Halhjem

Halhjem offers unusual insights into the landscape and cultural history of Vargavågen: Bronze Age rock carvings can be found on a rocky outcrop, and traces of a former quarry are visible in the surrounding area. There is also a large sea cave, a climbing area and ferry connections across the Bjørnafjord. Which of these aspects interests you most on your trip may also shape your choice of where to stay.

Rocky outcrop between a bay and a valley hollow

Grødalshaug lies at the end of Vargavågen. The rocky outcrop is 30 metres high and is situated between the bay and a damp valley hollow. This setting makes the immediate landscape around the site especially easy to appreciate: rock, water and a damp valley area are among the described features of the surroundings. If you choose Halhjem for its landscape and history, this is a specific place where you can experience both together.

Rock carvings and traces of the quarry

The rock carvings at Vargavågen are around 3,000 years old and date from the Bronze Age. They provide a historical point of interest distinct from the more recent use of the rock: soapstone was once quarried at Grødalshaug. Traces of this quarry are still visible in several places in the area around the rock carvings. The quarry at Vargavågen was already in operation long before the Middle Ages.

Here, you can encounter both prehistoric rock art and evidence of earlier soapstone extraction in one place. If you are travelling with children, these different traces can provide an opportunity to talk about the history of the site. They concern two distinct subjects, rather than a single, uniform use of the rock.

Visiting Vargavågen and climbing

For a visit to Grødalshaug, it is recommended that you walk around the bay at low tide and then continue a short distance in a southwesterly direction. The water level is therefore an important part of this visit recommendation; plan accordingly. Another striking natural feature at Vargavågen is Vargahola: the large cave lies in a cliff face right at sea level, at the entrance to Vargavågen.

Climbing is another possible interest in Halhjem. The climbing area has routes graded from 4+ to 7−. If you would like to include climbing in your trip, you can use these grades to assess whether the stated range of routes suits your interests. This offers a different focus when choosing where to stay than a trip devoted primarily to the rock carvings and the history of the quarry.

Ferry connections across the Bjørnafjord

There are also two named ferry connections across the Bjørnafjord. The Halhjem–Sandvikvåg route on the E39 crosses the Bjørnafjord to Sandvikvåg in the municipality of Fitjar. The Våge–Halhjem route connects the Bjørnafjord with the municipality of Tysnes. These destinations provide a specific point of reference if the ferry connections are relevant to your travel plans. No information about departure times or journey duration is provided here.

When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home, you can first consider which aspects of Halhjem interest you most: the Bronze Age carvings and traces of quarrying, the rocky coastline and Vargahola, climbing or the ferry connections. These priorities can help you decide what kind of trip you want, without combining the different experiences into a single itinerary.

More location pages

If you would like to browse more location pages as you make your choice, you can also find Osøyro, Hagavik, Os, Nordstrøno, Lepsøy and Lysekloster here.

Back to the main travel overview: Os.