Volda: Discover water, trails and culture
Accommodation in Volda
Hornindalsvatnet is considered Europe’s deepest lake: at its deepest point, it is 514 metres deep and covers 50.5 square kilometres. Volda also offers a wide range of ideas for days out, from a riverside trail to activities for children, museums and a long boatbuilding tradition. Which of these you focus on can also help you choose the right place for your holiday apartment within the destination.
Water, play and nature
There are several swimming spots at Hornindalsvatnet. In the centre of Hornindal, you’ll find a bathing platform and a diving tower. If you’re interested in the lake’s special features, you can complement these waterside spots with a visit to Paddeland at Lisjevatnet, which is known for its giant toad that visitors can climb on. The toads themselves are also part of the local story. Toad tunnels and guide fences along the road are intended to help them move safely between bodies of water and other parts of the area.
For active fun with children, Stadionparken in central Volda offers a range of features: a climbing park, skatepark, ball court, dirt park and a training park with equipment. There is also a kangaroo area and a children’s road track. Tricycles, bicycles and pedal cars can use the paved paths. Road signs and markings also give children the opportunity to learn about traffic rules.
Hiking and getting outdoors
The Elvadalen til Årneset trail runs from the centre of Volda to Årneset on Rotevatnet. It follows a good gravel path alongside the river. This makes it a specific suggestion for anyone planning an outing from the town centre; no information about the route’s length or walking time is available here.
The municipality of Volda’s Stikk UT! programme offers 27 varied hikes throughout the municipality from 1 May to 31 October, including three new hiking destinations. The app displays the destinations with maps, photos, route descriptions, parking information and difficulty levels ranging from easy to challenging. The municipality also has two BUA equipment-lending centres: one at the samfunnshuset in central Volda and one at Grobygget in Hornindal. Hiking and sports equipment can be borrowed there free of charge.
Kometland also combines nature with a special destination: Norway’s largest amateur observatory is located in the forest above Klepp in Volda. A lit footpath leads there. If you’re interested in a different kind of activity, Volda also has several ski centres and areas with opportunities for ski touring.
Museums, crafts and local history
The Sivert Aarflot-museet in Ekset, in the municipality of Volda, tells the story of Sivert Aarflot (1759–1817), who worked as a teacher, promoter of public education, writer, researcher and printer. He lived there and ran a printing press; he also founded the first printing press in rural Norway. Several events are held throughout the year at Volda Bygdetun, where visitors can experience the buildings and take part in various activities.
Another cultural stop is the Anders Svor-museet at Hornindalsvatnet, surrounded by a sculpture park. The building dates from 1953 and is dedicated to the sculptor Anders Svor. Boats have been built in Bjørkedalen for more than 1,000 years—a tradition that offers a unique insight into local craftsmanship. At Andaneset, an old dynamite store has been renovated and converted into a sauna.
The Dalsfjord Fyrmuseum focuses on the people who built lighthouses, beacons, navigation marks, mooring facilities and harbours along the Norwegian coast. The exhibition includes Brune-Buda, Korsfurtunet and a beacon. The museum is accessible by car or boat and can be included as a stop on a cycling trip around Dalsfjord.
Choose the right focus
Volda offers several different points of reference when choosing a holiday apartment: activities and the route to Årneset are connected with central Volda, while Hornindalsvatnet, Hornindal and Dalsfjord appeal to other kinds of excursion interests. This makes it easy to explore the destination according to your preferred mix of activity, water and culture.
For further orientation, you can also consider the places Volda, Lauvstad, Austefjorden and Folkestad.
For the broader travel overview: More Og Romsdal.
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