Værøy
Where is Værøy & How to reach it?
Værøy
Værøy is an island municipality in Nordland county, Norway — located at the end of the Lofoten archipelago. The Norwegian Sea lies to the northwest and the Vestfjorden lies to the southeast.
By plane
There are flights going from Oslo — to Narvik, and Bodø. Once you reach one of the two cities, the best option is to rent a car from Narvik, or take a ferry from Bodø — to the Lofoten islands.
By ferry
There is a ferry available from Bodø to Værøy, and it takes about 5 hours. If you are already in Lofoten, you can take a ferry from Moskenes to Værøy and it takes 1,5 hours.
When should you visit Værøy?
Due to its location exposed to the sea, in the winter, Værøy, can be stormy and windy. Therefore I recommend visiting the island during the summer, from May until the beginning of September.
Over the year, the temperature varies from 0°C to 14°C and it's rarely below -3°C, due to the Gulf Stream phenomenon.
The hottest month of the year is August, with an average high of 14°C and a low of 10°C. Even during the Summer, expect quite windy and chill days.
Midnight Sun Season
Due to its extreme latitude — 67 ° N — Værøy experiences the midnight sun season, a period of time in which the sun is above the horizon for 1 and a half months. The precise start and end dates vary from year to year. It usually starts rising at 1:26 AM on May 28th, and it’s not set again until 12:53 AM on July 16th.
The shortest day of the summer is August 31st, with 15 hours of daylight.
Polar Night Season
In the winter the sun is continuously below the horizon for 2 and a half weeks, setting at 12:08 PM on December 13th, and the sun it’s not rising again until 12:04 PM on December 30th. This phenomenon is called ‘Polar Nights’.
Aurora Borealis
It’s possible to see the northern lights from the end of August. But, its intensity is not strong, since the night is very short. In October, everything changes — it's one of the best months to see the Aurora Borealis. November and December, are NOT the best months to see the northern lights, due to the bad weather conditions — expect rainy days and many storms. From early February to mid-March — is the best period to take some incredible northern lights pictures.
Must see in Værøy.
I visited this beautiful Island at the end of Mai and the experience exceeded my expectations. I spent one day in Værøy, and I didn’t manage to see everything that the island has to offer. I suggest you stay for 2 entire days, and camp for the night in Værøy. That was actually my original plan, but due to last-minute ferry changes, I had to cut one day out. I recommend checking in advance the ferry schedule, to be a bit more prepared than me!
I was very lucky with the weather, It was sunny the whole day, with mild temperatures and almost no wind, which can be quite rare here.
Måstadfjellet Viewpoint
Måstadfjellet viewpoint is the most famous hiking spot on Værøy island and it represents one of the most iconic viewpoints in the Lofoten Islands. The viewpoint looks over the Måstadfjellet cliffs, and there are 2 ways to reach it: the easy way, mostly on a paved road, called - Heia; and a more demanding way called - Håheia.
The Håheia trail takes 1,5 hours and in my opinion it’s more rewarding compared to the other trail, thanks to its scenic views overlooking the Island, that from the top looks a lot like a crater (even though it is not a volcanic Island).
Once you reach the top, you will have a 360 ° view, from where you can spot the Lofoten Islands, and admire some beautiful white sandy beaches.
Breivika Beach
In order to reach Breivika beach, you will be passing by the fishing village of Sørland. From the village, you have to hike to the western side of the island, through the narrow mountain ridge. After spotting the fishermen's houses, you can see the spectacular view over the white sandy beach of Breivika. For a moment you forget that you are in the Arctic, instead, you think to be arrived on a tropical island in the Caribbean, with crystal clear waters. No one associates the Polar Circle with such paradise beaches; If only the weather would be a little bit warmer, but maybe this hidden gem would lose its charm and peculiarity.
Sørland Fishing Village
Wander along the fishing village of Sørland, and see how the local people live in such a remote place. Today, there are 550 inhabitants, and in the village you can find only a church, a small grocery shop, a pub, a lighthouse and a fish factory. There used to be an airport, that used to operate from 1986 until 1990, with a runaway of just 800 meters. But, the airport has been closed since the fatal ‘Widerøe flight 839’ accident — in which the heavy wind caused the structural failure of the engines. Today, there is just a helicopter and ferry service, to reach this remote location in the Arctic.
