogsund 

13 

Suldalseidet 

Mosvt. 

Tengesdal 

Hylsfjorden 

Sul dals låge n 

Gullingen 

0 5 km 

Skaulen 

1540 

Våge 

Hylen 

Hylsskaret 

Suldalsporten Kvilldal 

Kolbeinstveit 

Suldalsosen 

Lindum 

Ritland 

Ulladalen 

Sandsa 

Sandsavt. 


Bratlan 

Suldalsvt. 

Nesf 

Røynevarden 

S U L D 

13 

Stranddalen

Bratlandsdalen 

nevarden 

Suldalsvt. 

Nesflaten 

13 

randdalen 

Bråtveit 

Roaldkvam 

Mostøl 

L D A L 

bom 

Finnabuvt. 

Bleskestad 

Sandvt. 

bom 

Covering a surface area of 1727 km2 Bleskestadmoen 

, Suldal is 

the largest municipality in Rogaland. With regard 

to the number of inhabitants, however, the municipality 

is small. Suldal has fewer than 4000 inhabitants, 

of which around 1200 live in the municipal centre of 

Sand. Farming is the main industry in Suldal and this is 

why the municipality has such a scattered population. 

Water Power: 

Suldal is a power-based municipality, which means that it has 

exploited its vast water resources in the production of electric 

Blåsjø 

power. Today, the municipality earns a lot of money from the 

power plants. From 1963 to 1987, there were two large power 

development projects in the municipality. First Røldal-Suldal, 

and then Ulla-Førre. The latter is the largest development project for 

hydroelectric power in Northern Europe. The largest reservoir in the Ulla- 

Førre project is called Blåsjø and contains three billion cubic metres of water. 

The Blåsjø reservoir has a long-time storage capacity, which means it will 

contain a water reserve for as much as three years even with no precipitation. 

The reservoir consists of 11 dams, and the artifi cial lake covers a surface area 


Sand. 

125

Helganes 

134 

0 500 m 

Utsira 

West of Karmøy lies Utsira. Measuring only 6 km 2 and 

home to 214 residents, Utsira is Norway’s smallest 

municipality by population and smallest but one in size. 

Vestramarka 

Spannanes 

Kvalvik 

Nordevågen 

Skare 

Klovning 

Nordvik 

U T S I R A 

Hovland 

FACTS: 

Inhabitants: 214 

Area: 6 km 2 

www.utsira.kommune.no 

Sørevågen 

Til Haugesund 

Austramarka 

Måbjør 

Austrheim 

Til Haugesund 



Sørevågen 

Utsira is an exotic destination that should be included on your visit to 

the Haugesund district. In addition to beautiful, but exposed nature, this 

little island can offer sights such as Norway’s most unique birdlife and 

the world’s fi rst wind turbine and hydrogen power plant. 

A ferry will take you to Utsira three times a day. The crossing takes an hour 

and ten minutes, and the ferry leaves from Garpeskjærskaien on Risøy, in 

Haugesund. If you have a bicycle, we recommend that you bring it along, as 

the roads on Utsira are perfect for biking. 

For years, combined fi shing and farming have been the principle industries of 

the people of Utsira. Nowadays, the primary employer on the island is the 

municipality, although there are still those who make a living off the sea. Like 

most other municipalities, Utsira focuses on tourism. As a result, new types of 

accommodation and eateries have emerged over the past few years. 

Nordevågen 

135

Sletta 

Lyngholmen 

Ryvarden fyr 

Mølstrevåg 

Eltravåg 

541 

Vikse 

Viksefjorden 

Ekrene 

Sveio 

FACTS: 



www.sveio.kommune.no 

140 

North of Haugesund lies Sveio Municipality. With 

its 4700 inhabitants and a surface area covering 

246 km 2 , Sveio is one of the smallest municipalities 

in the Hauge sund district. 

