Photo: Jacob Munk-Stander·CC BY 2.0· Wikimedia Commons
Islands / Nesodden / Fyrsteila
Fyrsteila is the lighthouse island in the Steilene group off Nesodden. The decommissioned lighthouse is run today as a coastal trail cabin (*kystledhytte*) by Oslofjordens Friluftsråd, and it hosts “Kunstfyret”, where children meet history, art and nature.
Fyrsteila is the outermost islet in the Steilene cluster, the one with the small white lighthouse. This light marks the approach past the Nesodden shore, and it is the first thing you see when the cluster comes into view.
Protected as a plant conservation area. The boundaries and the rules are in Naturbase, and they are worth checking before you land anywhere outside the marked areas.
Part of Kystled Oslofjorden. See all the coastal trail cabins.
Seasonal ferry Undine from Alværn in summer, or private boat.
Boats do run here, but the quay is not in Entur’s system. It is usually a summer service or a private crossing that never enters the national journey planner. Check with the operator before you build a day around it.
The lighthouse was established in 1837, at the outer edge of the shipping lane where all shipping bound for Christiania passed. It lost its keeper and was automated in 1984, and a new lantern building was raised beside the original. The light is occulting, darkening every eight seconds, and carries around 5.4 kilometres. The lighthouse itself is a low lantern building, with a tower 3.5 metres high and a light 4.6 metres above the ground. The Norwegian Coastal Administration (Kystverket) owns the installation, and Oslofjordens Friluftsråd, the Oslofjord outdoor recreation council, leases it. Nortek has had a weather station on the islet since 2008.
Oslofjordens Friluftsråd lets the keeper's house as a coastal trail cabin. The islet also has “Kunstfyret”, a programme where children and young people meet history, art and nature in the lighthouse setting.
The seasonal ferry Undine runs from Alværn in summer. The rest of the year you need your own boat. Overnight stays in the lighthouse are booked through Oslofjordens Friluftsråd at kystled.no. Protection: Fyrsteila is protected as a plant conservation area, so leave the vegetation alone. The neighbouring islet Knerten is a bird reserve where landing is prohibited from 15 April to 15 July.
The lighthouse was tended by a keeper for nearly 150 years before it was automated in 1984. Anyone can rent the house and sleep there now.
The light still flashes, from a separate building next to the old lighthouse, which is now a cabin and an art venue.
The islet is under plant protection, which covers the plant life on the rock.
Oslo Sea Experience passes Fyrsteila on its private fjord trips from Tjuvholmen.
The Norwegian version notes which facts were taken from each source: Fyrsteila på norsk.