The highest point on Bømlo
Siggjo is the highest mountain on Bømlo and extends 474 metres above sea level. It can be seen from many places in Sunnhordland and was once used as a navigation point by seafarers. The mountain is visible from far out at sea. It was also used to forecast the weather: if Siggjo has its hat on, rain is on its way.
Varied Bømlo
The landscape in Bømlo is extremely varied. There are bare, coastal rocks like those on Slåtterøy island, wooded and lush landscapes like Totlandsskogen forest on Moster island, and rugged sea terrain like at Brandasund.
Bømlo is made up of many islands and islets, and is connected to the mainland via the Bømla bridge to Stord and the Bømlafjord tunnel, which continues to Sveio (the triangle link). The car-free island of Espevær is also part of the municipality. Espevær is well worth a visit and has a ‘UFO ring’, a cable ferry, a seasonal restaurant and lobster park.
Bømlo is an eldorado for kayaking and boating enthusiasts. Its many islands and the Røyksundkanal and Kulleseidkanal canals promise intimate encounters with nature. There are excellent guest harbours in Bømlo and there’s also great food and cultural experiences at the Kulleseidkanal Gjestehamn. There is a hotel at Bømlo and also rorbuer – traditional fisherman's accommodation – that are popular with holidaymakers. Gullvegen Gardstun offers unique accommodation in storm cabins right by the sea.
Historic Bømlo
Among the many islands in Bømlo, Moster island has a particularly long history. It was on Moster that Olav Tryggvason first landed in 995, to bring Christianity to Norway and to take the throne as king. Christian law was first adopted by the Mostratinget (Mostra assembly) at Moster in 1024. Olav Haraldsson (Saint Olav) played an important role and his legacy helped shape Norway.
The Mostraspelet pageant ‘I slik ei natt’ (In Such a Night) is performed in Moster Amfi every other year during the Pentecost weekend, and brings these historical events to life.
Moster is also home to one of the oldest churches in Western Norway, the Old Moster Church.
The gold mines at Lykling attest to the unprecedented gold rush that took place in Norway at the end of the 19th century. The area can now be explored along wonderful hiking trails.
Getting to Bømlo
It's easy to get to Bømlo. The express boat from Bergen calls at the village of Rubbestadneset and there is a ferry between Buavåg in Sveio municipality to the village of Langevåg.Bømlo can be accessed from the mainland by road, via bridges and the Bømlafjord Tunnel. Svortland is the main shopping area on Bømlo, and is close to Langevåg, Moster, Rubbestadneset and Finnås.