Sande

Sande municipality has approximately 2.500 inhabitants and covers a area of 93,2 km2. Sandsøy is an island off the coast of Norway. This is the place if you are looking for peace and quiet - and good angling! The island has several houses, converted fishermen's cabins, apartments and rooms to let. At Sandsøy and Voksa you can observe over 90 species of birds on these islands.

SANDSØY

Sandsøy is an island off the coast of Norway. This is the place if you are looking for peace and quiet - and good angling! The island has several houses, converted fishermen's cabins, apartments and rooms to let. The island has 140 households, kindergarten, school and a shop with post office.

The island has several kilometres of road - with little traffic and hardly any hills. Cyclists and walkers will find many idyllic spots along the roads. You may well see some of the famous wild goats on the trip. Visit the local museum, the church, go down to the fine white bathing beaches or the exciting pebble beach that comes into view at low tide, towards Dollstein.

DOLLSTEIN CAVE

Visit the Dollstein cave, descending for 185 metres at a gradient of 45 degrees and ending up in the "cathedral", which is 10 metres across, with a high roof. Concerts have been held down there.

BIRDS

At Sandsøy and Voksa you can observe over 90 species of birds on these islands. Some of the most common species are cormorants, herons, mallards, red-breasted mergansers, sea eagles (mostly in winter time), oystercatchers, lapwings, redshanks, great black-headed gulls, herring gulls, common gulls and purple sandpipers (usually stand on breakwaters).

The most unusual species are smews, Eurasian spoonbills (usually south of Denmark), little grebes, ruddy turnstones, ringed plovers, long-tailed tits, snow buntings, bullfinches, rooks, green sandpipers, tree creepers, teals, hen harriers, velvet ducks and grey plovers.

The birds can be seen all year round. There are good paths/roads with plenty of opportunities for observation. You can also hire a boat/canoe/bicycle to see the bird life from close up. The majority are seen along the shoreline, but many of the species are mountain birds.

FISHING

The catch will vary with the season - anything from mackerel, herring, angler fish, cod, saithe, redfish, catfish, salmon, halibut. The fish will also bite if you fish from the quayside, breakwater or bridge. Should you be unfortunate enough not to catch anything, the island has fish farms, a lobster park and a receiving station for catches from the fishing boats.