Discover Nordagutu

Nordagutu combines a distinctive railway history with cultural trails and experiences centered on Viking life. These themes are quite different: two railway lines meet at the station, the trails focus on natural and cultural history, and stories and activities are part of the offerings at Vikinggården Guvihaug. This gives you the opportunity to consider which focus you want to shape your trip to Nordagutu.

Railway history at the station

Nordagutu station is an interchange between the Sørlandsbanen and Bratsbergbanen railway lines. It opened in 1917, when the Bratsbergbanen between Skien and Notodden was completed. The opening of the station and the completion of the railway line therefore belong to the same historical context. During your stay, the station offers a tangible point of reference if you are interested in the development of the railway and the history of the area.

A monument at the railway station commemorates the Hjuksebø accident of November 15, 1950. It is made of railway stone and a railway rail, and the names of those who died are engraved on it. The connection to the railway is directly visible here: the materials and the inscribed names identify the monument, while the date recalls the accident. If you are also interested in local history during your trip, this provides another specific historical point of reference alongside the development of the railway.

Cultural trails with different focuses

The Myllargutstien provides information about the life of the fiddler Møllarguten, also known as Myllarguten, as well as the area's natural and cultural history. The trail starts at Nordagutu station on county road 553. The grading of the loops is also useful when planning your walk: the short loop is considered easy, while the long one is moderately difficult. You can therefore choose based on the stated difficulty and how much time you want to set aside for this part of your stay, without treating the two options as equivalent.

Another option is the Narekollen cultural trail. It starts at Nordagutu-Torget by the railway station and runs about 3.6 kilometers to the plateau near Nordvollstulen. Most of the route follows good forest roads; the final section is somewhat hilly. Four information boards with maps add context along the way. The length, surface, hilly final section and information boards give you several specific points of reference to distinguish this cultural trail from the loops on the Myllargutstien.

Stories and experiences at Guvihaug

The place name Guvihaug is also associated with a story. According to legend, it comes from two Jotner and the Jotun woman Gygra: her rib is said to have been torn out and later buried, forming Guvihaug. The story connects the name with a mythological tradition. At Vikinggården Guvihaug, experiences centered on Viking life are offered through stories, courses, and activity camps involving physical challenges and stunts. Alongside the cultural trails, these stories and activities are therefore another distinct area of interest for your trip.

In the area around the destination, the ski jump below Narefjell was once among the largest in the world. This historical distinction is another regional point of reference, but it differs from the local stories and trail themes in Nordagutu itself.

Which holiday rental suits your interests?

When choosing a holiday rental in Nordagutu, you can consider which experiences you want to focus on: railway history at the station, information about the fiddler and the area's history on the Myllargutstien, the approximately 3.6-kilometer Narekollen cultural trail, or the Viking offerings at Guvihaug. If choosing a trail is important, the grading of the Myllargutstien loops and the described route of the Narekollen cultural trail offer different points of reference.

More local pages: Akkerhaugen, Gvarv.

For the broader travel overview: Sauherad.