These days the newspapers write almost daily about overcrowded outdoor destinations in a time where social distancing is more important than ever. Staying safe and getting some fresh air and exercise, one place should be on your radar: Skomakernibbå.

The list of spectacular natural wonders in Western Norway keeps growing. The Pulpit Rock, Trolltunga and Kjerag are the three famous ones, always filled with tourists. Then we came across Himakånå, a kind of miniature Trolltunga. And then there was Kolbolten, a miniature version of Kjeragbolten (that we apparently haven’t written about, more to follow soon!).

This week another place came to our attention, as spectacular as the others, namely Skomakernibbå. Or Skomakarnibbå. There seems to be more than one way of spelling all these places (yes, take a hint, Himakånå/Himakåna/Himåkåno).

About an hour and a half of driving from Stavanger and up a very winding road lies a small parking lot next to a lake and a farm. Signs reading “Skomakernibbå” are clearly placed at every turn and it is close to impossible not to find the way. The hike is a bit more than 6 km each way, almost half of it on tractor roads or wide forest paths.

That all sounds good, but then there was this rather strange looking elevation profile…

210 meter incline in 200 meters… Luckily Ut.no (the Google of hiking in Norway) got a bit carried away when drawing the elevation profile, nonetheless, there is a mountain to scale, quite understandably given that the destination is on top of it. Thankfully there is a path all the way and climbing up is manageable. Making this trip in winter with snow and ice is questionable, but in spring and summer, even when wet, is completely fine.

A great thing about this trip is that you don’t have to hike all the way to the end before the great views show up. While scaling the mountain the views of the coastline of Western Norway can be seen and the last 500-600 meters towards Skomakernibbå are filled with views of steep and breathtaking cliffs.

Located 120 meters before Skomakernibbå is another rock formation so great that many mistake it for being the final destination. However, it isn’t and it is called Karstykket.

Once you reach Skomakernibbå there is no doubt, the huge plateau with the pointy cliff below is a very special sight.

Note: Skomakernibbå itself (the pointy cliff below the plateau) is very unstable and is not to be climbed under any circumstances!

The hike take about 2-3 hours going up and 1.5-2 hours back down again. Parking is 100 kr (10 euros) and can be paid with the Norwegian banking service Vipps or paid in cash. As for most places in Norway payment is based on an honesty-system (you do need a receipt, but you write it yourself…).