Tromsø Off the Beaten Path Tips by FletteMette

Sommarøy & Hillesøy are two small islands situated about an hour's drive from Tromsø - the islands are connected to the mainland by bridges. On these picturesque islands the fishing industry has always been what a large number of the locals rely on for their income - nowadays the fishing vessels are just bigger & more modern.

Sommarøy's name means "Summer Island" , which seems rather out of place for an island in the Arctic region of Norway...but visit the tiny island in summer, and while you're barbecueing under the midnight sun on one of the many tiny, white, sandy beaches facing the open sea you'll understand why the island got this name..:o) The scenery here is fantastic, with idyllic beaches, sheltered bays and numerous tiny islets - the islands of Sommarøy & Hillesøy are very well worth a visit!

If you want to spend the night on the islands, Sommarøy Kurs & Feriesenter is a new, modern hotel, built in traditional North Norwegian style - in addition to ordinary rooms the hotel offers comfortable cottages by the sea. There's also a wood-fired sauna - and a popular outdoor bathtub where you can enjoy the view of snowcapped mountains while relaxing in the steaming hot water - perhaps with a pint of beer in your hand... :o)

Activities on the island vary with the season, but include sea rafting, whale watching, boating and of course fishing.

The photos accompanying this tip where taken around midnight in summer.

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Phone: The hotel : +47 77664000
Website: http://www.sommaroy.no/

Straumhella, aka Hella, is a beautiful area situated by the sea on Kvaløya, around 30 km from Tromsø. A very popular place for a picnic - bring along barbecue gear, a bottle of wine & some good company, and enjoy!

Hella is also known as a good spot for rod fishing from the shore - there are very strong currents here (one of Europe's strongest maelstroms...!), and apparently lots of small coalfish and cod. (I'm no fisherman!:o)

On Ryøya, the small island just across the strait from Hella, there are approximately 20 musk oxen (Ovibus moschatus) roaming freely around - this is one of very few places in Norway where these huge animals exist. (Dovrefjell and the Femunden area are the others). Visiting Ryøya is strictly forbidden - and you wouldn't want to either, as the musk ox can be very dangerous - an adult can be 1,4 m high and weigh more than 400 kg, and if it feels threatened it will attack. But bring along a pair of binoculars when visiting Hella, and you might catch a glimpse of these impressive animals... :o) There are also lots of white-tailed eagles in the area, so if you look up you might spot one!

Just before reaching Hella, when driving to Hella from Tromsø, you'll pass an area with 4500-year-old rock carvings. Might be worth a stop! Look for the sign that says "Helleristninger" (rock carvings in Norwegian).

How to get here: From the bridge between Tromsø & Kvaløya drive south (along the sea) on Kvaløya, for around 30 minutes. You have a very good chance of seeing reindeer (and sometimes even elk) on your way to Hella.

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Lake Prestvannet is situated on top of Tromsø island - a twenty-minute walk or so from the centre of town. Prestvannet means "Priest's lake" - Prestvannet was originally just a tiny lake in the rectory fields, but in 1867 a dam was built here, to provide drinking water to the growing town of Tromsø. Prestvannet was not very suitable for drinking water, and has not been used as such since 1921.

Prestvannet and the surrounding wetlands is a protected area, a large number of bird species nest here and the area is very popular among bird watchers. There's a path encircling the lake - a leisurely stroll around the entire lake won't take much more than half an hour, but there are lots of benches in the area, where you can sit and relax and watch the birds & the joggers... :o)

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