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 houses “Kunstfyret”, where children meet history, art and nature.
Fyrsteilene is the outermost islet in the Steilene cluster, the one with the small white lighthouse. It is this light that marks the approach past the Nesodden shore, and 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.
Seasonal ferry Undine from Alværn in summer, or private boat.
Boats do run here, but the quay is not in Entur’s system — 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 fairway where all shipping bound for Christiania passed. It was automated in 1984 and the keeper withdrawn, and a new lantern building was raised beside the original.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.
The decommissioned lighthouse is run as a coastal trail cabin by Oslofjordens Friluftsråd. The keeper's house is let out, and the islet hosts “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, and it is private boat the rest of the year. Overnight stays in the lighthouse are booked through Oslofjordens Friluftsråd at kystled.no. On protection: Fyrsteilene 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 means the plants here count for more than the people who come ashore.
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.