Aarvik Gard: A hidden haven in the Norwegian countryside

By Celina Tran

Tucked along the Norwegian west coast, a small farm is frozen in time. Located by the fjord, surrounded by greenery and with a café and organic bakery, Aarvik Gard is a place where you can truly step back and catch your breath.

While no one loves the busy-bee life and bright lights like metropolitans, the noise and crowds can become just a little too much, especially at the height of summer. Why not escape somewhere completely new for a while, swapping out the choir of honking and city noise for birdsong, warm, swelling summer nights, and the lulling seaside?

Aarvik Gard: A hidden haven in the Norwegian countryside

Photo: Viktorija Valionyte

Located along Aarvik river in Vestland County, Aarvik Gard is so much more than just a place of accommodation. The family-run farm is also a place of history, an organic farm-to-table kitchen, and of course, a bakery and café. From comfortable sleep on Nature eco-mattresses and homegrown food to animals and natural surroundings, everything about Aarvik Gard allows guests to be in perfect harmony with nature.

Photo: Viktorija Valionyte

“We want to be a place where people can slow down and find peace, but also connect with other people in a way introverted Norwegian culture doesn’t always allow,” says Ranita Styve Aarvik, who runs Aarvik Gard and bakery along with her husband, Sveinung Aarvik. “More than anything, though, we want to be a place where guests can be a part of nature. They get to see and learn how their food is made, how animals and humans co-exist on a farm, and how all of us – humans, animals, and nature – rely on each other as part of a bigger social and ecological picture.”

Photo: Vigdis Øvreeide

A farm frozen in time

Upon arrival, guests will be greeted by a traditional farmstead consisting of 13 buildings, four of which stand in a cluster. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself wondering if you’ve time-travelled back to a 18th or 19th century Norwegian farm, because many of the buildings can be dated all the way back to then, while the smokehouse and the forge likely being even older. “Aarvik Gard has probably existed since before the 16th century due to its good soil and location by the river and sea,” Ranita explains. “There are many interesting and historic pieces scattered around, from old, hand-carved furniture made by Sveinung’s ancestors, to equipment, utensils and even remains of an old sawmill.”

Photo: Viktorija Valionyte

In more recent times, Ranita decided to bring her knowledge and skills as a baker to the family farm. In May 2020, she opened Mrs Aarvik’s Bakery and Garden Kitchen, where guests and locals can enjoy homemade, organic baked goods. Also available are the many homegrown vegetables and berries, as well as jams and other products produced on-site – completely free of pesticides and artificial fertilizers.

Photo: Viktorija Valionyte

As eco-farmers, Aarvik Gard collaborates with nature to ensure great biological diversity above and below ground. “And of course, we have different animals here, such as coastal goats, bunnies, chickens, minipigs and cats. All of us, even the animals, play a role in taking care of one another and the farm. The cat chases mice, the other animals help protect the chickens from any predatory birds, and so on,” says Ranita.

Photo: Viktorija Valionyte

“It’s beautiful to be part of something bigger. There would’ve been no bakery or accommodation without friends and neighbours. From Veronica and Dag at Lygre Livsgard helping us move, to Maren, Trine and Ketil S. Thorsen from Pavlovastova helping us decorate Oldemors Stove, we relied on our local community and farmer friends to turn the farm into a happy place for everyone.” Now, guests at Aarvik Gard get to kick back, relax, and enjoy the fruits of the local collective labour, all with an excellent view over the fjord and tasty pastries.

Photo: Viktorija Valionyte

Explore the sights of rural Norway

While Aarvik Gard is located rurally, don’t fret – there are plenty of things to do, even on the farm itself. With a great deal of local history on their hands, Ranita and Sveinung offer tours for anyone interested. In addition, Ranita runs workshops where she teaches sourdough baking with heritage grains, as well as yoga weekends. “Of course, the possibilities outside are endless. We’re right next to the seaside, so many people like to go swimming or fishing,” she says. “We also have a rowing boat that guests can borrow if they’d like to hit the waters without getting wet.”

Photo: Viktorija Valionyte

Ranita also recommends exploring the local area, which is full of natural sights and terrains. If you’re new to hiking, Heleknappen is a great and accessible trip for beginners, and if you want something more challenging, Våganipen is also a fantastic hike. For a magnificent nature experience, explore Yddal Nature Reserve in Vestland county, where wildlife is rich and some of the trees are over 300 years old.

Photo: Vigdis Øvreeide

And for those who don’t want to dive straight into a physical challenge, there is everything from award-winning cheese farms to stunning greenhouses at Dalahagen. A particularly interesting spot is the Holdhus Stave Church. It’s one of Western Norway’s oldest wooden churches and home to the country’s only Madonna and the Child sculpture from the Middle Ages.

Try organic, home baked goods at the farm’s bakery. Photo: Viktorija Valionyte

After days of exploring other local farms, old architectural wonders, or natural sights, you can return to the artisan bakery and café at Aarvik Gard where you’ll be welcomed by homemade fresh buns, bread, and a variety of seasonal baked goods and pastries. “And hopefully, once our guests leave, I hope they take home a bit of the peace and happiness they found here, but also knowledge and appreciation for nature and everything it gives us.”