Bernes: Cheese Dairy and Circular Walk

Bernes offers opportunities to plan your trip around cheese-making and hiking. Osterøy Ysteri is located in Bernes, in Fotlandsvåg, where it runs a family farm with a cheese dairy. The Bernes rundt circular walk starts and ends in Indre Bernes.

Farm Cheese Dairy and Visits

The farm includes production facilities and a mountain farm. Food is made there by hand using milk and meat from the farm. Sheep and goats graze as much as possible in the forest and on the surrounding pastures. At Osterøy Ysteri, both production and farm work are at the heart of things.

Groups can visit the cheese room or barn by arrangement; please arrange your visit in advance. You can also ask Osterøy Ysteri whether it is possible to join an excursion into the cultural landscape by the fjord, or into the forest and surrounding area.

Ekte stølsgeitost

Ekte stølsgeitost is handcrafted by the Ophus Tyssebotn family using their own goat’s milk and cooked over a wood fire. The family is continuing an unbroken tradition spanning more than 100 years. The cheese is sold at the farm shop in Bernes and at Stølen i Tyssebotn; check its availability before your trip.

The Bernes rundt Circular Walk

The circular walk heads east to Nordretjønna and passes over Heståsen and Rothaugen. On the way back, it follows the western side of Øvrevatnet. The start and finish are in Indre Bernes, which serves as the point of reference for both ends of the route.

Directions and Getting There

The surrounding area also includes the Hanstveitholmane recreation area. It has a bathing ramp, benches, a shelter and a toilet. These facilities are part of the Hanstveitholmane recreation area.

To reach Bernes rundt, travel from Bergen via Fotlandsvåg towards Indre Bernes. If you are travelling by public transport, check the Skyss timetables for Fotlandsvåg and Bernes. This is especially important when planning your journey around bus connections.

More Experiences on Osterøy

Osterøy itself is an inland island surrounded by fjords on all sides. At 868 metres above sea level, Høgafjellet is the highest mountain on Osterøy. The Osterøy Museum is in Gjerstad, in the middle of the island. Its main areas of focus are the history of textiles and clothing, weaving, local building traditions, and the local history of Osterøy and Nordhordland.

Havrå is one of Norway’s best-preserved and most distinctive cluster farms. The settlement, made up of several farms, is still farmed using traditional methods. In Mjøsvågen on Osterøy, Den Grøne Fabrikken is a restored furniture factory in a historic setting of workshops and boathouses by the sea. Today it is used for art, culture, experiences and various events. It offers creative workshops, painting classes, yoga, talks and concerts. The programme may change; check the dates if you are planning to attend a specific event.

Flabellina is also on Osterøy, at the inner end of Mjøsvågen bay. The floating art sauna on a platform combines art, architecture and functional sculpture. As booking arrangements may change, check them in advance if you would like to include Flabellina in your plans.

Discover more destinations: Fotlandsvåg, Lonevåg, Tyssebotnen, Tysso, Valestrandfossen, Bruvik

Return to the main travel overview: Osterøy.