Lovund

Lovund is one of the most entrepreneurial coastal communities and plays a leading role in Norwegian aquaculture. The 500 inhabitants have loads of opportunities – and loads of crazy cute puffins!

The island of Lovund is small, with dramatic and beautiful scenery. Red wooden houses are huddled beneath a towering rocky outcrop that rises more than 600 meters above sea level. Lovund is situated on the Helgeland coast, and many of the people here earn a living from the sea, primarily through salmon farming.    

  
And when we say dramatic scenery, we mean dramatic. To the west, the mountain slopes steeply down into the ocean. There is no archipelago here to shield against the open sea, and the waves always roll heavily toward the shore. On the southern side, the landscape is different. There are sheltered coves and steep, sharp valleys cutting into the mountains. However, the archipelago is small and does not provide shelter for boats when storms arrive. So how did people ever end up here? The answer is to be found on the eastern side. Here, the mountains transition into a sheltered beachfront. And here, in the shelter of a mighty archipelago, people have discovered since the Stone Age that they could make the island their home.

Today, there are still some farmers at Lovund, and a couple of hundred sheep roam the fields and mountains.

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Lovund is a good place for aspiring tech people, inventors and entrepreneurs. “Ctrl Makerspace” is a center for technology and culture for both youth from 7th grade and adults. Youth can book activities for free during opening hours, while adults can take advantage of the offerings outside of opening hours. Here, you'll find a photo studio, 3D printer, podcast facilities, VR (Virtual Reality), and robots. In the project room, you can edit films, create animations, edit photos, and digitally draw using a drawing tablet. The computer is fully equipped with the Adobe suite. How awesome is that?

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If you love puffins, Lovund is the place to be. Especially at April 14th, known as “Lundkommardag” – this is the day the locals celebrate the puffins arrival. The island is home to one of the largest puffin colonies in all of Norway. The flying beauties arrive at the nature reserve Lundeura, a mighty field of stones that stretches from a narrow beachfront and up toward the steep slopes. Here, during the breeding season lasting from April to August, the puffin colony resides.

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For an island of this humble size, Lovund has a lot to offer. A lot. We’ll simply serve you the ABC of Lovund.

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ART AND SECOND-HAND STORE: Svitsj is a self-service store at Lovund. It is a store for used clothing, local art, and "Lovund products." Customers purchase the item via Vipps.

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BEACH: Plenty of swimming opportunities, and with a kiosk nearby!

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BOATING: Lovund Boat Association is an active association, and has 39 permanent berths, as well as space for additional guest boats. The entire dock facility was replaced in the spring of 2019 with a brand-new concrete structure.

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CHOIR: Kor I Havet is a mixed choir with approximately 20 enthusiastic members. The choir holds regular rehearsals on Wednesday evenings. The choir always welcomes new members, and no prior knowledge or previous choir experience is required to join.

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FREE CHURCH: The Free Church is an evangelical Lutheran religious community that was established on Lovund over a hundred years ago.

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GAS/DIESEL: Next to the grocery store.

GROCERIES: Joker Lovund sells groceries, miscellaneous items, and fuel.

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GYM: Lovund Fitness Center is located in the multipurpose hall, and is equipped with modern exercise equipment. A separate membership is required to use this facility. After registration, a key card is provided for access to the unmanned center.

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HOTEL: Lovund Hotel, overlooking Leira Bay, is located one kilometer from Lovund ferry pier.

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KINDERGARTEN: Lovund Kindergarten has 54 slots, with personell that are available, present, and inclusive for the children.

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LIBRARY: At the school, there is a small library that is open two afternoons a week. The library has a limited selection of books but can obtain the books that are requested for borrowing. The library also has a computer for public use.

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MOVIE THEATER: Lovund has a village movie theatre where the exact same films shown in regular cinemas in Norway are screened. There are two movies shown each time there is a village cinema event, one for children and one later in the evening for adults. Snacks, candy, soft drinks and popcorn are available for purchase.

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MULTIPURPOSE HALL: It’s big, it’s new! On the ground floor, you'll find a large activity hall with a stage, a school kitchen, and dressing rooms. Here, you can play corporate football, volleyball, and other organized activities. This is also where the village cinema takes place. On the second floor, you'll find Lovund's gym and Lovund Youth Club. The hall is rented out to various organizations.

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MUSIC ASSOCIATION: Lovund Music Association has a practice room which you can use freely as a member. The practice room is equipped with instruments and other musical equipment. The music association organizes concerts and other cultural activities throughout the year. They also have an extra focus on the youth.

OUTDOORSY RENTAL: Lovund Rentals offer kayak, SUP (stand-up paddleboard), bicycle, and electric scooter rentals during the summer season, both for shorter and longer periods.

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SCHOOL: Lovund School has around 80 students from 1st to 10th grade. The school has recently been expanded and renovated, with the new multipurpose hall adjacent to it.

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SIMULATOR GOLF: Lovund introduced simulator golf a couple of years ago. To take advantage of this offer, you must be a member. Tournaments will also take place.

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SOCCER FIELD: Check!

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SPORTS CLUB: Lovund Youth and Sports Club is run on a volunteer basis. The club is responsible for sports and activities for children, youth, and adults. LUIL organizes football training and tournaments, children's gymnastics, multisport activities, volleyball, circuit training for adults, and activities through the water sports group, such as dinghy sailing and kayaking.

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SWIMMING POOL: The swimming pool is located adjacent to Lovund School. The pool is 12.5 meters long, and there is also a small wading pool for the youngest children. The pool is open from approximately October to March and is used during the daytime by the school and kindergarten. It is also open to the public on certain evenings of the week. The use of the swimming pool is free, but as a token of appreciation, local residents are required to serve as lifeguards.

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SQUASH: Lovund Squash Club practices in the squash hall, which is located adjacent to Lovund Hotel. As a member of the squash club, you can train for free.

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TECH: As earlier mentioned, Ctrl Makerspace is a place for creativity and technology to flow and blossom.

YOUTH CLUB: Lovund Youth Club has billiards, air hockey, various games, a kitchen, and a disco. The club is a meeting place for children and youth from 5th to 10th grade.

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WOMEN’s AND FAMILY ASSOCIATION Lovund Women’s and Family Association is part of the national organization, a politically neutral interest organization that works on issues related to women and family politics.

In other words, enough to do and explore at the island of Lovund!

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Sources

Photo on top by Trolvag, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Lovund info
Lovund – Wikipedia
Lovund (turliv.no)