Lighthouse holiday provides tranquility and experiences in the open sea

Fyrferie på Lindesnes .
Photo: Fotograf Iselinn Andersen

Looking for nature experiences a bit out of the ordinary?

Then you can take a trip to Lindesnes Lighthouse, Ryvingen Lighthouse, or Hatholmen Lighthouse. A group of local lighthouse enthusiasts aged 11 to 54 can tell you why they recommend a lighthouse holiday: For the whole family.

By Rita Tvede Bartolomei.

Fyrferie på Lindesnes .
Photo: Fotograf Iselinn Andersen

Ingunn Fladlid (42) from Vigmostad in Lindesnes had not spent the night at a lighthouse station before reaching adulthood. That happened in the fall of 2021. She went to Ryvingen Lighthouse (from 1867), along with the 22 children she is the homeroom teacher for.

"It was fantastic to wake up to a new day in these surroundings by the sea, and the kids are having a great time experiencing nature up close," says Ingunn.

The 11-year-olds in Class 6A at Ime School in Mandal had a day in the middle of the open sea, completely without access to mobile phones or tablets.

Break from everyday stress

She is convinced that lighthouse holidays provide a break from the stress of everyday life.

"In today's society with a lot of stress and screen use, everyone needs a breather where they can engage their senses in interaction with nature," says the teacher.

In the evening, there was an outdoor cinema by the open sea for the children:

"We had a movie session in the evening with a projector, went on explorations, went fishing, and enjoyed ourselves. The view out towards the sea was absolutely fantastic."

Even from the outdoor toilet, the view was incredible, she points out.

"That's why I often left the door open to enjoy the view," says Ingunn, laughing.

Ingrunn og kollega på Ryvingen fyr .
Photo:

Didn't miss PlayStation

Sander Haaland (11) from Mandal, one of Ingunn's students in 6A, says it was fun to experience a completely new place with his friends.

"I thought it was really fun to fish right near where we slept, be with my friends, watch movies, and go on walks on the island. We also played a lot of cops and robbers," he says.

But he also found it interesting to learn about lighthouses:

"Because they were very important in the old days for guiding boats to land," says Sander.

He believes lighthouse holidays are good for kids because they can explore nature and play outside a lot. But we asked: Did he miss PlayStation?

"No. Because fishing, playing, and exploring are much more fun than playing games. And the view from the lighthouse was nice too," he concludes.

Fyrferie på Lindesnes .
Photo: Fotograf Iselinn Andersen

Ola Færevaag

OLA FÆREVAAG.
FOTO: OLA FÆREVAAG

Ola Færevaag

More than 75 overnight stays at Ryvingen Lighthouse Ola Færevaag (54) from Mandal says that part of the charm of being out at a lighthouse is the tranquility it provides. He is a member of "Ryvingens Venner" (Friends of Ryvingen) and estimates that he has stayed overnight at the lighthouse more than 75 times.

"Even though there are activities like fishing, swimming, and walks, everything happens at a comfortable pace as there's rarely anything that needs to be rushed. And it's suitable for almost everyone," says Ola.

"Not even if you're planning to stay for a while, or if the weather isn't perfect. It's quite possible to go on longer hikes and also easy to find a place for yourself if you don't want to be social," he says.

The view is like from all lighthouses out in the open sea: Quite spectacular.

"There are some amazing sunsets there, and the lighting in general is beautiful. Sitting outside in the evenings and watching the ship traffic is recommended," he says.

Lighthouse holiday provides tranquility and experiences in the open sea

Looking for nature experiences a bit out of the ordinary?

Then you can take a trip to Lindesnes Lighthouse, Ryvingen Lighthouse, or Hatholmen Lighthouse. A group of local lighthouse enthusiasts aged 11 to 54 can tell you why they recommend a lighthouse holiday: For the whole family.

By Rita Tvede Bartolomei.

Break from everyday stress

Didn't miss PlayStation

Ola Færevaag

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