Norway - The Kingdom of Islands

Clearwater Paddling offers the unique opportunity to discover Solund, Norway’s ‘Kingdom of Islands’. Lying north-west of Bergen this magnificent archipelago is tucked away from any tourist route, and with its watery mazes and many mountains it is the kind of place you just want to explore. Solund is home to a thousand people clustered on only a few of the one thousand seven hundred islands. The rest are left uninhabited apart from the local wildlife.

With a wonderful selection of islands to circumnavigate and calm protected
channels to paddle, each day is different, and we never know what we
may encounter, be it sea eagles, heron, otter or seals. Below the
crystal clear waters are a multitude of starfish, sea urchins, and
crabs, whilst fish lurk around the kelp beds. We also make time
to explore the land, with many easy hikes giving wonderful
views. The landscape is dominated by Solund's unique rock,
a crazy paving of colours sculpted by the elements and the
ocean's timeless energy. Solund, once the Viking springboard
for their careers in pillage and trade is now home to farmers
and fishermen. Their colourful red and yellow fishing barns,
with a jumble of creels and nets on the jetty, are dotted
around the protected channels. Here the sea dictates the
way of life: children go to school by boat, and the postman
makes his daily delivery by boat too!

With the spectacular backdrop of mountains tumbling
down into the sea you really are paddling in an area of
untouched beauty. This is our tenth season in Norway
and once again we will be staying on a beautiful little
island, home to half a dozen families, a herd of Jersey
cows and a few geese. We shall be staying in lovely
Scandinavian styled accommodation, with the sea
literally on our doorstep we can launch from the
slipway below the house.