Snartemo: Hiking and culture around the Snartemo Sword

Snartemo combines impressive hiking trails with a fascinating history: the Snartemo Sword dates back to the Migration Period, and you can experience the landscape along sections of the Barnevandrerstien and the Elvestien. This gives you different ways to plan your trip, from longer routes through moorland and woodland to learning about a significant archaeological find.

Hiking trails with different highlights

The first stage of the Barnevandrerstien, from Årli to Snartemo, ends at Bautaparken in Snartemo. The stage from Årlia to Snartemo is about 11 km long. It crosses moorland, passes through open woodland and skirts several lakes before descending towards Snartemo. If you include this route in your trip, you will encounter a variety of landscapes along the way, and should take its approximate length into account when planning your day.

The Elvestien also offers a distinct way to explore the area on foot: the well-maintained hiking trail runs between Bautaparken in Snartemo and Birkeland and is about 6 km each way. The distance each way helps you plan whether to walk the route there and back or as part of a differently arranged hike. The Snartemo Sword is listed as a cultural heritage site in connection with the Elvestien between Birkeland and Snartemo.

Another section of the Barnevandrerstien runs from Snartemo to Konsmo. It starts at Snartemo Bautapark and ends at Konsmo Church. For much of the way, it follows Hellevatnet, where there are opportunities to fish and take a break. The hiking experiences described here therefore differ: on the stage from Årlia, moorland, open woodland and several lakes shape the landscape, while the section towards Konsmo is particularly characterized by its route along Hellevatnet.

The Snartemo Sword and its findspot

The Snartemo Sword was discovered at Snartemo farm in the autumn of 1933 and is dated to the Migration Period, from 375 to 550 AD. Bautaparken has information about the discovery as well as a large model of the sword. There, you can learn about the history of the find through an explanation and a replica.

The findspot is on Øvregardsveien, above the municipal activity centre. A small standing stone marks the location. There are several specific points of reference for learning about the Snartemo Sword: the information and model in Bautaparken, the historical context of the find and the marked findspot. Alongside the hiking trails, these details give a stay in Snartemo its own cultural and historical focus.

Getting to Snartemo and staying there

The Snartemo–Konsmo stage starts near Snartemo railway station. You can travel to Snartemo by train from Kristiansand or Stavanger. When choosing your destination, you can therefore take both the hikes described here and the train journey into account. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Snartemo, deciding what you want to focus on during your trip can help you choose: would you mainly like to explore sections of the Barnevandrerstien, fish and take a break by Hellevatnet, or learn about the history of the Snartemo Sword?

There is a bathing spot by the Lygna River at Kvitbrua. The bridge is between Snartemo railway station and Snartemo Church. This bathing spot adds a riverside activity to the hiking and cultural attractions; the trails and the sword also offer distinct reasons to include Snartemo in your travel plans.

More places to explore

If you would like to explore more places: Hægebostad, Naglestad, Tingvatn, Eiken.

Back to the main travel overview: Hægebostad.