Åmot: Fjords, Fireplaces and Foraging in Bygstad, Norway

The long way round (but worth it)

Getting to Åmot isn’t hard—but it does make you work just enough to feel like you’ve earned it. The estate is located in Sunnfjord, in the town of Bygstad, about a 3-hour scenic drive north of Bergen (or a 1 hour flight from Bergen with a quick 10-minute drive to the property). The drive winds through some of the most staggeringly beautiful landscapes you’ll ever see—forests, lakes, valleys that look like a set designer had too much budget and went wild.

Then, arriving at Åmot feels more like pulling into a private movie set than a hotel. The original white farmhouse stands calmly at the center of the estate, surrounded by historic outbuildings that have been reimagined with the kind of care usually reserved for museum pieces. It’s all aged roofs and humble Scandinavian lines, but without an ounce of pretension. You’re met with a gentle gravel crunch underfoot and the kind of silence that actually feels luxurious. There’s a carved wooden gate, hedgerows that are clearly enjoying retirement, and views that unfurl like a Norwegian lullaby. It’s elegant, yes—but also endearingly rural.

Yet, this is the kind of exclusive-use property that doesn’t do anything halfway. It’s full buyout only, sleeping up to 14 guests across five rooms and suites, which means no strangers popping into your evening soak or asking awkward questions about your hiking shoes at breakfast. And while it may be a historical farmhouse, the restoration has seamlessly blended charm with modern comforts that make for a perfect haven amongst the natures of Norway.

Polished, not precious

Åmot is built for togetherness, but not in the forced-fun kind of way. The common areas are warm, minimalist and inviting. The original farmhouse now houses a series of living spaces that feel more like someone’s exceptionally tasteful country home than a hotel. Interiors lean into natural materials—light woods, wool, leather and stone—without falling into the all-too-familiar ‘Scandi cliché’ trap. You’ll find deep armchairs made for long chats and short naps, bookshelves that are clearly used and flickering fireplaces that seem to light themselves at exactly the right moment.

The large dining room is the heart of the house, set under timber beams with candlelit evenings that could tempt even the most adamant early sleeper to stay up past their bedtime. There’s also an outdoor courtyard with seating and fire pits, plus gardens that supply ingredients to the kitchen and fresh inspiration for lingering walks. And, in this remote setting, you’ll be forgetting about your phone the moment you hear your first waterfall.

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Historic rooms with modern manners

At Åmot, the accommodations unfold like chapters in a very well-designed novel. The estate is divided between two main buildings: Villaen, the stately white villa dating back to 1890, and the Cottage, a cozy guesthouse that’s been standing since the 1820s—both restored with just the right balance of reverence and flair. The villa houses three en-suite bedrooms, one on each floor, while the cottage features four additional bedrooms, two of which can be combined into a family suite if you’re traveling with your own little clan of curious adventurers.

What makes these rooms stand out isn’t just the historical bones or the impeccable restoration—it’s the interiors. Each space is exuberantly furnished with a mix of bold textiles, inherited treasures, and an utterly unbothered confidence in color. Deep greens, saturated purples and warm woods come together with quirky heirlooms and the kind of Norwegian antiques that look like they still have stories to tell (and possibly a few opinions). It’s warm, expressive and the exact opposite of beige minimalism. You’re not just sleeping in a room—you’re inhabiting someone’s memories, wrapped in velvet and framed by weathered beams.

In Villaen, each suite pays homage to one of the remarkable women who helped shape Åmot over the past two centuries. Take the Rollaug Suite, named for Steinar’s aunt, who was known for her hospitality and cake skills—two things the Norwegians do not take lightly. Sunlight floods through old-pane windows onto a perfectly worn kitchen table where you can sip coffee and, if you're lucky, nibble something homemade while pretending you're part of the family. And in many ways, once you’ve settled in here, you sort of are.

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Dining at Åmot? A feast of foraged finds…

Let’s talk about Thomas. Head chef Thomas is the culinary mastermind at Åmot, and by "culinary mastermind," we mean he’s the guy who might disappear into the forest after breakfast and return with the fixings for dinner. Foraging isn’t a novelty here—it’s the norm. Mushrooms, herbs, berries, edible flowers—Thomas pulls flavor from the very soil, moss and trees around you. Yes, really. His menus change daily based on what’s available and what he feels like cooking, and the result is food that feels both local and global.

