The House on the Lake

10/07/2021

Did you know that less than one hour from our house, you can discover and enjoy the Polar Park, the world's northernmost animal park allowing us to catch a glimpse into wild animal life in their natural surroundings. Bears, wolves, lynx, what your heart desires. https://polarpark.no/en/about-polar-park/. The Polar Park is also a family park with lots of activities for the whole family. It is an easy drive from our house, about 55 minutes.

While you are in Bardu, you should also try the fishing in the famous Bardu River and easily squeeze in a visit to the Målselv waterfall https://www.expedia.com/Malselv.dx6284559

Alternatively, if you want to enjoy one of the many national parks in the region, the Rohkunborri National Park is only a 12 km drive from the Polar Park. https://www.norgesnasjonalparker.no/en/nationalparks/rohkunborri/ You can fish, hunt, observe reindeer grazing or just take in the ultimate mindful experience.
You can round off the day by visiting the small military town of Bardufoss. The town has plenty of organised activities, perhaps horseback riding would suit you?https://visitbardufoss.no/en/home/
The Bardu and Målselv region is also a winter sport paradise. How about cross country skiing under the arctic sky with the awesome Aurora Borrealis as an added prop?

03/07/2021

Do you want to discover Harstad? The pearl of the Vågsfiord. The gateway to Lofoten and Vesterålen with a whole little lovely archipelago of its own. It takes a little under 50 minutes from our drive way to the town centre and by the way, you might be lucky to catch a glimpse of reindeer grazing on the moores or a mother moose out with her young calves.
Harstad is the town that has it all, from a rich viking heritage to a university college, amazing foot trails to explore the mountains, great shopping, great delicatessen shops serving locally sourced food, world class restaurants and a rich cultural scene. If winter sports are your thing you could combine a fun shopping day with great downhill slopes just 10 minutes from the town centre, or perhaps you more prefer the traditional cross country skiing. You can literally have it all and more! Want to swin? Check! Want to discover the drama of the WW2? Check! In short, your day trip to Harstad can accommodate all tastes. Plus, the people are friendly and enjoy receiving guests from all over the world.
Just in the town centre you have three shopping centres in addition to small shops serving anything from haberdashery to the finest charcuterie. A short walk form the town plaza you also have a great underground public swimming pool complete with fun pools, wave pool and a great waterslide!
Here is a list of a selection of activities and experiences that you can cram into a funfilled day in Harstad!
The medieval Viking Church at Trondenes https://en.visitharstad.com/things-to-do/trondenes-church-p1677473
Adjacent to the Trondenes Church, you can discover the darkest memory from the Second World War such as the Soviet Prisoners of War Camp and just a few hundred meters away, the gigantic Adolf gun https://nordnorge.com/en/artikkel/the-adolf-gun-a-giant-in-harstad/
Also adjacent to the Trondenes Church, but on a much happier note you have the Trondenes Historical Centre where you can discover the Viking heritage and also explore the rich Sami culture that is a strong component of our regional DNA https://www.visitnorway.com/listings/trondenes-historical-centre/86851/?lang=uk
While you are at Trondenes you can also enjoy a leisurely walk on the path along the sea https://en.visitharstad.com/things-to-do/the-path-along-the-sea-p1715113
If you have already worked up an appetite from all this walking you have several choices, each as good as the other. You have the historical Røkenes Farm http://roekenesgaard.no/rokenes-farm where you can take in a traditional farming hamlet or play golf or just admire the art gallery and handicraft store on the old hay loft.
Back in the town centre you can pick up your delicacies from Mat av Vahl https://www.facebook.com/matavvahl or equally brilliant Skafferiet https://www.facebook.com/skafferietgourmet/. Both delis will bend over backwards to find you the very best of the local food production and beyond.
Across the town plaza you have the trendy 4 Roser https://www.facebook.com/De4RoserHarstad or if you want more of a restaurant experience Bark Spiseri https://www.facebook.com/barkharstad or Umami Harstad.https://www.facebook.com/umamiharstad. In addition you also have pizza shops, fast food bars and other small eateries, all offering great service and great food!
Now, after all that eating you probably want to wear off those calories again. Look no further than the Grottebadet, a subterranean public swimming pool with lots of activites for the fit athlete or the more moderate exerciser https://www.facebook.com/Grottebadet
In the wintertime you might want to try the Sollia Ski senter for great slopes https://www.facebook.com/sollifjellet or discover Folkeparken with well marked foot paths and ski trails https://en.visitharstad.com/things-to-do/folkeparken-p1714623
If you want to discover the stunning nature around Harstad by horse, you can do that too, at Olaåsen Gård https://www.facebook.com/olaasen.no
If you are more into the arts, there is plenty to do in Harstad. Galleri Nord-Norge is a well renowned space for contemporary art but also offers concerts and other activities https://www.visitnorway.com/listings/gallery-north-norway/142555/ while Kulturhuset offer theatre productions and concerts throughout the year https://www.facebook.com/HarstadKulturhus

Enjoy! Its there for the taking!

