Skutvika

The ferry port and the "Old-Skutvik".
In background: Salen, Dalsfjellet, Sørtinden and Vågsfjellet.

Skutvika (or Skutvik) is a small village in the municipality of Hamarøy in the county of Nordland, Northern Norway, with 212 inhabitants (2011).

The name Skutvik(a) literally means "(The) Ship Cove".

The village is situated at the southwestern extreme of Hamarøya peninsula, 90 km (56 miles) north of Bodø, 95 km (59 miles) southwest of Narvik and 40 km (25 miles) south of Svolvær. West and south of Skutvik is Økssundet, a sound connecting Sagfjord and Vestfjord. The landscape in the immediate vicinity of the settlement is dominated by hills, while further north a mountain row rises up to 950 meters (3110 feet) above sea level.

Skutvik has a grocery shop, cafeteria with accommodation, electronics business, school and kindergarten amogn other things.
The main employer is Mainstream Norway with its salmon-processing plant.

The ferry "Vågan" approaching Skutvik.

Økssundet merges with
Vestfjord at Øksnesodden.
Lofoten mountains rises in the distance.

Hamarøyskaftet

Communications

• County road 81 starts in Skutvik and ends at E6 in Ulvsvåg (35,9 km / 22,3 miles).
• Daily departures with car-ferry from Skutvik to Svolvær and Skrova in Lofoten connecting county road 81 to E10. Increased capasity and numbers of departures in summer season (June–August).
• The high-speed passenger express between Svolvær and Bodø calls at Skutvik.

Sights and accommodation

The two-hour ferry ride from Skutvik goes through a varied landscape, first between the mountains of Steigen and Hamarøya peninsula, and then the crossing of the open ocean at the Vestfjord, that on a clear day provides the view over the entire Lofoten mountain range. To call at the tiny island Skrova the ferry goes between islets and rocks.

• Hamarøyskaftet (The Hamarøy Mountain) is a peak which could be viewed from county road 7–8 km (4.6 miles) from Skutvik, known for its special shape (almost vertical sides).
• Nesstraumen (The Ness Current), located outside Ness, 5 km (3.1 miles) east of Skutvik, is one of the most powerful seacurrents in Northern Europe with a maximum speed of up to 22 knots.
• Artscape Nordland: The sculpture "Stella Maris" by Steinar Christensen is located next to the beach towards Økssundet.

• Ness Camping is located in the tiny village Ness, 5 km (3.1 miles) east of Skutvik.
• Skutvik Fiskecamp (Fish Camp) is located next to the ferry port.
• Skutvik Gjestegård (Guesthouse).

External links and References

• Skutvik.com
• Hamarøy county
• Torghatten Nord (Time-schedules for ferry and high-speed passenger express)
• Nordland Adventures: Arranged climbing at Hamarøyskaftet
• Ness Camping
• dintur.no: Skutvik Fiskecamp
• Hamsuns Rike: Skutvik Gjestegård