Breakfasts are hearty and relaxed—homemade bread, cured meats, eggs from the neighbor’s hens, and preserves that make you question everything you’ve ever known about jam. Dinners are typically indulgent affairs served communally in the main dining room, though private setups can be arranged, whether under the trees or fireside in the barn. Every dish tells a story—usually one that begins with “So I was out walking this morning…” And, you’ll get to experience the true flavors of Norwegian country food, like lightly cured Jølstra trout with spring onions, sour cream sauce & oat crackers with dried wild garlic. For dessert? Perhaps marinated cloudberries from Eimhjelle mountains with caramel ganache, cloudberry sorbet & cocoa biscuit. 

Don’t expect a printed menu or signature cocktail list. Expect a conversation, a surprise, and possibly a course served on a piece of bark. It works. Post dinner, head to the converted Smoke House for cocktails near the crackling fireplace or curl up with a good book as you lull yourself into inner peace with the views of gardens and mountains outside the aged windows.

Forest bathing without the buzzwords

There’s no spa menu at Åmot. There’s no receptionist waiting with cucumber water and a forced smile. What you’ll find instead is a natural rhythm of rest and restoration that unfolds organically. The outdoor hot tub will serve as your heat therapy, while a nearby glacial river will provide the ‘cold plunge’ portion of the program. Morning yoga sessions are held in the upstairs studio in the barn.

On-site, it’s all delightfully low-key and personal, with wellness woven into the experience rather than plastered onto it. The real personal rejuvenation comes with all of the experiences surrounding the property, with some of the most defining features of Åmot that lay beyond the gate.

The surrounding region of Sunnfjord doesn’t shout for your attention—it quietly earns it. Remote and majestic, it’s a place where waterfalls sneak up on you around hairpin turns, forests stretch wide and whispery, and the light shifts like it's in cahoots with the clouds. Whether you're arriving with hiking boots, swimwear or a slightly unrealistic plan to do both in one day, Åmot’s setting is a living invitation to get outside and stay there.

Adventure here is layered—from gentle to bold. You can kayak through glassy fjords, swim in glacier-fed waters (bracing, but brag-worthy), or cruise the dramatic Dalsfjord by private boat with a local guide who knows every hidden inlet and century-old farmhouse along the shoreline. If you're the type who likes a bird’s-eye view, a scenic helicopter flight will give you a sense of just how staggering this landscape really is. E-bike or drive the waterfall route through the valley, where cascades tumble like spilled champagne, or walk your way toward the clouds on a hike up Storehesten, the area's grandest peak. And for the more grounded: wander through flower-dotted valleys or try your hand at fishing in the wild and clear Gaula River, where the water is so clean it feels almost rude not to drink it (which you can, by the way, it’s that clean!).

Sunnfjord life is closely tied to the land—and you can feel that in everything here. Learn about local traditions from the people who live them daily, visit nearby farms or go riding through open pastures that look like they were lifted straight from a storybook. Even a simple bike ride through the valley becomes cinematic, framed by cliffs and the occasional herd of unbothered sheep. The beauty here isn’t curated or manufactured—it just is. And the best part? You don’t have to share it with crowds. It’s all yours, if only for a little while.

Åmot will get an A-plus

What makes Åmot exceptional is not just the setting, or even the precision of the restoration—it’s the ethos. Steinar and Yngve haven’t tried to recreate the past. They’ve acknowledged it, honored it, and then used it as a foundation for something new. Everything here is sourced thoughtfully and maintained with respect for both the land and the people who once worked it. Even the underfloor heating is powered by ground-source heat pumps, proving that sustainability doesn’t have to mean compromising comfort.

There’s an almost monastic peace to the estate, but it’s layered with warmth and ease. It’s the kind of place where guests often come for the nature and leave raving about the people. And the food. Never forget the food.

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Åmot isn’t flashy. It’s not trying to be the next “hot spot” or reinvent luxury. It’s comfortable in its own skin, and that confidence is contagious. You won’t find infinity pools or branded slippers here. But you will find a sense of grounding that’s surprisingly hard to come by, even at the most exclusive retreats. Whether you’re paddleboarding past waterfalls, sipping wine by the fire or just watching clouds drag their feet across the fjord, there’s a sense that time slows down here—not in a lazy way, but in a deliberate one.

So if you’re the kind of traveler who likes their luxury with a bit of dirt under the nails, who prefers fresh-caught trout over tasting menus, and who doesn’t mind being humbled by a really good stream—Åmot might just ruin you for everywhere else.

And fair warning: your tap water back home will never taste the same again.