Til Langevåg 

Hovda 

Tjernagel 

Buavåg 

47 

Auklandshamn 

Storavatnet 

Sveio 

Tveit 

Kinn 

Færås 

Slettene 

Bømlafjorden 

Emberlandsnipen 

271 moh 

S V E I O 

Nordskog 

Vigdarvatnet 

Lindøy 

Hinderlid 

Bjelland 

Eilerås 

Førdespollen 

Vestvik 

Haukås 

Bømlafjordtunnelen 

Straumøy 

Fagerland 

Langavatnet 

E 39 

0 5 km 

Leirvågen 

Rød 

Fjon 

Liereid 

Førde 

Liervassdraget 

Våga 

Kvalvåg 

Valestrand 

Einstadbøvoll 

Valevåg 

E 39 

Flatnes 

Hopsfjellet 

333 moh 

Tveit 

Tittelsnes 

Haugsbu 

Staupe 

Børshovda 

186 moh 

Erve 

Oa 

Trollavassnipen 

432 moh 

Håvardsholm 

Dreng 

277 moh 

Røykenes 

Selåsvika 

Ålfjorden 


Bjørgo 

Ålfjorden 

Bjoafjorden

fjorden 


Ryvarden Lighthouse 

The main road on the west coast of Norway, the coastal trunk road E-39, 

cuts through the beautiful and varied landscape in Sveio. If you don’t 

step too hard on the throttle, you’ll be able to enjoy everything from 

well-kept smallholdings to fjords and mountains and fl at heaths, all 

from the road. 

And let’s not forget all the small fi shing lakes. Ten per cent of the municipality’s 

surface area is covered by large and small freshwater lakes. More precisely, 

Sveio has 282 lakes, of which Vigdarvatnet is the largest one. In most of the 

lakes you’re permitted to swim, fi sh and paddle. 

Today’s municipality was established in 1965 after a merger of the municipalities 

Sveio, Vikebygd and Valestrand. Sveio is the southernmost municipality in 

Hordaland County and is shaped like a peninsula surrounded by Sletta and 

Bømlafjorden to the west and Ålfjorden to the east. On the mainland, Sveio 

borders both Tysvær and Haugesund. Sveio has a scattered population, but the 

majority lives in and around the two villages Sveio and Førde. The administrative 

centre is located in the village of Sveio. 

Agriculture combined with coastal fi shery used to be a common source of income 

in Sveio. Agriculture is still an important industry in the municipality, but today 

there are only 130 operational farms left. The majority of the working population 

works outside the municipality, primarily in Haugesund. 

141

Brandasund 

Gisøy 

Rogøy 

Goddo 

Skotningen 

Meling 

FACTS: 



www.bomlo.kommune.no 

146 

Bømlo 

Erevik 

Økland 

Osen 

Gissøy 

Bømlo Municipality is an island community 

in the Haugesund district, consisting of 

more than one thousand small and 

large islands. This is a paradise 

for those who like fi shing 

and boating. 

Rolvsnes 

Hiskosen 

Svortland 

Lykling 

541 

Sagvt. 

Berge 

Selsvt. 

542 

Bømlo 

Eidesvik Langevåg 

Espevær 

Kalavåg 

Rubbestadneset 

Andal 

Foldrøyhamn 

B Ø M L O 

Midtøy 

Stongarvåg 

Sakseid 

Selvåg 

Hjartnes 

Kulleseid 

Børøyvik 

Barane 

0 

Til Buavåg 

Foldrøy 

Børøyfjorden 

Siggjo 

471 m 

Bømlafjorden 

Rutsøy 

541 

Stokksund 

Håvik 

Røyksund 

Tøtland 

5 km 

Spissøy 

Moster 

Mosterhamn 


With 11 000 inhabitants and a surface area of 247 km 2 , Bømlo is a typical 

mid-sized rural municipality. The inhabitants are scattered around the 

six built-up areas Rubbestadneset, Finnås, Mosterhamn, Langevåg and 

Svortland (Bremnes). The municipality’s administrative centre is located 

at Svortland, which is the largest of these six built-up areas. 

Surrounded by ocean on all sides, it goes without saying that maritime industries 

infl uence the municipality’s working life. Bømlo has shipping industry, a fi shing 

fl eet, shipping companies and fi sh farming. The two major work places at 

Bømlo is the offshore shipping company Eidesvik A/S and Wärtsilä. Eidesvik 

A/S is a stock-listed shipping company with around 600 employees and a fl eet 

consisting of 21 modern offshore vessels. The ship engine manufacturer 

Wärtsilä produces propellers and gear systems for large vessels and has more 

than 500 employees at Bømlo. Aquaculture and fi sh farming is also a big 

industry . When you travel around Bømlo, you will see fi sh farming facilities 

for grow-out fi sh, juvenile fi sh and shellfi sh. Bømlo also has some of the 

country’s 


Moster Church 

largest fi sh harvesting plants. Every day 35 000 salmon is being 

harvested and exported from Bømlo. That is the equivalent to three per cent of 

the entire world production. 

