Slow down and find peace among the friendly animals at Bitteliten Farm, located on Handnesøya just off Nesna.

On the beautiful Handnesøya island, just outside Nesna, you can visit Bitteliten Farm and meet the people and the many special animals living there. While they are farm animals rather than pets, they are quite tame and enjoy human company. They live in harmony with each other, and if you approach them with calmness and confidence, they’ll return that calmness right back. Here, you can slow your pace and truly live in the moment as you get to know them.

You can scratch the pigs’ bellies, feel the rough tongue of the cow Sigrid as she greets you, and get a unique palm massage from the tiny beaks of the ducks when they eat from your hand. Turkeys and goats will happily follow you on a walk, and if you lie down in the heather, they’ll come over to sniff you. Surrounded by this peaceful presence, most visitors find a new sense of calm on the island, close to the animals and in tune with nature.

You’re welcome to extend your visit with a short hike, a walk along the beach, or by painting a plank for the Diversity Fence.

Please note: dogs are not allowed on the farm, out of consideration for the animals living there.

Bitteliten Farm is open during the summer season, roughly from late May to mid-August. Visits are available at set times.

You can find the updated schedule on their website.

Bitteliten Farm is located on Handnesøya island, just off Nesna, about halfway along the Helgeland coast. You can reach the island by ferry from Nesna. The ferry is free and the crossing takes about 30 minutes.

Find directions on Google Maps
Check ferry schedules at ReisNordland.no
Read more about the Nesna Islands and how to get there

Thank you for respecting the local communities, and for helping us preserve the natural beauty of Helgeland!

Please:

  • Strive to leave no trace of your visit. Bring back all your rubbish, including used toilet paper, and discard it in the nearest rubbish bin.
  • Plan your toilet visits and use the opportunity when you pass a toilet. In the wilderness, make sure you are not a nuisance to others.
  • Respect the local wildlife. Keep a good distance from wildlife, livestock and birds. Keep your dog leashed.
  • Respect private property. Keep a respectful distance from houses and cabins.
  • Show good boating sense. Keep a good distance from shore and drive at a low speed, especially when you are close to anyone or anything on the water, including birds or animals. Avoid loud and disturbing engine noise. Be aware that some islands and nature reserves are important nesting sites, and that going ashore is prohibited during the nesting season.
  • Follow the Norwegian Mountain Code (Fjellvettreglene). Plan your excursion according to the weather forecast, your skills and experience.
  • Join a guided excursion or consider hiring an experienced guide, especially when you don’t have sufficient experience or knowledge to guarantee a safe trip.

Welcome to Nesna

The small village of Nesna is ideally situated in the heart of the Helgeland coast. Here, on a peninsula between two fjords, the coast meets the islands, and the fjords meet the mountains, allowing you to enjoy the best of both worlds.

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