Sunndalsøra: River Promenade, Culture and Trails

Sunndalsøra combines experiences along the Driva River with cinema, theatre and a range of routes. The Driva Promenade runs alongside the river to a point near the fjord; there are also other ways to explore the area on marked trails, including Ellefstolen and the Håsøran Route. When planning a trip with children, it is especially helpful to know that one of these options is explicitly described as suitable for strollers, while another is not suitable for young children.

Cultural programme with cinema, theatre and exhibitions

Sunndalsøra Cinema shows more than 700 films a year. Riksteatret, Teatret Vårt and JazzåTeatret have regular venues at Sunndal Cultural Centre. The cultural centre also offers the region larger theatre performances, concerts and film screenings. If you would like to include culture as well as excursions in your trip, you will find several different forms of stage and film entertainment here.

Galleri Barbara is another cultural attraction in Sunndalsøra. Most of its exhibitions are shown for approximately one full calendar month. Every year during Ørafest in June, the gallery hosts a festival exhibition. The approximate exhibition period and its regular connection with the festival provide two different reasons to include the gallery in your travel plans: a gallery visit and the exhibition during the June festival.

Exploring the Driva

The Driva Promenade is an easy, well-maintained walking path for everyone and is accessible with a stroller. From the centre of Sunndalsøra, it is easy to reach via a gravel path along the river. The promenade stretches for several kilometres, with several benches and fishing spots along the way. A fire pit marked on the hiking map is another specific landmark on the route. This makes it possible to enjoy the riverside route as a walk in its own right, without confusing it with a mountain hike.

The river accompanies the promenade almost to the fjord. For families planning a walk together with a stroller, the described path conditions are a useful distinction from the other routes mentioned. If you choose a holiday rental in Sunndalsøra, you can consider whether riverside walks like these are something you would like to include in your holiday.

Other routes and how they differ

The Ellefstolen hike starts in Sunndalsøra at Flaggnutvegen, at the foot of the mountain behind the Melkild Bilverksted garage. It is not suitable for young children and there is no drinking water. This information is important when planning an outing together: families with young children can consider the Driva Promenade as the explicitly stroller-friendly alternative. If you are considering Ellefstolen, take the stated limitations into account when making your decision.

The Håsøran Route runs from the Driva Bridge and the grounds of Sunndal Jeger og fisk through a wetland to the small boat harbour in Sunndalsøra. Another route description concerns Fagerhaugan: the route is close to the centre and runs from the centre via Holten to Sande. These different names and route descriptions provide options for finding your way, from the riverside path along the Driva to the routes described here. When choosing a holiday rental, you can focus on your interests: riverside walks, cultural offerings or one of the routes mentioned.

More places: Gjøra, Ålvundfjord, Grøa, Øksendal, Ålvundeid.

For the broader travel overview: Sunndal.