There are several ways to get to the island paradise Bømlo. For those who 

would like a lovely boat trip through the beautiful skerries, there is an express 

boat with daily departures from Haugesund to Mosterhamn. You can also arrive 

147

Tranøy 

Ivarsøy 

Ålforo 

Stord - Fitjar 

The island of Stord is located between Bergen and 

Haugesund. On the island itself, there are two municipalities, 

Fitjar and Stord. The two municipalities are 

almost the same size, with a surface area of 145 and 

144 km 2 , respectively. As regards the population, however, 

Stord is the bigger one with its 16 700 inhabitants, 

while Fitjar has 2 900. 

Fodno 

Årskog 

Storavatn 

Koløyholmen 

Dåfjordeid 

FACTS: 

Inhabitants Stord: 16 850 

Inhabitants Fitjar: 2 897 

Area: 145 and 144 km 2 

www.stord.kommune.no 

www.fi tjar.kommune.no 

158 

Fitjar 

Rydland 

Sandvikvåg 

Sørstokken 

Sagvåg 

Digernes 

Midtfjell 

798 m 

F I T J A R 

545 

Til Halhjem 

E 39 

Vistvik 

Kattanakken 

724 m 

Leirvik 

Skjersholmane 

Jektevik 

S T O R D 

Mennene 

500 m 

0 

Melhammer 

E 39 

Sponavikjo 

Eskeland 

Breivikjo 

Til Ranavik/Sunde 

5 km 

Til Hodnanes 


Huglo 

Haukanes

o 

Haukanes 


The Stord Door, sculpture made by Sissel Tolaas in 2006. 

Stord Municipality has had city status since 1997, and is today the centre 

of Sunnhordland. The “capital” of Stord is called Leirvik. Around 10 000 

of the inhabitants live in Leirvik, while 5 000 live around the densely 

populated area Sagvåg. 

Although the manufacturing industry has long traditions at Stord, it was agriculture 

that used to be the municipality’s main industry up until the late 1940s. 

What is today the cornerstone company at Stord, Aker Kværner Stord, was 

established in 1919 as a herring oil factory. In 1930, the factory went over to 

the mechanical industry, and from1945, they started building ships. In the 

159

Eidsvik 

Til Skjersholmane 

Klosterfjorden 

Til Utbjoa/ 

Lykjelsøy 

Fjellberg 

Kolsøy 

Fjellbergøy 

Borgundøy 

Bjoafjorden 

Husnes 

Sunde 

544 

Sæbøvik 

Sydnes 

Kvinnherad 

Kvinnherad lies at the entrance to the Hardanger Fjord 

and has some of the most beautiful fjord landscapes 

in western Norway, with wild waterfalls, narrow fjords, 

steep mountains and eternal snow. 

FACTS: 


Area: 1 137 km 2 

www.kvinnherad.kommune.no 

166 

Halsnøy 

Olve 

Onarheimsfjorden 

Høylandssundet 

Herøysundet 

Valen 

Skåneviksfjorden 

49 

48 

Gjermundshamn 

Mjelkhaug 

986 m 

Hatlestrand 

Snilstveitøy 

Uskedal 

Englefjell 

1200 m 

Utåker 

551 

Ulvanåsa 

1247 m 

Til Skånevik 

0 

48 

49 

Hardangerfjorden 

Matrefjorden 

Matre 

Varaldsøy 

Varaldsøy 

Løfallstrand 

Rosendal 

Dimmelsvik 

Indre Matre 

Varden 

600 m 

Slettefjell 

784 m 

Åkra 

Sild 

551 

Sildafjorden 

Ænes 

Melderskinn 

1424 m 

Malmangernuten 

889 m 

Rustefjell 

1099 m 

Maurangerfjorden 

Ænesdalen 

K V I N N H E R A D 

5 km 


Gjerde 

Sundal 

FOLGEFONNA 

Folg 

Fonnan 

1454 m

Gjerde 

undal 

ONNA 

Folgefonntunnelen 

Fonnanuten 

1454 m 


The Barony of Rosendal 

Covering an area of 1137 km 2 , Kvinnherad is one of the region’s biggest 

municipalities. Kvinnherad has a scattered population structure, and the 

approximately 13 000 inhabitants live in several smaller villages and rural 

communities. The largest rural community in Kvinnherad is Husnes with 

its 2500 inhabitants. 

