Experience the best of Ørsta

Ørsta lies at the head of a short fjord arm in the Sunnmøre district of Møre og Romsdal, with steep green slopes and sharp mountain ridges rising all around. The poet and language reformer Ivar Aasen was born on a farm here in 1813, and a cultural centre devoted to his work stands outside town. Ørsta and its neighbour Volda share an airport and a university college.

To the south, the Sunnmøre Alps rise straight out of the Hjørundfjord, whose steep sides and farms hang above the water, and the road up the Norangsdalen valley leads to waterfalls and mountain lakes beneath peaks such as Slogen. Hikers favour the high ridges, while kayakers paddle the fjords. The coastal city of Ålesund, known for its Art Nouveau buildings, lies to the north.

Dried and salted cod, a speciality of this part of the coast, appears in classic dishes alongside fresh fish and lamb from mountain pastures. The weather comes in from the Atlantic, with frequent rain and quick changes of light. The long days of early summer and the clear, crisp days of September suit walking best.