Haramsøy

Haramsøy is an island of great job opportunities, but that’s far from all. It’s also a place rich in history, home to a real gold treasure (yes, for real!), a vibrant coastal culture, stunning nature, and a welcoming community.

With just under 600 residents, Haramsøy is part of the Nordøyane region, a closely connected archipelago of six islands. Linked by bridges and tunnels -and also by strong community ties- the islands of Lepsøya, Haramsøya Flemsøya/Skuløya, Fjørtofta, Harøya, and Finnøya form a scenic chain between the Haramsfjord and Vigrafjord in Haram municipality.

Haramsøy is one of the islands with a direct mainland connection, making it an accessible yet unique place.

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Haramsøy, being a central part of the Nordøyane region, is a place where career opportunities are plentiful. Many residents work in the marine engineering industry, and Nordøyane is home to several key cornerstone companies, including:

• Kongsberg Maritime Longva
• Northern Islands Technology
• IP Huse

In addition, Haramsøya offers a range of service businesses, shops, a lumber trade, a bank, and a marine sports center, to name a couple of businesses.

In short, job opportunities abound on Haramsøy and throughout the region. And with just a 25-minute drive, you can reach nearly any destination in Nordøyane.

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On the western side of Haramsøya stands the beautiful Ulla Lighthouse, built in 1874. For nearly a century, it was both a workplace and home to lighthouse keepers, assistants, substitutes, and their families. A teeny tiny lighthouse community!

The lighthouse has a dramatic history, though. It was constructed following a tragic accident in 1869, when 18 fishermen from the area perished in a storm. In 1944, the site was bombed by Allied aircraft, and both the lighthouse and its adjacent residence burned to the ground. By 1950, the structures had been rebuilt, and Ulla Lighthouse remained inhabited until 1975, when it was automated and left unstaffed.

For years, the lighthouse stood quiet. But in 1999 it was granted protected status. Today, Ulla Lighthouse hosts happenings for the residents, such as Christmas parties, summer gatherings, and various other events. Visitors can even book an overnight stay.

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People have lived on Haramsøya for thousands of years. In fact, as far back as the Bronze Age. In a cave on the island, archaeologists discovered a skull dating back roughly 2 000 years (!). The people of this era likely survived through fishing and hunting, as evidenced by bone fishing gear found in burial mounds.

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The earliest known written reference to Haramsøya appears in the Icelandic saga "Grettis Saga". The events of the saga take place between 800 and 1050 AD, though the text itself was likely written as late as 1320–1330. In the saga, the Viking Grettir is shipwrecked on an island called Háramarsey, where he encounters new friends, an ill-tempered ghost, and a gang of ruthless berserkers. A lot of drama!

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Just imagine discovering a real gold treasure in your own backyard!

In 1968, a grave was discovered on Haramsøya, dating back to the Early Iron Age. The discovery began when a farmer was preparing to install a septic tank in the ground. The area was full of rounded stones, and after some digging, workers came upon a large stone slab measuring 2 by 1 meters, which was broken. It was beneath this stone slab that something incredible was uncovered.

A grave was found. The deceased had been laid in a bear skin, accompanied by grave gifts. These including a glass drinking vessel and bone game pieces. However, those were not the most valuable items. Among the finds were a large Roman bronze dish and a substantial amount of gold. The gold grave goods consisted of an arm ring, three rings, and a medallion depicting Emperor Constantinus II (ruled 337 - 361) and Emperor Valens (ruled 364 - 378). In total, 622.2 grams of gold were discovered, making this find the largest gold hoard from the 4th century in Northern Europe.

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The community on Haramsøya today is, as mentioned, closely connected to the rest of the islands in Nordøyane. However, the residents of Haramsøya have a particularly strong bond with those living on Flemsøy/Skuløy. The two islands are connected by the Ullasund Bridge, and many consider them as a single, united community.

The connection between the islands of Nordøyane can be seen in the various clubs and organizations on the islands; many of them have members from both sides of the fjord.

Haramsøya School is located on the island, offering education for children and youth from grades 1 to 10. There is also a kindergarten on Haramsøya.

When it comes to recreational opportunities, just can take your pick. To start with the musical aspects: the island is home to Haramsøya School Band, Nordøyane Big Band, and the annual music festival Havgaprock, all of which are key cultural institutions.

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Haramsøya also hosts two sports organizations. Haramsøy/Nordøy FK (HaNo FK) is a football club with teams for children and adults, ranging from first grade to veteran levels. This is the largest organization on the islands. Every summer, the club organizes a sports camp where children and young people can participate in various activities such as archery, shooting, badminton, wrestling, and scavenger hunts. The club has access to two grass fields and an indoor artificial turf hall, allowing training to continue indoors during the winter. This is especially useful when the weather turns rainy. As it often does on the west coast, we ain’t gonna lie.

Haramsøy Sports Association is the largest facilitator of outdoor activities on the island. The association has marked hiking trails across the island (it is perfect for biking!). They have also built a cabin in the mountains where visitors can grill and paddle canoes at Stormyra. And the association organizes children’s fitness, senior fitness, island marches, badminton, and operates the Kraftverket fitness studio at Austnes.

On Haramsøya you can find a ball court, an outdoor fitness park with various bodyweight machines, a boxing area with a punching bag, playground equipment, a mini-golf course, outdoor chess, Scrabble, football billiards, outdoor bowling, a climbing wall, a gravel running track, a grilling cabin, an all-year ski jump, a skate park, and designated areas for 60-meter and 100-meter sprints.

That’s a lot considering the number of residents!

And it’s not just music and sports that you can enjoy on Haramsøya. There is also a photography club, and an art club which holds international artistic inspiration meetings. There is a youth club, and various community organizations such as Ullafyrets Friends.

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Haramsøya is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and photographers, thanks to its diverse and rugged nature, rich flora, and fauna shaped by the vast ocean to the west. The island offers an abundance of stunning landscapes to discover. Here you’ll find everything from white sandy beaches and steep cliffs by the sea to forests and mountain peaks that provide breathtaking views of the ocean and surrounding islands. Well, not everything – but a lot!

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The mountain Mannen is well worth the hike, offering views of much of the surrounding archipelago. Below the mountain peaks, you’ll find both deciduous and coniferous forests, which by the way is home to a large herd of deer. In late summer and autumn, the island is abundant with cloudberries, lingonberries, and blueberries.

Haramsøya truly is an island with much to offer, whether you’re seeking striking nature or new job opportunities. Or, ideally – both!

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Sources:

Haramsøya – Wikipedia

Utflukter Flemsøy & Haramsøy

Ulla Fyr