Dyrdal

We are mooring soon in Dyrdal, where there will be a short stop. At one point in time, there were 100 people living in this idyllic green oasis in Nærøyfjorden. Hengedalen, which continues further over the valley, has scattered but unfortunately disused farms. Here as in many other places, most of the farms and properties have now been converted to holiday homes and rentals. Right up until the middle of the 19th century, there was a lot of activity down on the quay, and the village held the status of being the legal centre for Nærøy. Besides several court houses, there were also cosy guesthouses, some shops and a hospital with 8 beds….yes that’s right a hospital! Today, most of the activity takes place during the summer, when the holiday homeowners and tourists arrive, and the whole valley awakens from hibernation. Dyrdal is today used by enthusiastic hikers, some enjoy visiting the distinctive cluster farm down on the quay, whilst others take the cultural historical walk up to the Drægo summer farm, where they offer overnight accommodation and delicious locally produced food. As with Syvi Farm on the other side of the fjord, the last year-round resident of Dyrdal, Arild Dyrdal also had a visit from NRK and an episode of «places that no one would believe you could live» made about him.