Discover Bomlo: canals, nature and culture

Bomlo brings together distinctive places, nature experiences and history. Kulleseidkanalen, one of the municipality’s best-known landmarks, is located near Finnås in the middle of Bømlo. If you’re weighing up different interests for your trip, you’ll find opportunities here for activities on the water, in the outdoors and related to cultural heritage.

Kulleseidkanalen: Waterway and activities

Kulleseidkanalen was completed in 1856 to make boat journeys between the eastern and western sides of Bømlo easier. You can travel along the canal by boat or kayak. As well as its history, its present-day use as a waterway is a key feature. There is a guest harbour with facilities and a restaurant by the canal; check which services are currently available before your visit.

There is also an official 18-hole disc golf course at Kulleseidkanalen. It covers approximately 90 decares and is open to everyone. The canal, harbour and disc golf course offer different ways to spend time in this part of Bømlo. When planning your trip, you can decide whether you’d rather include an excursion on the water or an activity on land.

History in exhibitions and historic buildings

Kulleseid Telegrafstasjon houses a small exhibition about the history of the telegraph station. Visits must be arranged in advance, as there are no regular opening hours. Bømlo Skulemuseum preserves the Katla school at Skinnhueneset: the building was constructed in 1900, used until 1973 and has remained unchanged apart from necessary maintenance.

Another historic building is Hilleborgstova, a small red-painted house in Kåså. Kristoffer Sørensen built it around 1827–1830.

Landscape, hiking and cycling route

A short mountain hike to Siggjo offers 360-degree views across all of Sunnhordland. Bømlo is also part of the European North Sea Cycle Route, EuroVelo. When travelling from the south, the Bømlo section of the route uses the ferry from Buavåg to Langevåg. If you plan to use this connection, check the timetable for your travel date.

Nearby, Vedvika is located in Vorlandsvågen, just north of Langevåg on the southeastern side of Bømlo. It has a bathing area, swimming jetty, toilet, shelter and good parking facilities. There are also hiking opportunities in the surrounding area. You can swim from the beach or rocks, and fish there with a rod. As local facilities may change, it’s a good idea to check their condition before your visit.

Bømlo as the broader destination

The wider destination of Bømlo is a coastal archipelago of more than 1,000 islands. Its landscape ranges from wind-swept coastal cliffs to lush, deep forests, extending from Langevåg and the car-free island of Espevær in the south to Slåtterøy in the north. This broader context complements the specific destinations around Kulleseidkanalen with more landscape and cultural experiences.

At 474 metres, Siggjo is the highest mountain in the wider destination of Bømlo. From its summit, views stretch from Folgefonna in the east to Haugesund in the south. The climb follows Laksatrappo, with around 1,010 Sherpa-built steps and several rest areas. On the cultural side, Moster Amfi tells the story of the introduction of Christian law in Norway and includes a visit to Moster gamle kyrkje. The site also includes the Steinriket Bømlo exhibition, with a mine tunnel offering insight into geology and mining history from the Stone Age to modern times. Historic experiences and guided tours are available; confirm availability before your trip.

When choosing a hotel in Bomlo, you can first consider what you’re interested in: the canal and water activities, hiking and cycling routes, or cultural history each offer a different focus for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Mosterhamn, Brandasund, Lykling, Rubbestadneset, Håvik, Urangsvåg, Langevåg, Finnås

For the broader travel overview: Bømlo.