4 experiences worth a detour
Vettisriket gives you four experiences in the inner parts of Sogn that are worth a detour. These experiences are not located along the main road, but offers the greater wow factor. Are you in? You will reach our destination if you follow the road 53, by taking the turn towards Årdal when you pass the Turtagrø hotel in Jotunheimen or by following the road going along the Sognefjord all the way to the end instead of just following the main road towards Oslo or Bergen.
1) Skogadalsbøen mountain cabin
A young couple from Årdal are now working as hosts at the Skogadalsbøen cabin. The welcome you with big smiles. PHOTO: Skogadalsbøen/DNT
Already around 1870 came the first tourists and mountaineers to Skogadalsbøen. In the beginning they got accommodated in summer farms that were in operation in the summer. Eventually more tourists discovered this beautiful area and thus was Skogadalsbøen built, as No. 8 in the series of DNT cabins. Both financing and transport posed major challenges, but in summer 1888 after 12 years of work the cabin was finally ready to receive guests. Skogadalsbøen quickly gave shelter to several famous mountaineers.
The first hikers in 1888, among other the englishman William Cecil Slingsby and his entourage of mountaineers stayed at the lodge, as did the famous norwegian composer Edvard Grieg - not just one, but several summers.
Skogadalsbøen is the place for those who want to experience the good old mountain environment in the middle of Jotunheimen. The cottage is beautifully situated in Utladalen at the foot of Gjertvasstind and Fannaråken. Skogadalsbøen you will definitely return to more than once.
2) Tya Bakery | Cafè | Bar
Tya Bakery is a handcraft bakery situated in the centre of Øvre Årdal. Tya Bakery is very popular amongst the locals, so a visit is highly recommended if you love baked goods, cakes and good coffee.
Tya Bakeri offer local produce without artificial addition and with a minimal amount of yeast.
The Bakery Shop is situated in the middle of town in Øvre Årdal, but you can also buy both bread and cakes at the Klingenberg Hotel in Årdalstangen and at Vivendi in Lærdal.
Tya Bar offer lokal beer from Tya Brewery and other small scale breweries in Sogn. More information: www.tyabakeri.no
3) The old Indre Ofredal farm and rural industries centre
The Old Indre Ofredal farm and rural industries centre lies at the bottom of the steep-sided valley of Indre Ofredal. The farm is close to the waterfall Kleivefossen, and the Sognefjord is its nearest neighbour.
You can reach Indre Ofredal by car from Årdalstangen via Seimsdalen and the Ofredal tunnel. You can also go by boat from Årdalstangen, or you can paddle the beautiful Årdalsfjord in a kayak to get there.
PHOTO: Bulder & Brak Adventures
From the middle of the 19th century and up to World War II, Ofredal was an important centre for trade and rural industry in Indre Sogn, with a busy sawmill and flour mill in operation. The valley which may seem almost uninhabited today, was full of activity at that time.
The first sawmill in the valley was established in 1620, and the pine forest in Indre Ofredal is one of the finest in Indre Sogn.
Today the historical farm offer guided trips about the history of the farm and valley, and they offer accommodation and run a summer cafè. It is a magical place absolutey worth the detour!
4) Vetti Farm Touriststation
At Vetti Farm you can stay the night, enjoy local food, say hello to cows and horses and just relax and take in the scenery. PHOTO: www.vettigard.no
Vetti Gard Turiststasjon has been an important place for mountaineers since the mountain pioneers found their way into the valley of Utladalen as early as the 19th century. Famous Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg once said that he became 10 years younger every time he visited Vetti, and chances are that if you have found your way there once, you will want to visit again. The farm has also housed other famous people such as the explorer Fridtjof Nansen, mountaineer William C. Slingsby and the current queen consort of Norway, Queen Sonja.
At present day Vetti Gard Turiststasjon is a farm open during the summer months, found at the heart of Jotunheimen. The farm has 13 rooms and 27 beds in total. Extra beds/mattresses can be put down in the barn. The farm serves food during the summer season.