Froland: Culture, Trails and Nature
Accommodation in Froland
Discover Froland through a wide range of experiences: the history of the Frolands Verk ironworks, old trails through cultural landscapes, forest reserves and groomed ski trails. There are also hikes, swimming spots and a day-trip cabin. Choose what will shape your stay according to your interests—from cultural history to active days outdoors.
Industrial history and old trails
Frolands Verk was founded in 1763 and operated as an ironworks until 1867. The business then shifted to forestry and sawmilling. The main building has been protected since 1924. Together with the farm complex, the garden and the surrounding outdoor area, it forms a museum site. On a guided tour of the main building, the route leads to Bukkerommet: Niels Henrik Abel lived there during the last months of his life and died in 1829.
The Allmannavegen also connects landscape with history. The old road has been used since the Viking Age. The Froland section is about 20 kilometres long; where possible, the marked route follows the original course of the road. Cultural monuments and cultural landscapes lie along the way: burial mounds, barns, old settlement sites and hay meadows. Information boards are also placed along the route. As you hike, you can learn about not only the landscape along the trail, but also its various traces of history.
Hiking and experiencing nature
For a shorter hike, consider the loop around Mørløsvannet. It takes about 45 minutes and has numerous places to stop and rest. If you want to include a climb, consider Blåfjell: it reaches 260 metres, and the climb from the turning area takes about half an hour. These details offer different points of reference for planning your day, without implying a walking time for other trails.
A distinctive landscape can be found at Bleshelleren, in a protected coniferous forest reserve. Bleshellerfjell forms a roof over a partly open cave; Einerfjell offers wide-ranging views. Bleshelleren also has a place in history: during the children’s walks of the 19th century, it served as an overnight stop and provided shelter from the weather and wind on the journey from Vest-Agder to the wealthy farms in Aust-Agder. In Urdalen Nature Reserve, by contrast, the focus is on the species-rich deciduous forest. Management aims to preserve it in a natural forest state and maintain the associated biological diversity, including particularly rich populations of demanding and rare fungi, lichens and vascular plants.
Ski trails, swimming spots and excursions
There are ski trails of different lengths for cross-country skiing. The Øynaheia trail network has loops of 2.2, 7.0, 14.6 and 16.5 kilometres. In the Øynaheia/Toplandsheia area, which lies in Birkenes/Froland, groomed trails are available for both skating and classic cross-country skiing. Jomås Løypelag grooms around 20 kilometres of cross-country trails, divided into loops of varying lengths. The Bøylefoss ski trail can be accessed at Bøylestad station, in Eivindstad at the end of the public road, and at Sleikbekk along Jomåsveien.
There are two different destinations for swimming outings: Frolandia is a swimming complex with several pools, a water slide and a diving tower. The bathing beach at Trevann has a large sandy beach. Krossbu, meanwhile, is a day-trip cabin on Krossåsen near Osedalen. It serves as a destination for an outing where you can take a break, eat a packed meal and enjoy nature.
If you are looking for a holiday rental in Froland, use the experiences that matter most to you as the starting point for your choice. Frolands Verk and the Allmannavegen offer cultural and historical discoveries; hiking trails, nature reserves, ski trails and swimming spots offer other possibilities. First consider which of these activities you want to shape your holiday, then choose your accommodation based on the places you actually plan to visit.
Places in Froland
Other places to discover in Froland include Froland, Mykland, Mjåvatn, Hynnekleiv and Frolands Verk.
For the main travel overview: Aust-Agder.
More destinations
More places in the same destination:
