Adventorous trail
It takes about 30 minutes cross the island by foot. However, you should calculate a lot more time – the trail has surroundings that will make you explore many things along the way, i.e. the restored small farms and houses, burial mounds from the Bronze Age, traces of World War II, and one of The Count of Tunsberg's hunting lodges. Parts of the island are accessible by wheelchairs. There is an excellent coastal path from Jensundet to the east to Kogshavnsundet in the west. The length is approx. 1.5 km.
Boat and fishing
The island also has many nice places to moor your boat, as well as piers and fishing spots rich in sea trout and mackerel.
Protected National Park
The island is today a free area for the public, but it is important that visitors adheres to the rules for protected areas in Norway. Mellom Bolæren has a unique natural diversity of rare plant species and insects, and is therefore a protected national park – regularly visited by plant scientist.
History
One of the reasons for the island's attractiveness is that for nearly a hundred years it remained almost untouched due to the Armed Forces’ ownership. They had relatively little activity on the island. Nøtterøy municipality (now Færder) bought the Bolærne Islands in 2004. From then on, there has been a lot of voluntary work on Mellom Bolæren to bring back the island's old soul and charm.
The island has no residents, but it is visited weekly by volunteers who maintain the buildings on the island and clears the trails and roads for the benefit of the general public. If you need guiding on the island, Mellem-Bolærens Friends has exciting stories to tell. Here is the soul and charm that brings good stories to life. But there is also a darker story to tell – the one about the hundreds of sick World War 2 prisoners who were transported to the island and left to die.
Before the Armed Forces took over the island, it was inhabited by lodesmen and fishermen, and in the 19th century it had about 50 residents. The Count of Tunsberg also had his holiday home there. In the old days Tønsberg's population annually celebrated midsummer feast on the island.
Guiding
Guiding is available at Mellem-Bolærens Friends, or directly at Ragnar Gunnarsen on mobile phone + 47 975 91053 or e-mail: ragnargunnarsen@live.no
Access to the island
The Bolærne boat takes you to and from the island, departing from Husvik. During the high season in summer, there are regular departures. More information about transport can be found here.
Alternatively Fjord taxi can be ordered. Otherwise you have to use a private boat.