Jæren is the flattest piece of Norway's west coast, and on the shore near Bore it feels almost like another country. A long beach of pale sand runs south behind low dunes and marram grass, the North Sea rolls in on broad lines of surf, and inland the land is a patchwork of green fields divided by grey stone walls. There are no fjords here, no mountains close to the sea, just a wide sky and the constant presence of wind.
The landscape was shaped by ice. When the glaciers retreated at the end of the last ice age, they left behind a thick layer of gravel, sand and rounded boulders, and for centuries the farmers of Jæren cleared the stones from their fields by hand, piling them into the walls that crisscross the land today. It was a poor and hard place to farm, and the writer Arne Garborg, who grew up here, described the struggle in his books. Today, with modern methods, Jæren is one of the most productive farming areas in Norway, known for dairy, meat and vegetables.
The coast here is popular with surfers, who come for the waves that roll in from the North Sea, and Borestranden ranks among the best surf beaches in the country, along with the others that stretch south along the shore. There are also important nature reserves, protecting dunes, wetlands and bird habitats, and in spring and autumn the beaches and lakes are busy with migrating birds.
The riding is relaxed. The Jæren scenic route follows the coast on small roads between farms and dunes, with long straights, gentle curves and good surface. Traffic is moderate, heavier near Stavanger and Sandnes, and the wind is the main factor: it can blow hard and steadily off the sea, making riding tiring on the exposed sections. The light here is soft and changeable, and on a clear evening the sunsets over the sea are spectacular.
Bryne, about nine kilometres inland, is the main town of the area, with fuel, shops and cafes. Sola, to the north, has Stavanger's airport. There are small cafes and kiosks near some beaches in summer, but otherwise the coast is quiet. Bring a windproof jacket, even on a warm day.