Lepsøy

Long, white beaches. Steep cliffs plunging into the sea. Vast open stretches. Crashing waves. This island makes it easy connect to nature and find a sense of calm. Lepsøy offers breathtaking nature, a vibrant local community, and a cultural trail that draws visitors from near and far. And then there are the rock shelters. Many of them.

Scattered across the island, overhanging rocks provide quiet havens. Here you can rest, find shelter and listen to ocean humming. The largest one, Rønstadhellaren, was lived in by true cave men! Let’s dive in.

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Rønstadhellaren, stretching 77 meters in length and soaring 13 meters high, is one of the largest sea caves in Europe. It was carved by the ocean when sea levels were much higher, thousands of years ago.

The hike to Rønstadhellaren begins on heather-covered terrain before transitioning to smooth coastal rock, always within reach of the sea. Along the way, you'll pass other sea caves and cool potholes shaped by water over time.

And remarkably, people once lived inside these very cliffs! Archaeological excavations have uncovered layers of shells, animal bones, and birch bark, as well as a hearth, the base of a fireplace.

Back in 1878, conservator Anders Lorange discovered an intricately crafted bone comb nearby, dating back to around 200 AD. Today, this artifact is preserved at the Bergen Museum.

But Rønstadhellaren is just one of many rock shelters waiting to be explored across the island. There are more!

⦁Sjøhelleren (27 meters) – So close to the ocean that waves crash directly into it.

⦁Øvre Sjøheller (50 meters) – Located slightly higher up than Sjøhelleren.

⦁Duehelleren (11 meters)

⦁Grøtet (25 meters)

⦁Kyrhelleren (5 meters)

On the island’s northern side, you’ll find even more, including Karihola, Sætshelleren, and Svartholet.

Rainy day? No problem - just take cover in one of the shelters and experience nature up close!

After rain comes sun, and then you might want to hit one of the beautiful beaches on the island.

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-The nature here is stunning, no doubt about it. But the very best thing about this place is the people. There’s no question about that, says Håkon Farstad Brekke.

Håkon grew up on Lepsøya and is currently studying Cybernetics and Robotics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim. However, he also works in the Nordøyane region, putting his skills to use at Kongsberg Maritime on the neighboring island of Flemsøya/Skuløya.

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On Lepsøy alone, there’s a football field with artificial turf, a marching band, youth groups, and children’s clubs. Many enjoy fishing for lobster, crabs, and other seafood. The island has two small harbors, which also serve as social gathering places. And of course, there are incredible hiking opportunities, including the fairytale forest!

-And it’s easy to reach the other islands for cultural and sports events, Håkon points out.

-They come to us, and we go to them. There’s a strong spirit of volunteerism here; people pitch in and get involved. It’s just a really great community, the young student concludes with a smile.

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Sources:

Lepsøya – Wikipedia

Kulturstien rundt Lepsøy

Kulturstien rundt Lepsøy - Fjord Norway

Lepsøya – Lepsøy.info

Rønstadhellaren