Hiking at Sandøya

About

Sandøya is like a small island with cozy trails, small coves, beautiful beaches and cozy houses. If you want to stay overnight, you can pitch your tent in several places for one night or spend the night at the small campsite on the island. During the summer holidays you can buy a waffle of local youngsters when you arrive at the boat at Sandøya pier and you can rent a bike and take it a little bike ride on the island. In the summer you can also take the boat to Sandøya Brygge, take trips on the island and take the boat back from Løvøya or Dikkon. The island has several nice hiking opportunities that can be walked alone or combined:

1) Kommunebrygga-Dikkon 1.3 km (20 min)
Follow the blue-marked paved road through densely populated areas, past the orchard and school, up the Wells to Skolelia. A little way into the trail, you can take a detour up to Rådyrhytta, a picnic area with roof overhang and campfire. The trail, which mostly passes through upright pine forests, heather and grass, may have some wet areas, but is generally broad and dry. Follow signs to Dikkon, the island's campsite. Here there is a large, open grassy area, well suited for play and games. The sandy beaches are family friendly and there is a guest dock available. In the summertime there is an open cafe and convenience store, water station and toilets.

2) Kommunebrygga-Løvøya, about Solvang farm -2.4 km (30 min)
Follow the blue-marked paved road past the orchard and school and then Postveien on towards Løvøya. The gravel road goes along the ground down to the water and overlooks Bjønneslandet. At Smellkjeften there may be wet parts, but parts of the trail go on wooden bridges. Follow the path towards Løvøya past a natural slope called Lille Denmark, before coming to Løvøysundet with footbridge over to Løvøya. The blue-marked path continues through cabin fields along the water and up some stairs where you meet a crossroads. Here you can take a detour to the View on the left hand or the Trulset peak on the right hand. There it is a nice resting place. If you continue straight ahead, through the deciduous forest you come to the Friarealet, a grassy area and swimming area. Here there is a dry toilet, and in summer time the waterpost is open. If you follow the path all the way out to the decoration, you come to Løvøya ferry bridge overlooking Dikkon.

3) Kommunebrygga-Dikkon through the forest-Løvøya Brygge 3.4 km (45 min)
Follow the blue-marked paved road through densely populated areas, past the school, up the Wells to Skolelia and then the blue-marked broad path to the right from Skolelia. A little way into the trail, you can take a detour up to Rådyrhytta, a picnic area with roof overhang and campfire. The trail, which mostly passes through high-rise coniferous forests, may have some wet areas, but is generally broad and dry. Follow signs to Dikkon, the island's campsite. Here there is a large, open grassy area, well suited for play and games. Family-friendly sandy beaches and floating jetty for boats. In the summertime there is an open cafe and convenience store, water station and toilets. From Dikkon, follow the path a little way back, but where it divides, turn left down Kleivane towards Løvøya. At Smellkjeften the path divides. Follow the path towards Løvøya past a natural slope called Lille Denmark, before coming to Løvøysundet with footbridge over to Løvøya. The blue-marked path continues through cabin fields along the water and up some stairs where you meet a crossroads. Here you can take a detour to the View on the left hand or the Trulset peak on the right hand. There it is a nice resting place. If you continue straight ahead, through the deciduous forest you come to the Friarealet, a grassy area and swimming area. Here there is a dry toilet, and in summer time the waterpost is open. If you follow the path all the way out to the decoration, you come to Løvøya ferry bridge for Dikkon.

4) Kommunebrygga -Løvøya, about Solvang farm- 2.4 km (30 min)
Follow the bruised paved road past the school and then Postveien on towards Løvøya. The gravel road goes along the ground down to the water and overlooks Bjønneslandet. At the junction in Smellkjeften, follow the path towards Dikkon. There can be wet parties here. One can take a bruised, steep detour to the View to the left through old, moss-covered coniferous forest. From here there are great views of the archipelago. Well down Smellkjeften, you follow a, at times, rocky path in rising terrain in densely mixed forest, before the trail descends through spruce forest and heather down to Dikkon.

5) Kommunebrygga-Dikkon along the road -1.5 km (nice for stroller, bike)
The roads on Sandøya are narrow and mostly paved, and are well suited for walking and cycling. The first part of the road goes through densely populated areas. At the school there is a ball binge and a playground. If you continue towards Dikkon the road goes quite steep up and down with pine forests and heather on both sides. On Dikkon there are sandy beaches on two sides of a large and open grassy area. Here there are seasonal toilets and water fountains. From June to August, the cafe and the supermarket are open.

6) Kommunebrygga-Sandøyveien-Grunnenunga-Kommunebrygga 1.5 km
From Kommunebrygga you walk straight up Sandøyveien with buildings on both sides. Above the hill is Kujordet on the right. Here there are often cows and maybe calves on pasture. At the crossroads, you can make a detour a few meters to the left and look at Sandøya's oldest oak from 1350. If you turn right, you come to Grundtunga, a shallow and warm sandy beach where there are also tables and benches. If you continue on, you come to the Sound. Here you can go hungry at Sandterna Bistro or shop in the store. At Molosletta, the island's marina, there is a service building with toilets. From here, follow the road to the junction, where you turn left to get down to Kommunebrygga.