1. Vikodden
The beautiful peninsula, a 5-minute drive from the house. You can walk all the way round it in an hour and the terrain is easy to navigate.
There’s a barbecue, and there are picnic benches in various spots. You can go for a swim as there are plenty of little beaches.
It’s simply a lovely place to start or end your day. The light changes every hour. Take your coffee with you and sit on the bench gazing out over the Nisser. It’s very calming.
2. Bij ons naar boven, Stigane, Noraberg, Rindefjell
It’s quite extraordinary that you can set off on such lovely hikes from the house. You rarely come across anyone else, and the view from the top of all three is so stunning that it’s a bit addictive. On a lovely day, you simply want to head back up again. It’s a challenging trek, but well within the capabilities of an experienced walker. Take some food and drink with you and, once you’re at the top, imagine yourself as a mountaineer. Pure euphoria.
3. Vrådal skisenter
The trip up by car is an experience in itself. What a view! You can walk past the ski lifts to the viewpoint with its picnic bench. You can also head straight up onto the rocks and marvel at their beautiful rounded shapes, covered in green lichen. The rocks were polished completely smooth during the Ice Age and are grass-green in colour due to the lichen, giving them a charming appearance. There are various walks to choose from. It can get quite boggy there if it’s rained heavily.
4. Venelifjell
It’s a bit of a drive up there by car. And the road is closed when there is snow. It’s a toll road, so don’t forget to pay at the sign by the roadside.
You start to wonder if it will ever end, but then suddenly you’re at the top in the car park. It’s not a large car park, so in summer, go early or in the late afternoon. Sometimes you walk along planks, then you clamber over tree roots, and sometimes you’re on a straight path. Meanwhile, the view gets more and more beautiful. There are various distances you can cover and marked trails to choose from. Walk as far as the picnic bench or carry on to the lake with the hikers’ hut. There are picnic benches and a barbecue there. You can also go all the way to the top; it’s a tough climb.
5. Grimstad
Our favourite coastal town. It has a charming little harbour, a fish market and a lovely shopping centre. In the summer, there are lots of boats and it gets a bit busy, but not in the ‘Zandvoort way’. There’s a pleasant buzz about the place and it’s great fun to wander around. You look out over the Skagerrak (the sea between Norway and Denmark) and the clean, salty air is so different from that in the Netherlands.
6. Lillesand
A charming little coastal town. A friendly, cosy atmosphere. You can take a trail uphill, and you’ll go through the woods (with the ‘branch art’) and eventually reach the top. The view is well worth the effort. Stunning! You can also go for a walk in Homborsund. That walk is quite a challenge, though. You’ll have to scramble over rocks quite often. Even if you’re getting a bit fed up with those boulders you have to climb over every now and then, you’ll still find yourself thoroughly enjoying the sea view with the beautiful white lighthouse.
7. Kragero
A lovely coastal town with its characteristic white houses. It’s a town that loves art, so you’ll find plenty of small galleries there, and the walk uphill is well worth it here too. It’s not a strenuous walk, so it’s suitable for anyone who doesn’t want to reach the top out of breath.
8. Gautefal
It looks like a vast field of hytte (and it is), but it’s a wonderful place for a walk and you’ll be surprised how few people you come across. As you walk uphill, you can see how the Ice Age shaped the rocks here too. Sometimes the terrain is rugged, and then suddenly you come across a large plateau. There are sweeping views and plenty of spots where you can sit down to enjoy the packed lunch you’ve brought with you. Suitable for experienced hikers as well as beginners.
9. Prestjønn
A lovely lake and a very peaceful spot to sit. You can get there via various routes, either via Vrådal Eidsto or via Vrådal Klubbhus skyttarlag.
A lovely walk over flat terrain. Well suited to inexperienced hikers. It can get a bit soggy after heavy rain, but there are planks laid out to walk across. We once came across an otter there, much to the dogs’ delight. To our great relief, they were on a lead at the time.
10. Hægefjell, not for the faint-hearted
This one deserves an honourable mention. If you look out of the house, you’ll see that imposing mountain (the bare one).
That’s the one: the Hægefjell. 1,021 metres above sea level and a favourite among rock climbers and experienced hikers. Set aside a whole day for it and double the time you see quoted on various websites, because this is a real challenge and can be quite gruelling at times. The summit is enormous, and with a pair of binoculars you can see our house. A fantastic experience, but not suitable for inexperienced hikers or the faint-hearted.
