65°36’20”N, 11°50’20”E Vega Island Hideaway, Norway

Growing from the rocks, this seaside cabin has an air of belonging and permanence. Designed by the Stockholm-based studio Kolman Boye Architects, its neat gable roofs recall the traditional naust boathouses that dot Norway’s fishing villages.

The interiors are uncluttered, tactile and warm and beautifully harmonious, with decor that references classic Scandinavian design styles from vintage to contemporary. Picture windows frame the bedrock, the sea, the mountains, creating a gallery of natural art that is ever-changing. Steel kitchen countertops and natural textiles play against a background of whitewashed wood and natural birch, reflecting that incredible Helgelandsk light.

Rooms are arranged on two levels that follow the land’s topography. The lower level is a lofty open-plan living area with a kitchen, dining table and snug sitting area, all arranged around a central stone fireplace – the heart of this home. The upper level houses two double bedrooms and a bathroom; there’s another small double bedroom up in the attic, making this a great getaway for a family or close friends. Every detail is considered; nothing detracts from those mesmerising views.

How far to the nearest…

• Beach 50m
• Neighbour 1km
• Shop 12km
• Café 12km
• Town 12km
• Airport 50km / 1.5hr by car ferry

Off-grid credentials

Build Sited in a natural fissure with no disturbance to the landscape. Pine structure with untreated birch joinery and linseed-oiled cladding.

Energy Underfloor heating. Wood-burning stove. Electricity and water from local network.

Community Sustainability has been a way of life here for over 1,500 years: find out more at the World Heritage Exhibition in Nes, or visit Lånan to learn how locals make a living from their relationship with Eider duck colonies.

Digital detox No TVs or hi-tech gadgets.

Creature comforts 4G Phone reception. Coffee machine. Washing machine. Toaster. Binoculars.

Vega is quiet year round, but footfall is highest in July and August, when the midnight sun lengthens summer days, and everything is open for the season (May–Sep). Milder months in spring bring wildflowers to bloom and migrating birds to nest in their thousands. Autumn is invigorating, bringing storms from the sea. Winter’s snowy silence is truly special – you’ll have the place to yourselves in December and January – but it’s also when many islanders shut up shop: plan ahead, and stock up on provisions. Your sense of adventure might be rewarded with a sighting of the Northern Lights.

Go slow

Hike along uninhabited shores from Eidem to Sundsvoll; cast a line for fish; climb Trollvasstinden mountain for spectacular views of the archipelago; or meander to Juvika and Levika, Eidem’s best beaches, spotting wild orchids and seabirds while you stroll – Vega in spring is an ornithologist’s dream. In summer, kayak around the coast – the waters are clear, shallow and great for paddling and snorkelling. Catch the boat to meet Lånan’s unique Eider duck keepers or cycle to Nes to visit the World Heritage centre and E-huset, the Eider House museum.

This island cluster of strandflats and skerries provides abundant shellfish, game, fish and farm produce. Only 20 minutes away in Viksås, award-winning chef Jon Aga runs Vega Havhotell with energy and charm. Sustainable, seasonal, local produce sourced fresh each day is transformed into four-course feasts, served with huge helpings of Nordic hygge.

Vega imposes its stillness on you, helping you to slow down and find pleasure in the tiniest detail. Settle into a window seat and gaze out upon glassy waters, lichen-kissed boulders and ragged mountain bedrock.