Bergen - Selje

This tour starts at Strandkaiterminalen in Bergen in the morning at 08:00, where you take one of the two express boats to Nordfjord or Sogn . Both stop at Sollibotn , which is the closest boat stop to the key town of Gulatinget . The boat trip takes around 1.5 hours. In Sollibotn you follow a gravel path for 2.5 km until you reach the castle hall next to the church in the center of Eivindvik. Here you can stamp your pilgrim passport and find more information about the area.

In Eivindvik there are two late crosses from the early 11th century, both carved in Hyllestad. The English stone cross is on Krossteigen above the town hall, and the Celtic stone cross stands by the gate of Eivindvik church . The church is open every day during the summer season. In the center of Eivindvik you can also follow a cultural trail at kulturvandring.no . This takes you, among other things, to the Herresalen where the priest Nils Griis Alstrup Dahl lived and worked in the first half of the 19th century. He was a priest in Gulen, a member of parliament and an avid public educator . Henrik Wergeland writes about him in the poem Eivindvig .

If you are hungry, there is a café in the shop in Eivindvik with a coffee machine. During the summer season you can also buy food at Eivindvik pier .

The next stop is Gulatinget at Flolid, 4 km east of Eivindvik. Here, the artist Bård Breivik has installed his monumental work "Thingveggen" in memory of the Gulatinget that was probably held here. There is also a park and information arena here, and you can stamp your pilgrim's passport. There is no catering here, so remember to bring a packed lunch if you need it.

After your visit to Flolid, take the same road back to Eivindvik. Here you can spend the night at Eivindvik pier . During the summer season there is also a restaurant here.

Follow the hiking trail back to Sollibotn , and take the express boat to Rysjedalsvika. Check departure times at skyss.no . Both the Nordfjord boat and the Sogne boat stop here at 09:30, and take you to Rysjedalsvika. The trip takes 24 minutes. In Rysjedalsvika you can take bus 210 towards Dale, and get off at Leirvik (5 stops). From here you follow County Road 607 for 7.5 km towards Hyllestad. You can also contact Hotell Sognefjord to rent bicycles.

In the center of Hyllestad you will find the Hyllestad Millstone Park . This is Northern Europe's largest stone quarry from the Middle Ages, and was in operation from the 700s until the beginning of the 20th century. Millstones were sent from Hyllestad to large parts of Europe, and many of the large stone crushers along the coast were also carved here. The Millstone Park is open all year round, with hosting during the summer season. Here you will get a stamp in your pilgrim passport.

From the millstone park it is a nice walk on the old road to Hyllestad old churchyard. Here you will find three smaller stone crushers from the Middle Ages placed in the corners of the churchyard wall. You can also visit Hyllestad church where there is a fragment of another stone crusher. On the way you can also stop at Åfjordstein where you can buy locally produced stone products made from the same material as the old stone crushers. Contact the owner to open the shop. If you want a living introduction to history, you can book a tour or other activities at https://vikingfootprints.com/ .

You will find a grocery store at Spar in Hyllestad , and accommodation at the pilgrim hostel Sogn Hostel 10 km north of Hyllestad. You can walk along the main road, order a taxi or contact us to arrange a pick-up if there is free capacity. At Sogn Hostel it is also possible to rent bicycles if you want to take the trip further out to Olavskrossen in Korssund. It is about 24 km each way.

If you have rented bicycles at Hotell Sognefjord , you can return here before taking the express boat further north the next day.

The journey continues by speedboat from Rysjedalsvika to Florø terminal. From Sogn hostel you have to take a taxi, from Hotell Sognefjord you can take a bus from Leirvik at 09.20 towards Rysjedalsvika to reach the boat north at . 09.57. Check departure times at https://www.skyss.no/ The boat trip to Florø takes 1.5 hours.

Florø is Norway's westernmost town, built around the rich herring fishery in the 1860s. Florø is the administrative center of Kinn municipality. If you want to spend some time in Florø, it might be a good idea to stop by the tourist information for tips. For example, you can visit the Coastal Museum , which is a nice walk from the center of Florø. You can leave your luggage in free storage boxes in the waiting room in Florø harbor . Florø also has many cozy cafes, and its own brewery .

To get to Svanøy, you must take a local boat from Florø harbour to Svanøybukt quay. Find current departure times at https://www.skyss.no/ . You can buy tickets on board the boat, or on the Skyss app.

On the quay in Svanøybukt is the 24-hour convenience store Svanøy Handel , which also has tourist information. Here you can get your pilgrim passport stamped and get a map of the island. On the map you will find marked recommended hiking trails , swimming spots and tent sites . You can also rent cycle here and explore this unique and lush island. On the south side of the island is Svanøy Deer Center , which is a national center of expertise for deer. Here you can, by appointment, get a tour and refreshments, and meet the tame fallow deer. Hjorthild . The island has large forests, and you will find several remnants of mining.