Rosendal: 

Both geographically and as a municipal centre, Rosendal is the centre of Kvinnherad. 

Rosendal also gets the focus of attention when it comes to tourism. 

Although Kvinnherad has several beautiful rural communities and villages, 

none of them can really compare to Rosendal’s charm and attractions. In and 

around the village of Rosendal live just over 1000 inhabitants. 

The Barony Rosendal: 

The Barony Rosendal is not only the biggest tourist attraction in Kvinnherad. 

As one of the smallest castles in Scandinavia, the Barony is also one of the 

most well-known tourist attractions in Norway. The barony’s history dates 

back to 1650, when the Danish nobleman Ludwig Rosenkrantz came to Bergen 

as representative for the Danish king. In a ball at the fortress of Bergenhus in 

Bergen, he met Karen Mowatt, sole heiress to the country’s biggest fortune at 

the time. Her father owned more than 500 farms all over western Norway. 

When they married in 1658, they were given the farm Hatteberg in Rosendal 

as a wedding present. A few years after the wedding, Ludwig Rosenkrantz 

167

FOLGEFONNA 

180 

Folgefonntunnelen 

Buer 

0 

Sandvin 

Sørfjorden 

Sandvinvatnet 

Odda 

Odda is one of Norway’s most renowned industrial 

towns, surrounded by high mountains and stunning 

nature. The municipality is located at the innermost 

end of the Hardanger Fjord and covers a surface area of 

as much as 1648 km 2 . The majority of the 7200 inhabitants 

live in and around the town of Odda. 

Tyssedal 

13 

Odda 

Brekke 

Skarsmo Skare 

Utsikten 

E 134 

5 km 

Seljestad 

Reinsnos 

Seljestadjuvet 

Ekkjeskar 

520 

Bersåvatnet 

Ringedalsvatnet 

Reinsnosvatnet 

13 

Langavatnet 

Røldal 

Røldalsvatnet 

Botna 

Blånut 

1526 

FACTS: 


Area: 1648 km 2 

www.odda.kommune.no 

Bretavatnet 

O D D A 

Bjørnanuten 

1613 

Valldalsvatnet 

Austmannali 

Votna 

Breifonn 

Solfonn 

Valldalseter 

Midtleger 

Holmavatnet 

E 134 

Store Nupsfonn 

1693 


Hellevatnet

net 

Odda has long traditions for tourism. More than one hundred years ago, 

Odda was one of Europe’s most important tourist destinations. 

Princes, emperors, aristocrats and the wealthy all came to Odda to see 

the magnifi cent nature with its waterfalls, fjords and glaciers. At the 

most, Odda was visited by around eighty cruise ships every year. In addition 

came the armada of German warships that escorted William II of Germany on 

his visits to Odda and the Hardanger Fjord every summer. Back then, Odda 

was a small village with a few hundred inhabitants making a living of farming 

and tourism. In the late 1800s, the small village had as many as ten hotels, 

receiving thousands of tourists from May to August. But it wasn’t only the 

tourists that were attracted to the Hardanger Fjord and the impressive waterfalls. 

Around the turn of the century, Odda was being explored by engineers 

and industrialists from abroad. With its access to large waterfalls and excellent 

harbours, Odda was perfect for industry. 

A Model Municipality: 

The fi rst power station was 

built in the neighbouring village 

Tyssedal, and was completed 

in 1908. In very short 

time, Odda went from being a 

small, rural romantic village 

to a hectic industrial town 

with 4000-5000 inhabitants. 

