Centred around the village of Årnes, Åfjord is a sprawling municipality along the northwestern edge of the Fosen peninsula. It encompasses the picturesque waters of Åfjorden, the Stordalselva river and Stordalsvatnet lake, as well as several historic churches worth visiting.
Things to do in Årnes
Spend an afternoon wandering through the village of Årnes, which centres around a 19th-century church designed by the Norwegian architect K. Guttormsen. Admire its whitewashed interior or coincide your visit with a service in the 430-seat interior to meet the local congregation. On the eastern edge of Årnes is the Stordalsvatnet, a sparkling lake that offers a wealth of recreational pursuits.
A short drive north-west of Årnes is the Stoksund Church, which was constructed from wood in 1825 and painted a bright red. It is located in the village of Revsnes at one end of the 525-metre-long Stokkøy Bridge, a cantilever bridge that connects the Norwegian mainland to the island of Stokkøya.
At the mouth of the Brandsfjorden is the island of Kaura, which is topped by a 22-metre-tall lighthouse dating back to 1931. It’s instantly recognisable due to its red-and-white-striped cast-iron tower and is connected to a small boathouse on the shore of Kaura via a 40-metre-long concrete bridge. After dark, the lighthouse emits a flash every ten seconds that may be white, red or green, depending on its direction.
Getting around Årnes
Åfjord is around two hours’ drive from Trondheim and 2.5 hours from Trondheim Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Buses are the main means of getting to Åfjord while having your own vehicle gives you greater freedom to explore the region. The centre of Åfjord is compact enough to explore on foot.