With the bike from Å to Sortland
Biking and wild camping is an excellent way to experience these islands. We started at the very south in Lofoten, Å and biked up to north in Vesterålen to Sortland. The main roads are in very good condition and they are mostly along the ocean. That means it is quite flat, just a little bit up and down. Wild camping is just fantastic. The sound of the waves is just as good as your mother to get you asleep. There are many hiking possibilities along the way and it is worth to take time for climbing some peaks. Nice places to enjoy the ocean on both sides of the mountains!
You can be quite unlucky with the weather, it might even rain every day. Fortunately, it is not constantly and this is not foggy, so that you still can enjoy the view. In addition to good rainwears, rubber boots are recommended!
How to get there
To: With daytrain from Oslo-Trondheim and nighttrain to Bodø. Reservation for the bike is necessary. Ferry from Bodø with OVDS to Moskenes in Lofoten (3-4 hours).
Return: Airport busexpress from Sortland to Evenes. Flight from Evenes Airport (Harstad) to Oslo. Reservation for the bike is necessary.
Maps
Lofoten (turkart, 1:100'000) and Vesterålen-Hinnøya (turkart, 1:100'000)
Time
7 days, last week in August 2005
Tour description
Moskenes - Å (4 km)
We arrived the first day afternoon with the ferry in Moskenes. Tablets for seasickness recommended! This is only a short ride to Å where you'll find many nice camping site (next to lake behind the village for example). There are also many hiking possibilities back there! Å is one of our favourit places because of the steep mountains and charmy village with plenty of fishermen cabins (rorbuer).
Å - Stamsund (~45 km to Nusfjord, the rest by car)
Heading north on the E10 (not many alternatives!) you'll pass Reine, one of the most photographed place in Lofoten. Further north is a huge sandy beach in Flakstad. Take a swim in the turquoise and fresh water! Next place was Nusfjord, an idyllic fishvillage. This place is on the UNESCO's list of protected areas. To avoid cycling back, try to get a boat to Balstrand or find a nice lady to drive you all the way to Stamsund... This nice lady recommended us to bike the outer road via Steine to Stamsund. Fantastic view over the ocean and the spectacular islands. Overnight stay at the youth hostel.
Stamsund - Henningsvær (~50 km)
Follow road 817 and then 815 along the coast ("Great Ocean Road"..). It was a special impression to bike between steep mountains and hear the waves from the the sea at the same time. Continue at road E10 to the east. We camped before we entered Henningsvær at a nice place by Djupfjorden. Henningsvær is situated at the very end out in the open ocean. It is called Lofoten's Venezia, because of the small channels and many fisher boats. Lofoten climbing club is based also here. A fish soup is strongly recommended. Henningsvær is one of our favourit places.
Henninsvær - Svolvær (~16 km)
Road E10 in the inland to Svolvær, passed through a small tunnel. There is no camping in the villge, so we found a place in Knutsmarka outside the centre. Many hiking possibilities in this area, ex. the peak Fløya behind Svolværgeita. Because of relative danger, no route information is available at the tourist information. The path start next to the cemetery. Another attraction is a boat trip to Trollfjorden.
Svolvær - Melbu, Vesterålen (~33 km)
The view from the road E10 along Austnesfjorden was the most breathtaking on the route. Enjoy the sight of the 1000m peaks around Trollfjorden. Recommended camping site by Vatterfjorden. Continue on the same road to Fiskebøl. Ferry over to Melbu at the island Hadselsøya takes 20 min. Our best wild camping place of the whole trip was right there west of the village on a small penninsule. You get a fantastic panorama view of the mountains in Lofoten and the peaks in the east.
Melbu - Straumsnes (~25 km)
The road along the coast at the west side of the island was recommended because of the spectacular view. Wwe made a hiking up at the west side to the peak, Tanipa (572 m). Beautiful view over the ocean and the peaks in Lofoten and Vesterålen. Eagles are flying near the top. Further on the road is a cosy cave to stay by stormy weather, "Uvershula". Next village was Stokmarknes. Ferry for 20 min to Straumsnes (only 3 ferries a week). We continued on the road to the north for about 3 km and camped by the lake, Pollåsvatnet.
Straumsnes - Ryggedalen (~ 42 km)
Next day we continued to Rise and then Eide. We let our luggage here and continued with light bikes to Nykvåg. Small village by the coast with many bird colonies, but they had unfortunately left for the season. Worth a visit anyway. Back to Eide we continued on the road 820 to the east. Camped by Ryggedalsvatnet. This is an untouched area with more vegetation than in Lofoten.
Ryggedalen - Sortland (~30 km)
Here was the longest upward part of the tour (~ 1 km)!! Passed through a lightened tunnel. Easy drive with road 820 in to Sortland. Because of exploded tyre, storm and heavy rainfall we got a ride by hitchhiking.
This is definitly not the last time we visit Lofoten....