The new plants were built 

with no consideration of 


181

Hardangerfjorden 

550 

Alsåker 

Sørfjorden 

Utne 

550 

Aga 

Syreflot 

Åkre 

Bleie Nå 

Reisæter 

Lindvik 

FOLGEFONNA 

Måge 

Til Kvanndal 

Hesthamar 

Jåstad 

Velure 

Espe 

Fresvik 

In the heart of Hardanger lies the fruit-farming municipality 

Ullensvang. The small and steep fruit farms in 

Ullensvang have around 600 000 fruit trees. The fruit 

blossom in May is a marvellous sight which has made 

Ullensvang famous both in Norway and abroad. 

0 

Utnefjorden 

Børve 

Sekse 

Hovland 

Naustflot 

Trones 

Langasete 

Hauso 

13 

5 km 

Eidfjorden 

Kinsarvik 

Lofthus 

Opedal 

Ullensvang 

Frøynes 

Opesjovt. 

Sandstå 

Ystanes 

Røte 

Store 

Vendelvt. 

FACTS: 


Area: 1 393 km 2 

www.ullensvang.herad.no 

192 

Ullensvang 

Hus 

13 

Ringøy 

Vassdalsnutane 

Stavalivt. 

Bu 

Store Flåtten 

Illakleivløkene 

Veivt. 

Sovarenuten 

U L L E N S V A N G 

Øvre 

Tyssevt. 

HARDANGERVIDDA 

NASJONALPARK 

Nedre 

Omkjelsvt. 

Håvardsvt. 

Bersavikvt. 

Hårteigen 

Litlosvt. 


Kvennsjøen 

Valgar 

Kroka 

Øvre Bjørnavt.

Valgarsvt. 

Krokavt. 

Nedre Bjørnavt. 

Øvre Bjørnavt. 


From Lofthus 

Size-wise, Ullensvang is a large municipality, covering as much as 1393 

km 2 . Sørfjorden, an arm of the Hardanger Fjord, splits the municipality in 

two. On the western side, Ullensvang borders Folgefonna, and on the 

eastern side it borders Hardangervidda. Population-wise, Ullensvang is 

a small municipality with only 3400 inhabitants. The majority of the 

population lives near the municipality’s administrative centre Kinsarvik. 

It was the monks from the monastery Lyse Kloster in Os outside 

Bergen who fi rst started growing fruit in Hardanger. Lyse 

Kloster owned a large farm near Lofthus in Ullensvang where 

the monks probably planted the fi rst fruit trees some time 

around the 12-1300’s. The local farmers did not start with 

large-scale fruit growing until the 1800s. A combination of fertile 

soil and a favourable climate made the fruit trees along the 

Hardanger Fjord yield huge quantities of excellent fruit. Today, 

Ullens vang is the major fruit-farming municipality in Norway. 

Plums, pears, apples and particularly cherries are grown here. 

Around 80 per cent of all Norwegian cherries come from Ullensvang. 

193

204 


All Roads Lead to 


The transport to and from the Haugesund district is excellent. You can 

reach Haugesund by plane, boat, car or bus. 

Norway has been a signatory to the Schengen Agreement since 2001. Despite 

the fact that the intention of the Schengen Agreement was to avoid passport 

controls between the member countries, foreign citizens arriving Norway 

must still present a passport. If you arrive in Haugesund directly from another 

country, either by plane or boat, you must be able to produce your passport. 

You should also check whether or not there is a visa requirement between 

your country and Norway. For more information on visa requirements, see: 

www.udi.no 

Plane: 

Haugesund Airport, Karmøy, is located a mere 14 kilometres from the centre 

of Haugesund. The airline SAS has direct daily fl ights from Haugesund Airport 

to Oslo and Bergen. Between Haugesund and Oslo, SAS has 5-6 departures 

every weekday, two daily departures on Saturdays, and four on Sundays. Between 

Haugesund and Bergen, SAS have two daily fl ights Monday to Friday, one 

departure Sunday and no departures Saturday. 

Three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday) Ryanair has direct 

fl ights between Haugesund Airport and Stansted in London. The airline Coast 

Air has direct fl ights from both Haugesund and Stord. From Haugesund Airport, 

Coast Air has direct fl ights to Copenhagen, Bergen and Sandefjord. From 

Stord Airport, Coast Air has direct fl ights to Oslo. 

The Runway at Haugesund Airport, Karmøy is 2 000 metres. 


205

Haugesund - Vormedal Forlag

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