Ulvik at the innermost end of the Hardangerfjord

At the innermost end of the Hardangerfjord lies Ulvik, surrounded by steep mountains, green valleys and orchards. The landscape shapes your stay as much as the paths and experiences on offer: you can discover different sides of the area, from hiking and learning about local fruit and cider culture to literature and fjord tours.

Hiking trails from the town centre to the high mountains

The family-friendly Liavegen/Jobykse hiking trail leads from the centre of Ulvik along the fruit and cider route to a viewpoint overlooking the Osafjord. The trail has a total elevation gain of 300 metres. Both the route and its elevation gain are useful details to take into account when planning your day.

Ulvik also has an extensive network of marked hiking trails through forests and mountain landscapes. The options range from short walks to challenging high-mountain hikes. If you enjoy spending time outdoors, you can choose from different types of hikes rather than planning your stay around just one. The B-Active Centre also offers guided hikes and bus tours; archery is available indoors.

Orchards, cider and local produce

The fruit and cider route connects the farms Ulvik Frukt & Cideri, Syse Gard and Hardanger Saft- og Siderfabrikk. The farms are within walking distance of the town centre. Tours and product tastings for groups are available by contacting the individual farms. This lets you combine the route with insights into production and opportunities to sample local products.

At Hardanger Saft- og Siderfabrikk, guided tours of the production facilities and farm are followed by a tasting of the products made there. Apples are processed into apple cider, juice, dessert wine and spirits. The farm also has a restaurant serving traditional Norwegian dishes and desserts. Øydve Gardsturisme offers the guided “In Granny’s Tearoom” tour through the orchards, featuring local produce, cake and coffee.

Church, literature and local history

Ulvik kyrkje, consecrated in 1858, stands in the heart of the town centre. Its traditional rosemaling was created by local artist Lars Osa in 1923. Among other things, visitors can see a copy of the medieval painting “Antemensalet” and other historic Christian works. The church is open for visits and guided tours during the season.

Ulvik Library features the exhibition “The School Story in Ulvik”. Original objects from Bagnstrond School, which operated from 1910 to 1961, are arranged to recreate a classroom. The Olav H. Hauge Centre offers another way to experience culture: installations on poetry and literature can be seen, heard and touched. A poetry workshop aims to inspire visitors to write their own poems; groups can book guided tours of the exhibition.

Experience the fjord from different perspectives

A RIB tour with Hardangerfjord Adventure starts in Ulvik and heads into the Simadalsfjord and Osafjord. A RIB tour on the Osafjord also passes roadless settlements and abandoned farms. During the trip, the guide explains how people used to live along the fjord. For independent excursions in and around Ulvik, the B-Active Centre rents out bicycles, kayaks, pedal boats and rowboats.

When choosing a holiday apartment, you might consider whether you would prefer to use the town centre as a base for your explorations: the farms along the fruit and cider route are within walking distance, and the Liavegen/Jobykse trail also starts in the centre. If you are mainly planning longer mountain hikes, you could instead take the different trails through forests and mountain landscapes into account.

For the overarching travel overview: Ulvik.