Husevågøy – where fjord meets open ocean
A small island at the outer end of Nordfjord, facing the full force of the Stad Sea yet offering quiet harbours, coastal paths and a rich sense of history.
A small west-coast island between fjord and ocean
Husevågøy is a small island off the west coast of Norway, situated where the long, narrow Nordfjord finally meets the open Atlantic. Here you are at the very outer edge of the fjord landscape, with views towards the exposed Stad sea on one side and calmer waters and mountains on the other.
The main village, Husevåg, lies tucked into a sheltered bay on the north-west side of the island. Around twenty or so people live here year-round, with a small fishing harbour protected by a solid breakwater, boathouses along the shore and neat wooden homes climbing gently up the hillside. The atmosphere is quiet and welcoming – almost like a classic Norwegian summer village, but with the open ocean just beyond the headland.
Husevågøy is reached by car ferry from the town of Måløy and from Oldeide on the opposite side of the fjord. There is very little traffic on the island, which makes it an ideal place to slow down, explore the coastline and enjoy wide sea views without crowds or noise.
Landscape and Weather
Wide horizons and ever-changing light
Husevågøy sits at around 62° north, with wide views in almost every direction. On calm days the sea can lie almost mirror-still, reflecting soft evening light over the fjord and the outer islands. On other days Atlantic swells roll in towards the cliffs, reminding you that this is one of the most weather-exposed stretches of coastline in Norway.
The light and atmosphere change quickly here. In summer you can experience long, bright evenings with slow sunsets over the open sea, passing fishing boats and the silhouette of small islands on the horizon. In autumn and winter the mood can shift to powerful clouds, showers racing in from the ocean and dramatic breaks of sunshine between them.
From the hills and marked paths above the village you get a real sense of how the landscape is shaped by the meeting of fjord and ocean – steep sea-facing slopes, sheltered bays on the inside and distant mountains framing the inner Nordfjord. Even a short walk offers big scenery and a clear feeling of standing on the outer edge of the Norwegian coast.
Husevåg – a small village with a long coastal history
The main settlement on the island is the village of Husevåg, tucked into a sheltered bay on the north-west side of Husevågøy. Today it is a quiet community with only a small number of permanent residents, but the shoreline still tells the story of busier times: old wooden boathouses, small sheds, slipways and piers show how closely everyday life was tied to fishing and boat traffic along the Norwegian coast.
For generations people on Husevågøy have combined small-scale farming with fishing and work at sea. The harbour and breakwater protect boats from the often rough weather out on the Stad sea, while the calmer inner waters of Nordfjord have been an important route for travel and trade. Even though modern life has changed the practical role of the village, you can still sense the older coastal culture in the layout of the houses, the boathouses along the shore and the remains of earlier quay structures.
Traces of human activity on the island go much further back than the present village. In the surrounding area there are burial mounds from the Iron Age, and nearby Kvalheim on the mainland has rock carvings that are several thousand years old. Together they underline that this part of the Norwegian west coast has been a place for settlement, travel and fishing for a very long time – long before the modern ferry routes and roads arrived.
Exploring Husevågøy – quiet roads, coastal paths and big views
Husevågøy is well suited to slow, simple exploration. There is only one main road and very little traffic, so walking or bringing a bicycle on the ferry is an easy way to experience the island. From the ferry quay the road crosses low hills and follows the shoreline past boathouses, small farms and open views towards Nordfjord, the outer islands and the open sea.
Short detours from the road take you down to sheltered inlets, old landing places and stretches of rocky shoreline where you can feel the force of the Atlantic on windy days. For those who enjoy hiking, waymarked paths lead up into the hills and along the ridges above the village. From these viewpoints you can look out over the Stad sea, the entrance to Nordfjord and the mountains further inland – a wide panorama that quickly gives you a sense of how exposed, yet how peaceful, this small island can be.
Whether you choose an easy walk from the harbour, a quiet bike ride between the small settlements or a longer hike to one of the viewpoints, Husevågøy offers big scenery without crowds, noise or complicated logistics – just the combination of sea, light and landscape that defines the Norwegian west coast.
Husevågøy in pictures – sea, light and coastline
The harbour in Husevåg on Husevågøy – sheltered jetties, small boats and views towards the fjord and mountains in the Nordfjord area on Norway’s west coast.
The bay of Vågen in Husevåg, where the first boathouses were built for fishermen from further inside Nordfjord. Here they had a shorter route out to the open sea and rich fishing grounds.
A drone view of Husevåg with the breakwater and harbour in the foreground. See also the drone video for more aerial views of the village and the surrounding coastline.
Stormy day at Husevåg, when waves from the Stad sea crash heavily against the cliffs. On the most weather-beaten days it is impossible to get all the way out here – see also the storm video from Kråkenes lighthouse just north of Husevågøy.