This 6km-long island, just west of Fredrikstad between Øyenkilen and Engelsviken, has long had royal ties – the Danish Norwegian kings used the island as hunting ground already in the 18th century. As it happens, the herd of fallow deer on Hankø, the only one of its kind in Østfold, is said to have originally been imported from the mainland so the king and his entourage could hunt them. King Olav V, the father of the current monarch, King Harald V, stayed most of the summer at his summer house on Hankø, or onboard the royal yacht Norge, which would be moored nearby. Today the royal residence on the island, Bloksberg, is owned by Princess Märtha Louise and her husband Ari Behn, and their second child, Leah Isadora Behn, was born here in 2005.

Hankø is famous for its regattas, which have been held here in the summer since the 1920s, and draw competitors from around the world. Becoming a member of the exclusive Hankø Yacht Club, however, is not easy – membership is by invitation only, and the club is said to only count 150 members.

Go for a walk instead – there are several trails around the island, including one leading to a viewpoint from the cliff over Trouville on the west side. On the east side, you’ll get a glimpse of the narrow Hankøsundet (just over 100m at its narrowest), which is stunning, and the marina at Vikane. There are also sheltered coves all along the water’s edge, where you can go for a dip or work on your tan (or both). Should you decided to stay the night, the Hankø Hotel & Spa (www.hankohotell.no) has 102 rooms and a restaurant. There is another restaurant at Seilerkroa, by the little marina.

How to get there: Follow Rv117 from Fredrikstad towards Vikane. Here you’ll find a big car park (pay at the machine beforehand) and the little ferry that will take you to Hankø (the crossing takes less than 5 minutes). Alternatively take bus 302 from Fredrikstad.