Kråkvåg: Island Group, Cycling Route and Coastal Fort

Kråkvåg is an island group in the municipality of Ørland in Trøndelag. Three aspects of the destination are especially useful when planning a trip: the connections between the islands, the Garten–Storfosna–Kråkvåg cycling route, and the history of the former coastal fort. The area also has an actively managed coastal cultural landscape with grazing land, heath and beach meadows. If you are looking for a hotel for your trip, these different themes can help you get a sense of Kråkvåg as a destination.

Island Group and Connections

The island group comprises Kråkvågøya, Kommersøya, Litjslåttøya and Storslåttøya; causeways connect the islands. A rock embankment with a bridge crosses the Kråkvåg-svaet. There is also a bridge connecting Kråkvåg to Storfosna. From Storfosna, a ferry service runs to Garten. These place names also trace the route of the 57.4-kilometre Garten–Storfosna–Kråkvåg cycling route.

The cycling route is described as easy and passes through a varied coastal cultural landscape. The terrain is well suited to cycling. As ferry schedules and conditions may change, check the timetable to Garten before setting off. The bridge over the Kråkvåg-svaet also offers good fishing opportunities.

Coastal Landscape and Bird Area

Storfosna and Kråkvåg form an actively managed coastal cultural landscape. Its defining features include species-rich grazing land, lime-rich heath and extensive beach meadows. The combination of grazing land, heath and coast gives the landscape a different character from a simple through-route: on the cycling tour, it is not just a backdrop, but an integral part of the destination.

The Kråkvågsvaet bird protection area lies east of the islands of Kråkvåg and is part of the Ørland wetland system Ramsar site. It is therefore a distinct feature of the landscape east of the island group. Knowing its location can help with orientation: the protected area is not simply on the islands themselves.

Kråkvåg fort: History and Remaining Traces

The coastal fort Kråkvåg fort was built from 1986 to 1990, placed in reserve in 2001, abandoned in 2006 and dismantled in 2012. A cycling tip recommends Kråkvåg fort as a destination, but describes it as decommissioned. Check access before considering a visit; the route’s mention of the fort does not guarantee that it is open to visitors.

A report published in 2025 describes one of the three 120 mm quick-firing guns still on the site. Two other gun emplacements are now marked only by small areas of concrete; an ammunition hall also remains. If you are considering a visit, check the condition of the remaining structures beforehand. This helps distinguish the historical chronology from the traces described today, without implying that the decommissioned fort is an open museum.

Other Landscapes in the Wider Destination of Ørland

The wider destination of Ørland also offers distinct nature experiences. The Grandefjæra nature reserve has Norway’s largest tidal flat. Its mosaic of habitats includes mudflats, ponds, sandy and rocky shores, wrack banks and seagrass meadows. Grandefjæra is particularly well equipped for birdwatching; viewpoints are located at Grande, Hoøya and Rønsholmen.

Austråttlunden, a landscape protection area with species-rich deciduous forest, distinctive flora and fauna, and large oak trees, is also in the wider destination of Ørland. Historically, it was the hunting grounds and manor park of Austråttborgen; a purpose-built walking trail is 3.5 kilometres long. These examples are part of the wider destination of Ørland and are not features of the Kråkvåg island group.

Discover more destinations: Opphaug, Brekstad, Storfosna.

Back to the overview of the wider destination: Ørland.