"Why book Union Øye? For full immersion into the spectacular scenery of Norway’s Sunnmøre Alps. Set the scene The hotel sits at the edge of the tiny hamlet of Øye, surrounded by high, jagged peaks and a short walk from the shores of Norangsfjord, a tributary of the larger Hjorundfjord. The nearest major town, and gateway to the Sunnmøre Alps, is Ålesund which has a regional airport. Guests are encouraged to make their arrival at Hotel Union Øye an exciting part of their journey, hence the preferred route in is either by boat to a small jetty on the fjord or by helicopter to a landing pad beside the hotel. Either way affords a scenic feast for the eyes. Arrival by road (two hours from Alesund) takes longer and, though equally impressive in landscape, lacks the same wow factor. The backstory The quaint, red and cream half-timbered exterior of Hotel Union Øye, with its decorative fish scale roof and fanciful wooden latticework, belies the fact that it is fundamentally a prefabricated building, designed by Norwegian architect and industrialist Christian Thams in the late 19th century and delivered by ship to be assembled as a hotel in 1891. Various embellishments have been added to the hotel over the years, not least during the major refurbishment of 2022, which saw the arrival of the new Conservatory restaurant—also a prefabricated building, in a gentle nod to the past. An illustrious roll call of guests has been drawn to Union Øye over the years, inspired by the landscape, an indefatigable sense of adventure and the clean Norwegian air. Karen Blixen, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Henrik Ibsen all loved this spot, as did Queen Maud of Norway, the composer Edvard Grieg and Kaiser Wilhelm II, who liked to turn up with his own bath in tow. A new chapter opened, however, in 2009 when the hotel was bought by the Flakk family, keen environmentalists and pioneers of sophisticated travel experiences in Norway under brand name 62°Nord. Storfjord Hotel, a self-styled ‘slow life hideaway’ forty minutes’ drive from Ålesund, and Hotel Brosundet in Ålesund itself, are also in the Flakk’s fold, to which will soon be added a new brand of less refined, less luxurious ‘base camp’ hotels, plus an exciting hotel project in Oslo. Watch this space. The rooms There’s a museum-like quality to the 24 bedrooms in the main building where decorative wallpapers, heavy brocade and damask, and Norwegian antiques combine to exude an air of old-world, Edwardian glamor, echoed in the downstairs public spaces. Doors to unoccupied bedrooms are left open with a rope slung across the entranceway so guests can peek in to see what they might be missing. Three new suites were added to the main building in the 2022 refurbishment, including the Queen’s Suite with its quirky ‘ring for champagne’ bell beside the bath. It works! 14 further rooms, more modern-Scandinavian in style (pared back, elemental in their use of wood, stone and natural textiles) are ranged across a cluster of five new-build farmhouses with traditional grass roofs. Food and drink The hotel’s dining concept aims to offer guests a ‘taste of the fjords’ hence, where possible, all the food is sourced locally and the menu tweaked daily according to what is available. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner the new Conservatory restaurant offers a three-course, fine-dining set menu each evening (think scallop ceviche, pan-seared turbot or beef tenderloin); the historic dining room offers a less formal, a la carte menu, while sandwiches and small plates can be ordered in the new Palm Bar—a Belle Epoque extravaganza of tasselled banquettes, flouncy ferns and ostrich feather lamps. Don’t miss the signature Slingsby Sling cocktail. Adventurers are encouraged each morning to load up on Great Grandma Ingvarda’s ‘porridge for pioneers’ before setting off with a packed lunch, ordered the night before. The spa There is no spa as yet at Hotel Union Øye with nature still regarded as the perfect tonic for weary minds and bodies. The neighborhood/area For adventure seekers and adrenalin junkies, Hotel Union Øye’s activity options are manifold, whatever the time of year. Summer and autumn are best for hiking (the hotel offers several different, graded routes) with the ultimate challenge being an ascent of Mount Slogen, the ‘prettiest peak in Norway’ according to 19th-century English mountaineer William Slingsby and regular hotel guest. Wild swimming, kayaking, and cycling are on the cards, too (kayaks, e-bikes and mountain bikes can be rented from the hotel) and 62°Nord has a fleet of boats—and helicopters - for exploring the fjords (don’t miss Geiranger, perhaps the most iconic fjord in Norway). Feeling less energetic? No matter. This part of the country has some of the greatest driving roads and the hotel has two electric Porsche Taycans for guests’ use. In winter, when the days are short and temperatures plummet, snowshoeing and ski touring can be arranged; or just nip into the hotel’s garden where the summer lily pond becomes a skating rink. The service Heading the team of staff is the charming Marianne Øye. The name is no coincidence as her family have lived in Øye for generations and her father once co-owned the hotel. Like Marianne, many of the staff members are from the immediate vicinity, bringing with them tales of local history and folklore, which they share with the guests at after-dinner story-telling sessions in the drawing room. Staff are always friendly and obliging, ready to throw another log on the fire or bring around an evening tipple. A specialist activity concierge helps guests plan each day’s adventures. For families Children of all ages are welcome though the hotel is better suited to active children old enough to make the most of the adventures on the doorstep. Some of the bigger rooms and suites can accommodate extra beds; alternatively, Torestova, a standalone, three-bedroom house is ideal for families. Eco effort The Flakks are keen advocates of sustainability, and the family company is currently behind a new hydrogen hub designed to provide zero-emission fuel solutions to all those ferries and cruise ships which pollute the sparkling waters of Norway’s fjords. At Hotel Union Øye all heating and electricity are hydro-powered, all construction materials used in the recent refurbishment have been sourced in Norway and, where possible, all staff members are recruited locally. The hotel has been certified by the Eco-Lighthouse Foundation (the first national certification scheme in Europe to be recognized by the European Commission) for its environmental efforts and social responsibility. Accessibility In the main building, an elevator links the ground floor to the second and third floors. One bedroom in this building and three in the farmhouses have been adapted for disabled guests. Anything left to mention Hotel Union Øye is famously haunted. Keep an eye out for love-lorn Linda, who makes the occasional appearance. She’s harmless, apparently—just heartbroken." - Rick Jordan
