Blindleia i Lillesand
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Photo:
Magnus Furset / Visit Norway
Blindleia i Lillesand
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Photo:
Magnus Furset / Visit Norway
Blindleia is the 20 kilometre long coastal path between Lillesand and Ulvøysund near Kristiansand. This is Norway's archipelago at its most beautiful.
Blindleia is well hidden behind islets and reefs and is therefore protected from weather and wind.
Kajakk på Skauerøya i Lillesand
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Photo:
Lars Verket
Kajakk på Skauerøya i Lillesand
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Photo:
Lars Verket
If you have your own boat, you can jump ashore on small islands and find your own islet or beach. The countless islands make it possible to find a place sheltered from the wind.
A kayak or SUP trip through Blindleia is a spectacular journey through small coves with green sandy bottom and islands, past cosy cabins, small old fishing villages and outports.
The sightseeing boat M/B Øya sails between Lillesand and Kristiansand, is one of the few surviving ferries that still runs on a regular route during the summer. The boat stops at different places along the route where the highlights are Ulvøysund, Gamle Hellesund, Åkerøya and Brekkestø. The trip from Lillesand to Kristiansand takes three hours each way.
Sightseeingbåten M/B Øya i Blindleia, Ulvøysund, Lillesand
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Photo:
Blindleia Charter
Sightseeingbåten M/B Øya i Blindleia, Ulvøysund, Lillesand
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Photo:
Blindleia Charter
For around 140 years, ferries have carried passengers, food and mail to the outports along the coast. All the way up to approx. 1960, the boat was the fastest transport between Kristiansand and Lillesand.
The small outports along the route are cultural-historical treasures, with history dating back to the era of the sailing ship. Here people along the coast lived on hunting, animal husbandry and shipping. Some of the outports had post offices, customs stations, prisons, pubs, sailmakers and shops.
Rumor has it that Brekkestø sells Norway's largest ice cream. From the local producer Hennig-Olsen Ice Cream, you will be served huge ice cream with the archipelago as a backdrop and it is well worth a visit in itself. At Brekkekjærhaven Kulturkafé you will be served fresh summer dishes and tempting cakes.
Owners of the coastline and the islands along it are a mixture of state, municipality and private so remember to respect residents and the people in cabins when you go ashore or dock with a boat.