ISLAND HOPPING; SOLUND – BULANDET
Travel by mail boat around the myriad of islands and through the narrow
sounds of Solund. Visit the idyllic village of Gåsvær
and take a stroll around Bulandet, where you can enjoy a theme park,
guesthouse, viewpoint and ceramic atelier. A round trip which offers
you more!
Round trip attractions and sights:
You can start off from the south via Krakhella, or from the north via
Askvoll, corresponding with the express boat to/from Bergen. When travelling
from the south by express boat to Krakhella, you continue by bus to
Hardbakke, the municipality centre for Solund.
The
bus stops at the harbour where the “Stjernsund” lays waiting
to take you on the postal itinerary between the islands of central Solund.
This
boat trip takes you mostly over calm waters passing through narrow sounds
and by many small island treasures. If you’re lucky, you might
catch sight of porpoise, seal and even the white-tailed eagle! The boat
stops off to make mail deliveries or if a passengers wishes to disembark.
The most common ports of call are Lågøy, Litle Færøy,
Ytrøygrend and Indrøy. The postal boat is the true lifeline
for the islanders, linking the islands with the municipal centre. Once
all the mail has been delivered, the trip continues to the idyllic fishing
village of Gåsvær, to the west out at sea.
Gåsvær
has 15 residents during the summer. The islanders make their living from
fishing, taking passengers by boat, agriculture
and tourism. The village has a history of enterprise with fishing for
salmon, crab and lobster and collection of eider duck down. The islanders
even had their own little pub at that time! Today, Gåsvær
is an exotic idyll for holiday makers and fishing enthusiasts, and can
house up to 23 guests in unique holiday apartments. Anne Marie Gåsvær
Færøy and her family play host and have a warm welcome for
all visitors. They will provide you with all the information you need,
and have delicious snacks and coffee for sale.
With Gåsvær
behind us, we continue over a stretch of open sea to Bulandet in the
municipality of Askvoll. Here you can take your
time to wander around the idyllic village roads. Walk up to Halsøyhågen
to get a marvellous view of the islands, visit Bulandet Theme Park with
exhibitions from Bulandet past and present. There is a daytrip folder
for Bulandet, available on the boat, at the tourist office or shop in
Bulandet, which guides you easily and safely between the different sites.
Remember that it should take you half an hour to walk from the Theme
Park/Atlanter Keramikk and back down to the boat.
Our trip continues by bus from Bulandet to Værlandet, passing the 6 new brigdes on the new road "Nordsjøporten". From Værlandet by ferry to Askvoll, passing the mystical and well-known sailing mark of Alden, also called “The Norwegian horse”. Have a good trip!
This trip corresponds with the express boat to/from Bergen and
can be taken either as a round trip or just a part of the whole (e.g.
Hardbakke – Bulandet – Hardbakke).
Information and booking
Tel. +47 - 57 73 90 20.
Download
guide, time table and ticket prices 2008 
Solund is the westernmost island municipality in
Norway, and the only municipality made up only of islands in the region
of Sogn og Fjordane. The population today is around 900, with most living
on the main islands of Sula and Ytre Sula. Fishing is the most important
industry here, while Solund Verft is the largest industrial business
with 21 employees working on slipping, maintenance, reconstruction and
repair of ships. Solund is popular with boaters, with its exciting myriad
of island, and also attracts numerous tourists looking for outdoor pursuits
and fishing. The municipality also includes the westernmost island in
Norway, Utvær, a popular destination for daytrips during the summer.
Om Gåsvær is among the outermost islands of North Solund, far west out at sea between the Lågøy fjord and the Gåsværosen river outlet. The fishing banks are just off the island’s coastline, and Gåsvær most probably has a long history of trade. In 1767, the island had both its own guesthouse and pub. Over the past century, the islanders have made their living from fishing and agriculture, and in more modern times, taking passengers over the waters and tourism. The oldest section of the characteristic main house dates back to the 18th century, while another section was built using timber from a shipwrecked sailing ship.
Bulandet is one of the most lively fishing villages in Norway. As opposed to many other small communities, the population here has actually grown over recent years. Today, there are around 270 residents, who mainly make their living from modern fisheries. The village has a wide range of facilities, including a chiropractorand gallery. During the summer, Bulandet is a favourite spot for boaters and holiday makers staying in cottages and fisherman cabins. The name “Bulandet” comes from the numerous wharf side cabins here, known as “bu”.