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The Lofoten Cottages, Mortsund

cosy converted fishermen’s cottages by the sea • unique scenery

Traditional rorbu at Mortsund's Statles Rorbusenter

All rorbu cottages:
• 1-3 bedrooms (sleep 4-6) • shower room(s) • cosy living room •
• well-equipped kitchen corner with oven, 3 or 4-ring hob & fridge • large viewing windows

Comfortable living area with truly amazing views

Activities/facilities available:
• walking (notes provided) • cycling • rowing-boat hire • nearest shop & restaurant in village

> Prices & travel

To explore the Lofoten archipelago deep within the Arctic Circle is to discover a land of stark beauty and great contrasts, where jagged mountains frame beaches of silver sand and rocky headlands stretch out into the Norwegian Sea. Home to sea eagles, puffins and numerous other sea birds, the islands encompass some of the wildest scenery you will encounter in Europe and it always feels like a great privilege to explore such virgin landscapes. With the Gulf Stream influence, extremes of temperature are rare and in summer the Norwegian Sea is warm enough for swimming.

Spectacular scenery at Sakrisøya near Hamnøy

The Lofoten Cottages are located in the fishing village of Mortsund on Vestvågøy Island, midway along the chain, a superb base from which to discover a variety of islands, fascinating Viking and fishing museums (pay locally), pristine beaches and fantastic paths. Discover similarities in place names between the Lofotens and Britain, as you travel round, map in hand. We provide notes for ten routes so that you can enjoy the best of the archipelago's walking, but please be aware that the wild and rugged nature of the terrain means that some of the walks are quite remote and challenging. Most of the walks are linear, requiring you to retrace your steps to your car, a fact which means that you can shorten most routes if you so wish.

Eggum Headland (13km, 5hrs): as well as affording views of the archipelago’s highest mountain, this walk around the headland from Eggum is great for wildlife-spotting - it is common to see seals playing in the surf, white-tailed sea-eagles soaring over the waves, and numerous red-billed oyster-catchers on the rocks. You return to Eggum along the same path. As there is nothing north of Eggum until the North Pole, it makes an excellent place from which to view the Midnight Sun if you are travelling between early June and mid-July.
Valleys, Vikings & Views (18km, 4hrs): paths lead through the remote Tjørndal Valley to a viewpoint offering vistas of Vestvågøy's north and south coasts, then crosses high moorland before dropping into the neighbouring valley of Lauvdalen.

Dramatic mountain backdrops around every corner

Heading for the Heights (12.5km, 5.5hrs): for a high-level walk, choose to walk to the summit of Justadtind - one of the highest points on Vestvågoy which affords a memorable 360-degree view of the island. The scenery through which you walk is reminiscent of Britain's Lake District.
Around the High Headland (12km, 5hrs): leading from Vestvågoy’s most important fishing village, this challenging walk takes you onto high moorland via the island's southernmost point, from where there are superb views of the Lofoten ‘wall’.

The midnight sun at Utakliev

Dramatic Coast, Cliffs & Coves (12km, 5hrs): this is a delightful walk along the Flakstad Trail from the busy fishing village of Napp along the Nappstraumen, with views across the straits to the ridge beyond.
Pistes, Peace & Panoramas (3.5hrs): a rewarding short walk that skirts the wooded shores of a lake before rising onto the tranquil moor of Sørheia for wide-open views.
Fishing Villages & Fjords (9km, 4-5hrs): this moderate walk takes you from Nesland, a tiny fishing hamlet, to the larger fishing village of Nusfjord. The path follows the coastline beneath impressive mountains with expansive views east to the mainland and south-west along the chain to the island of Å.

Blue skies, turquoise seas, white sands...

Sea Eagles & Sea Views (4km, 2hrs): for a short stretch of the legs, choose this easy route around a headland to an abandoned fishing village above a sandy bay.
White Sand, Blue Sea, Black Rock (5km, 2.5hrs): although short, this is an unmissable walk which leads uphill through heather to a rocky pass before descending to the expansive white sands and towering cliffs of Kvalvika Bay.
Four Lakes and a Mountain (11km, 6hrs): we also highly recommend this walk to Mount Munkebu. Your path ascends gently through beech woods to the first of several lakes you pass. You then rise more steeply, alongside a waterfall and above a fjord, before crossing grassland to reach Mount Munkebu. On a clear day, you can see as far as Bodø on the mainland from here, as well as the island's various lakes and fjords.

Idyllic Statles Rorbusenter

Your friendly host is English-speaking Wenche Lesniak, who manages the rorbu centre, its restaurant, small shop and rowing-boat hire, if you wish to experience the sea at close quarters. Bicycles are also available from Mortsund harbour, just 100 metres away. Wenche is passionate about her native land and will be happy to regale you with stories and insights into life on the Lofotens to enhance your stay on these wild and unique islands. You stay in one of forty or so rust-coloured fishermen’s cottages (rorbu), now comfortable lodges.

Mortsund at midnight - as dark as it gets

Prices & travel 2008

Start: any day
Nights: 7
Property & hire car includes: transfer from Leknes Airport to rorbu (0h30), 6 days' category B car hire delievered to the rorbu (delivery on a Sunday incurs a charge of approx. 565 Nkr per party, payable locally). Drop the car off at Leknes Airport on return.
Recommended airport: Leknes (via Bodø)
Driving time to airport: 0h30
Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route, times and price to suit you

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