Uttakleiv Beach

Uttakleiv lies immediately west of Haukland, reached by a single-lane tunnel through the headland, and it has a different character: less sand, more rounded boulders and rock shelves, and a wide open aspect looking north over the sea. That northern view is why it has become one of the most photographed places in Norway, since the aurora appears directly over the water in winter and the midnight sun crosses the same horizon in summer. Among the rocks is a heart-shaped pool, Uttakleiv's most reproduced subject. A coastal path runs back over the headland to Haukland in about half an hour, and grazing sheep are usually on the slopes above.

What you actually see

• The boulder shore - rounded stones and rock shelves rather than open sand.
• The heart-shaped pool - a rock formation among the boulders.
• The northern horizon - the aspect that makes it an aurora location.
• The coastal path - a walk over the headland to Haukland.

When to go

September to March for the northern lights, with clear nights the limiting factor; June to August for the midnight sun on the same horizon. Summer days are busy, winter nights crowded with photographers on clear evenings.

Honest expectations

The boulders are slippery and awkward to walk on, especially in the dark. Parking is charged and limited, and camping restrictions have tightened after years of overuse. The heart-shaped pool is small and depends on the tide.

Nearby

Haukland is over the headland; Unstad, Eggum and Leknes are elsewhere on Vestvagoy.