A 10-minute walk from the quay in Svanøybukt you will find the majestic Svanøy manor , which has been both a bishop's estate and the administrative center of outer Sunnfjord. From the 19th century, Hans Nielsen Hauge and Haugianarrørsla ran the manor as a model farm. The stave church from the 12th century and the later cross church at Svanøy manor are both gone today, but in the churchyard you will find a stone cross from the early 11th century carved in Hyllestad. This is one of the few stone crosses with a runic inscription.

At Svanøy main farm there is pilgrim accommodation in the kitchen , with a kitchen where you can cook your own food. If you want a more luxurious stay, you can book a room in the main house with breakfast in the restaurant. This must be booked in advance.

After a good night on Svanøy, take the boat from Svanøybukt to Florø. Check out other departure times at https://www.skyss.no/ . Remember to book a ride on the boat or call 94 83 86 99 for the boat trip back from Kinn to Florø the next day.

Remember to shop for food on Svanøy or in Florø before you travel on with the new boat from Florø to the island of Kinn. There is no grocery store on Kinn. Check departure times from Florø harbor to Kinn pier https://www.skyss.no/

When you arrive at Kinn, follow a gravel road to the right towards Kinn church, about a 15-minute walk. On the way, you pass the DNT cabin in Kinn schoolhouse or Kinn guesthouse where you can check in and leave your luggage before continuing on to Kinn church from the 12th century. In the summer season, you will be greeted by a volunteer host who can tell you about the church's exciting history. There is a prayer service in the church twice a day. Every summer in June, the Kinnaspelet play is staged in the amphitheater by the church. If you are in the area at this time, it is well worth seeing!

You will receive a pilgrim stamp for the key town of Kinn in the church or in the mailbox outside the church hall. There are also special stamps at the accommodation sites on Kinn.

From Kinnakyrkja there is a great hiking trail around the entire island, where you pass, among other things, the sker at the Kinnaklova rock formation , which has been a famous landmark for time immemorial. The hike takes about 2 hours, and is a round trip that takes you back to your overnight stay . On the way you get a spectacular view of the coastal landscape and the island kingdom in Sunnfjord, but the weather can be cool. Therefore, remember good hiking clothes that can withstand both wind and water.

Enjoy the day, the silence, the sea and the nature at Kinn. Check departure times for the boat back to Florø here https://www.skyss.no/ , and remember to book a boat from Kinn on tel. 94 83 86 99. If you take the afternoon boat, you can arrange luggage storage with the host, pack a lunch and take a walk on Kinnafjellet .

If you are going to continue by express boat to Selje , you must take a boat from Kinn that corresponds to this one. There is a boat from Florø at 11:30 and 19:55 on weekdays. Check other departures at skyss.no .

In Selje you can stay at the pilgrim hostel in Selje presbytery , where you will also find. Selje Pilgrim Center . Remember to book a room in advance. There are also other accommodation options for pilgrims in Selje at Selebuda , Sætren rorbuer or Selje camping .

Here you can shop at Coop Prix Selje , which is open until 10 pm on weekdays , and cook your own food, or you can have a meal at Mix gatekjøkken or Frimannsbuda pub.

You can take a swim at the beautiful Seljesanden beach in the middle of the city center, visit the residents' square or visit Selje church, which is open every day during the summer season. There are also nice hiking opportunities nearby, including to the day trip cabin with great views from the mountain just outside the center of Selje. Here, a great trail network also goes further inland on the Stadplatået. It is also possible to rent electric bicycles in Selje prestegad if you want to explore larger parts of Stadlandet, and you can borrow free outdoor equipment from BUA Selje at the residents' square and at Seljesanden. There are kayaks and dry suits here if you want to paddle out to Selja. To borrow this, you must have a wet card that shows that you have basic safety skills for kayaking (or an equivalent certificate from another country).

You will receive a stamp for the key town of Selja Monastery both in Selje presbytery and in Selje church.

From the harbor just below Selje presbytery, a boat leaves for Selja Monastery on the small island of Selja. Arrange to store your luggage at Selje presbytery while you are on the island. The boat trip takes about 10 minutes, and you can book tickets online at Klosterbåten . The boat runs twice daily during the summer season , with a guided tour of the monastery ruins .

Out of season you can book transport with the Klosterbåten for larger groups, or you can take the local boat to Bø on the east side of the island. Check the timetables between Selje kai and Seljeøya at skyss.no . This is a booking route, so remember to book a ride the day before.

It is also possible to get off the Monastery Boat at Bø and walk across the island to the monastery. The trip takes about 25 minutes. The path is protected, and is as old as the monastery and the holy site. Pilgrims have walked here for a thousand years.

At Selja you can visit both the monastery ruins from the early 11th century, the mighty terraced complex with the ruins of the Sunniva Church where the shrine with the relics of St. Sunniva stood, and the cave where St. Sunniva, according to legend, suffered martyrdom.

If you are here around July 8th, you can experience Seljumannamesse in the monastery ruins.

From Selje you can take a fast boat back to Bergen from Selje Hurgitbåtkai . On weekdays the boat leaves at 3:20 PM. The trip takes about 5 hours. Check departures at skyss.no