Norway Off the Beaten Path Tips by FletteMette

Skårsvatnet is situated in Hordaland county in western Norway - ca 5 km from the small town of Øystese, direction Fyksesund.

The quite large lake gets is nickname from the large population of golden orfe (Leuciscus idus) living in the lake - the "goldfish" were introduced to the lake in 1914, and are the only fish of this type found in the wild in Norway. The golden orfe is commonly seen in ponds in parks and gardens, but it is a rare species in the wild in Europe. The silver-coloured variety (also found in Skårsvatnet) is more common. The fish is quite large, it usually grows to ca 30-40 cm, and you'll see loads of them in the lake.

How did the fish get here? Doctor Klaus Hansen from Bergen (His brother, Armauer Hansen, discovered the lepra bacillus) was working in the district of Kvam together with the local doctor - who mentioned that Skårsvatnet was completely devoid of fish. Klaus Hansen arranged for two milk pails with golden orfe to be sent to Øystese by steam boat, and released the fish into the lake. The fish probably came from the pond in Nygårdsparken in Bergen - but the golden orfe in this park died out during some unusually harsh winters in the 1920s.

You can go for a swim among the goldfish, and there's a lovely area for picnics and barbecues by the lake - but fishing is *not* permitted....;o)

How to get here:

Drive the *very* narrow, steep and winding road from Fyksesund bridge - it's a 3-km drive from the bridge. A sign by the bridge says Gullfiskvatn; Goldfish Lake.

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Herdla is yet another lovely little island (only 1.6 square km), situated to the north of Askøy, a 45-minute drive from Bergen in Hordaland county in the western part of Norway. Askøy is the island you'll see just across the fjord from central Bergen. (Stand at the fish market and look out over the bay - across the fjord you'll see the southern part of Askøy... :o)

Parts of Herdla are a nature reserve, well known for its many species of birds (about 220 species have been registered here). Paths in the area make the lovely, flat fields and gravel beaches of Herdla and the nature reserve just perfect for a leisurely walk... :o) The flat landscapes of Herdla differ quite significantly from the rest of Hordaland county - most of Herdla was formed by the end moraine of a large glacier, during the latest Ice Age.

During WW2, Herdla was used as a military base by the German Luftwaffe, and you can still see their old landing strip here, as well as ruins of military installations. Visit Herdla Museum to learn more about the nature and history of this area - there's also an exhibition about the WW2 German airbase. See the link below for more info about the museum.

At Herdla you'll also find a small golf course (6 holes), a café beautifully situated by the sea (Herdlevågen Gjestehus, which also offers rooms for rent), and a quite interesting church that was rebuilt in 1861 after a storm ruined the old 12th-century one. Fishing opportunities are excellent at Herdla - hire a boat or go fishing from the shore. For some more info about this island, please have a look at my little Herdla page.

To get here: cross the Askøy bridge and drive as far north as you get on Askøy, then cross the small bridge to Herdla... ;o) The drive from Bergen to Herdla takes ca 45 mins.

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Website: http://www.museumsnett.no/herdlamuseum/english.html