Photo: Jan-Tore Egge·CC BY-SA 3.0· Wikimedia Commons
Islands / Hvaler / Vesterøy
The westernmost of Hvaler's main islands, reached by road over bridges and through the Hvaler Tunnel. The fishing harbour Utgårdskilen on the island is one of the largest in the region.
Vesterøy is the westernmost of Hvaler's main islands and the second largest in the municipality, between Spjærøy to the east and Papper to the west, with bridges to both. From the water you see a wooded island rising towards Bankerødkollen at 72.4 metres. From the south side it is Utgårdskilen that catches the eye, the fishing harbour with its boathouses and vessels packed side by side.
road access (bridges and the Hvaler Tunnel).
The island is connected by road, so you need neither a boat nor a timetable.
Vesterøy has been a fishing and farming island. Its centre of gravity is Utgårdskilen on the south side, the largest fishing harbour east of Lindesnes. The Hvaler fleet has gone out into the Skagerrak from here after shrimp and fish, and the harbour has kept a working fishery alive where many other coastal communities lost theirs.
The island had its own primary school, Åttekanten, until 2021. Three Hvaler schools were then merged into one on Asmaløy, the same pattern as elsewhere in Hvaler: services pull towards the big islands and the mainland.
When the Hvaler Tunnel opened under the Løperen strait, Vesterøy and the western islands got a fixed connection to the mainland by bridge and tunnel. That ended the ferry community, and it gave the fishery at Utgårdskilen a road connection to keep it going.
Vesterøy is a year-round and cabin island with road access all the way. Utgårdskilen is still an active fishing harbour, with a visitor quay on the east side behind the breakwater and services on the west side. There are shops at Ødegårdskilen, and the south side is open country with several beaches, among them Kuvauen and Guttormsvauen. Sjøbufestivalen takes place at Utgårdskilen on the last weekend in July, with food, concerts and activities for children.
Vesterøy is reached by car: bridges from Spjærøy and Papper, and the Hvaler Tunnel to the mainland. No ferry is needed. The visitor harbour at Utgårdskilen is on the east side behind the breakwater, but the services are on the west side, so you have to cross over. There are no known access bans or protected areas on the island itself. Keep your speed down and show consideration in a busy fishing harbour.
Utgårdskilen is the largest fishing harbour east of Lindesnes, a working fishery in the middle of waters most people associate with summer cabins.
Åttekanten school held out until 2021. That an island with a road connection lost its school as late as that says something about how long the Hvaler islands have fought for their services.
The visitor harbour at Utgårdskilen has a classic catch: the berths are on one side of the inlet and everything you need is on the other. Bring what you want with you before you tie up.
Oslo Sea Experience passes Vesterøy on its private fjord trips from Tjuvholmen.
The Norwegian version notes which facts were taken from each source: Vesterøy på norsk.