Kinsarvik

Kinsarvik has probably been a centre for the inner Hardanger districts back in prehistory. History tells us that in medieval times there was a marketing place, a “kaupang”, here; a connecting point in the communications between east and west. There were supposedly around 300 residents here but the place was likely wiped out in a great fire.

Måbødalen- geology

The old pack road had 1500 steps, where cars today gas through the mountain. The time of this hard work is over, and of getting used to the steep terrain, as well; only the view from the top is much the same as before. Vøringsfossen in summer is one of Western Norway’s biggest natural wonders. It marks the transition between the older, open part of the Sysendalen valley and the younger, narrow and winding valley of Måbødalen.

Skytjedalen

Hårteigen

Hårteigen, «the grey signpost», as the name suggests, is a landmark for mountain hikers on the western plateau. The piece of mountain is also a monument for the mighty rock layers that once covered the entire plateau.

Dalland

Onarheim

Hopssundet

Lokksundet

If you should happen to be in a small boat in Lokksundet sound when the ocean currents from the fjord meet the counter currents in the sound, you will almost certainly wish you were on dry land! Under such conditions, the waves can become so high and so steep that they break.

Espevik

220 million years ago, glowing hot molten rock masses intruded into fractures in the earth's crust in the outer parts of Hordaland. Some of these are believed to have reached the surface and formed lava flows, which since have been eroded away by wind and weather. But, most of these flows solidified into diabase sills before they got to the surface.

Halne

At Halnefjorden, a few hundred metres east of Halne mountain lodge, lie the remains of two stone sheds – Halnelægeret. Some generations ago the cattle drovers stopped here in the summer; they were the cowboys of their time. But Halnelægeret already had a long history before the cattle drovers came.