Jæren – The Hellestø hike

Last modified 18.03.2022 | Published 25.03.20132010's, Norway, Norway Hikes

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This is about the Hellestø hike, one of many hikes on the coast of Jæren, Norway. The hike on sand is 1.8 km one way.

 

Orientation

Hellestø (Sola): At Hellestø we find one of Jæren’s most popular sandy beaches, summer and winter. It is quite wide and long, with great big sand dunes. The landscape behind the dunes is among the most comprehensive and exciting on the coast.

There is a large parking lot at Hellestø but it sometimes fills up early on fine warm Sundays. We have decided on a short and very easy hike of 1.8 km (one way) on the sandy beach with the return behind the dunes.

Facing north, away from the beach, we can see the hilly terrain of Vigdelneset dominated by rocks plunging into the pounding sea. That is actually the last rocky scenery we are encountering on our journey southwards on the Jæren coastline. From Hellestø right until Ogna there are only endless sandy and boulder beaches.

This article presents one of many hikes on the coast of Jæren, Norway. Get an overview and browse the rest here. Check out the map details on this link.

 

What to see

This beach is called Hellestø by most people but its official name is Skardasanden. At the end of the beach we move forward on well trodden grassland a few hundred metres. We are now on Byberg beach. When we reach a wide bay called Båtmannsvika with two cottages we stop and prepare for the return. The border between the municipalities of Sola and Klepp is clearly marked here.

Naturally, there is a very fine hike even further south but this March afternoon we decided to come back here another day in the other direction – from Sele. See the next entry in this blog series.

 

 

Video from this hike at Hellestø

 

Further reading

This article presents one of many hikes on the coast of Jæren, Norway. Get an overview here. The hikes and corresponding articles are sorted in a north to south order. The adjacent hikes are:

North: Vigdelneset (Sola): The trip around Vigdelneset between Vigdel and Hellestø is quite hilly and winding over rocks, wilderness and boulders between two beautiful sandy beaches. The hill of Vigdelveten offers a remarkable panoramic view. (Roundtrip, 5.4 km)

South: Sele (Klepp): Some say Sele Harbour is the most picturesque of all Jæren harbours, in particular because of the colourful row of boathouses. This hike includes high sand dunes, a wonderful boulder beach and the mouth of the important salmon fishing Figgjo river. (Roundtrip, 5.6 km)

 

Jæren artwork - Per Gjemre (1864-1928) - Erga gård på Jæren

Per Gjemre (1864-1928) – Erga Farm on Jæren (Source: GWPA)

 

Read more in my special article about Jæren’s geology, flora, fauna, history, people and art: Jæren – The coastline explained.

Les om strandturene på Jæren på “Sandalsand Norge”