Discover Lofthus: hiking trails, fjord views and cider

Hiking trails, viewpoints and fruit-growing culture in Lofthus

Lofthus is a fruit-growing and tourist destination with special opportunities to explore the area on foot. Above the village, Hovdakruno is located at a viewpoint on Hovden. HM Queen Sonja’s panoramic hiking trail is on a very different scale: it connects Kinsarvik and Lofthus, passes through the high mountains and is 16 kilometres long. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Lofthus, you can first consider whether you want your stay to focus on a challenging, extended hike, a route with many steps, or an insight into the local cider culture.

Church history on the Sørfjorden

Ullensvang kyrkje stands on a headland south of Lofthus, on the eastern shore of the Sørfjorden, where the Opo river flows into the sea. Its window and portal style dates its construction to between 1250 and 1300. The church was later extended to the west between 1883 and 1885, following a restoration plan by Chr. Christie. A tower was added in front of the west entrance. The building thus reveals two clearly distinct phases: its medieval construction and its 19th-century extension. If you would like to include historic architecture in your trip as well as nature, you will find a specific cultural landmark in the Lofthus area here.

Planning a long high-mountain hike

HM Queen Sonja’s panoramic hiking trail can be walked in either direction and connects Kinsarvik with Lofthus. Allow about 6–9 hours for the hike; the total elevation gain is 1,100 metres. These figures are important when planning the day together: this is not a short loop, but a long hike through the high mountains. So consider in advance whether the distance and elevation gain suit your group and your plans for the day. Choosing a direction does not change the stated length of the route, but lets you choose Kinsarvik or Lofthus as your starting point or destination. Shuttle buses or taxis can be used between the various car parks and the respective trailheads.

Kråkestien: 949 steps to Vetlehedlesnipa

Kråkestien is a distinct destination for a hike. The trail climbs 949 steps to the Vetlehedlesnipa viewpoint. From there, the view stretches over the village of Lofthus and the Hardangerfjord in both directions. The trail starts at the football pitch in Lofthus; parking is available at the sports centre beside the pitch. The number of steps is a useful guide if you are travelling with children or in a group and want to assess together whether the route suits your plans for the day. Kråkestien is therefore quite different from the 16-kilometre high-mountain route: the focus here is on the stepped climb and the viewpoint.

Cider at Helleland Gard

You can also discover the local apple-growing culture at Helleland Gard. The farm produces the cider and apple juice “Heldre Sider og Saft”. Bookable cider tastings with cheese and cured meat are available, as are guided farm tours followed by a cider tasting. This gives you another option for planning your trip, quite different from hiking days: you can include a tasting or a tour followed by a tasting as an interest in its own right. When choosing accommodation for a stay in Lofthus, this distinction can help you decide what you want your trip to focus on, without centring your stay exclusively on long hikes.

Getting here and nearby places

Buses from Odda, Eidfjord, Geilo and Voss stop in Lofthus. The “Hardangerfjord Sightseeing” express boat also stops at the supermarket; from there, bus connections are available to Bergen and Norheimsund. You can plan your journey around these connections. Hikers on HM Queen Sonja’s panoramic hiking trail can also use shuttle buses or taxis between the various car parks and the respective trailheads. You can explore other places on the same higher-level page: Ullensvang, Utne, Kinsarvik, Nå, Vallavik, Vikebygd and Grimo.

Return to the higher-level travel overview: Ullensvang.