Facing the Atlantic ocean lie picturesque small islands and fishing communities on a string. Only a 15 minutes' drive from Ålesund and 10 minutes from the Ålesund Airport Vigra lies Alnes.
Photo: Terje Rakke/Nordic Life/Destinasjon Ålesund & Sunnmøre
This is a charming fishing hamlet with a panoramic view of the ocean. In addition to a beautiful and varied terrain for walking in the mountains or along the shoreline, you can experience the picturesque Alnes Lighthouse, built in 1876 and now home to a number of exciting wandering exhibitions and a permanent exhibition of roughly 100 watercolours by the reknown Norwegian artist Ørnulf Opdahl who comes from the island.
The buildings on Alnes give evidence of the fishing history, with a harbour, boat houses, "rorbus" and houses clinging to one another against weather and wind. Let yourself be impressed by the unique view of the ocean and the coastal landscape from the top of the lighthouse, enjoy the fresh air or coffee and home made delicacies in the lighthouse keeper's rooms.
On your way to or from Alnes, several attractions in Giske are worth a visit. This includes the marble church of Giske, other historical builidings, graves and historical monuments - all telling a story about settlements on the islands for more than 8000 years. Gange-Rolv or Rollo the viking came from Giske. Among others, he conducted the conquering of Normandie in 911. As the forefather of William the Conqueror, and the English and the Norwegian royal family, Gange-Rolv and Giske have had a central position in Norwegian and European history.
Giskespelet (The Giske Play) is an oper air historic play about the Viking Age and the dramatic battle at Stiklestad, and is set up every second year in the historical environments of the Gullik farm on Giske.
On the western part of the island Valderøya lies the powerful Skjonghellaren - a cave extending 140 metres into the mountain where discoveries show settlement back to 500 years before Christ.
The whole area is well suited for walks in the mountains and along the shoreline, as well as bicycle trips, horseback riding, fishing, scuba diving, surfing, kiting and other types of sail sports.