30/06/2021

Day trips from the House on the Lake.
Summertime is the ideal time to explore the gorgeous region where we are located. Today I want to show you how you can enjoy the Vesterålen Archipelago and still reach home for supper.
As you can see from the screen shot, you will be enjoying a most spectacular route with mountains, fiords and lakes tapdancing on your retinas all the way.
The journey to the old fishing hamlet Nyksund will take around 2.5 hours without any stops, but once you see the awesome mountains and fiords on the way there, you probably want to stop to just take it all in. In Nyksund you can enjoy locally sourced great food, learn about the fishing traditions, visit great galleries and why not visit the wonderful Delpen book cafe and second hand shop (you are guaranteed to make a great bargain(https://www.delpen.no)!
After visiting Nyksund you can visit the neighbouring hamlet of Stø, just as stunning as Nyksund but still a working fisihing hamlet. You can book your whale safari tour there too, for instance here https://www.arcticwhaletours.com.
By the way, the nearby small town of Myre is also lovely and in order to get to Nyksund and Stø, you must drive through Myre!

30/06/2021

Day trips from the House on the Lake.
Summertime is the ideal time to explore the gorgeous region where we are located. Today I want to show you how you can enjoy the Vesterålen Archipelago and still reach home for supper.
As you can see from the screen shot, you will be enjoying a most spectacular route with mountains, fiords and lakes tapdancing on your retinas all the way.
The journey to the old fishing hamlet Nyksund will take around 2.5 hours without any stops, but once you see the awesome mountains and fiords on the way there, you probably want to stop to just take it all in. In Nyksund you can enjoy locally sourced great food, learn about the fishing traditions, visit great galleries and why not visit the wonderful Delpen book cafe and second hand shop (you are guaranteed to make a great bargain(https://www.delpen.no)!
After visiting Nyksund you can visit the neighbouring hamlet of Stø, just as stunning as Nyksund but still a working fisihing hamlet. You can book your whale safari tour there too, for instance here https://www.arcticwhaletours.com.
By the way, the nearby small town of Myre is also lovely and in order to get to Nyksund and Stø, you must drive through Myre!

27/06/2021

You can easily place a reservation here

Boasting lake views, House on the lake offers accommodation with a terrace and a kettle, around 22 km from Ballangen Museum.

27/06/2021

The local supermarket is about 500 meters from our house. It has an incredible range of goods from deli, the daily freshly baked bread, haberdashery, fishing equipment, household items, fruit and veg, and it also houses the post office. You can also purchase your local fishing licence here. Just adjacent to the supermarket you find the local bank where there is an ATM.
https://www.facebook.com/Bunnpris-Bogen-1346699322359875

Dagligvarebutikk i Bogen Ofoten der du får varer til en hyggelig pris..

27/06/2021

Want a quick bite? 100 meters from our house you will find a great little eatery, joined up with the local petrol station. You can enjoy a tasty meal, a glass of beer or wine and also stock up on essentials in case the local supermarket is closed for the evening. https://www.facebook.com/yxbogen

Bensinstasjon, veikro og pub

27/06/2021

Do you like winter, snow and the Northern lights? We've got that too!

26/06/2021

Do you like hiking? Here is a little sample of what you can discover and explore right next to the house

26/06/2021

We are happy to welcome you to the House on the Lake. We offer a very comfortable holiday apartment, 80 square meter, 3 bedrooms, with all in all 2 double beds and one single bed, 2 bathrooms, one ensuite. The kitchen is small but well equipped, the dining area comfortably seats 6 persons and the sitting area faces the lake and the surrounding mountains. You can fish from the terrace and salmons swim in the river that runs just by the house. If trekking and hiking is your thing, all you have to do is to put on your boots and start walking.
There is much to explore in the region, the Lofoten islands, the Vesterålen archipelago are just a 2 hours drive away, while you can enjoy great shopping, lively pubs and great food in either Harstad or Narvik.