Lepsøy: Fjord Experiences, Coastal Trail and History

Lepsøy combines fjord experiences with a marked coastal hike and traces of settlement history. Bjørnafjorden Opplevelser is located on Lepsøy in Søre Øyane on the Bjørnafjord. When planning your trip, you can choose between activities on the water, a route on foot and cultural history sites.

Hands-on Fjord Activities

Bjørnafjorden Opplevelser offers a hands-on experience on the fjord: guests can catch fresh scallops or fish, then sample their own catch straight from the fjord. Catching and tasting go together; the activity combines time on the fjord with hands-on participation. The provider supplies life jackets and the necessary equipment for its activities at sea.

If you are looking for an experience on the water rather than a hike, there is also an introductory kayaking course for beginners. Check the course dates before your trip. The course and the hands-on experience have different focuses: one is an introduction to kayaking, while the other involves catching and sampling your own seafood or fish.

Kayaking and Coastal Hike

A marked coastal hiking trail runs from Rønstad to Hellevika on the northwestern side of Lepsøy. These two place names clearly identify the route. The trail offers a separate way to experience Lepsøy on foot, while the kayaking course is an introduction to an activity on the water.

The main distinction between these experiences can help you decide: the introductory course is intended for beginners and has specific dates, which you should check before your trip. The marked trail runs between Rønstad and Hellevika. You can therefore plan around whether you would prefer to include a guided introduction to kayaking or a named coastal route.

Traces from Different Eras

Three Stone Age settlement sites have been found on Lepsøy, probably dating back around 10,000 years. These archaeological traces provide a very early point of reference for the area's history. The age is an approximate estimate; the sites are not described as having been dated precisely.

On the southwestern side of Lepsøy, a memorial plaque in Columbinebukta commemorates a specific event: it was fixed to the rock in 1986 and remembers a Shetland ship running aground on 7 February 1886 and the rescue of Betty Mouat. The settlement sites and the plaque thus point to different historical themes—from the Stone Age to a 19th-century shipwreck.

More Activities in the Surrounding Region

In the wider Søre Øyane area, Bjørnafjorden Experiences offers kayaking, diving and snorkelling in a boathouse. Fishing from the shore or a boat, as well as fjord trips, are also available in Søre Øyane. These options complement the specific experiences on Lepsøy with other activities in the surrounding region.

Together with the kayaking course, hands-on fjord experience and marked coastal hiking trail, these options offer a range of different focuses: being active on the water, including a coastal route on foot, or exploring the area's history.

Discover more destinations: Osøyro, Lysekloster, Os, Hagavik, Halhjem, Nordstrøno

Go to the main travel guide: Os.