Hynnekleiv: Rapids, Fish Weirs, and Swimming Spots

Hynnekleiv offers several points to consider when planning your trip: the rapids of the Tovdalselva at Hauglandsfossen, stone fish weirs, and swimming spots. The transport connections are also part of getting your bearings in the area. Depending on whether you are looking for scenery, cultural history, or time by the water, you can give these aspects different priority.

Rapids and trails at Hauglandsfossen

Hauglandsfossen is one of the larger rapids on the Tovdalselva. There is an easy walking trail in the area. This means the river can be appreciated as more than just a landscape feature: the long stone fish weirs are also among the local highlights. They can be walked along in dry weather, so plan a walk beside the weirs for suitable conditions.

The fish weirs are of significant cultural and historical value and have been assigned a protection category in the protection plan for the Tovdalsvassdraget. The longest stone weir is easily accessible to visitors. At Hauglandsfossen, this brings together two different interests: visitors who want to experience the rapids can also find historic structures by the river, whose significance extends beyond their physical form.

Rest area, river views, and swimming spots

The Hynnekleiv rest area is right beside Riksvei 42. It offers a beautiful view of the Tovdalselva and is also a good starting point for experiencing Hauglandsfossene. This gives you a specific riverside landmark to navigate by, one that brings both views of the water and access to the waterfalls to the fore.

There is a sandy beach at the rest area, designed for small children. Hynnekleiv is also home to Skjærsevannet, whose small coves invite you to swim. The swimming spots described here differ in form: the rest area has a sandy beach, while Skjærsevannet has coves. This gives you a practical way to choose between the two types of shoreline without treating them as the same swimming spot.

Transport connections and the former railway station

Riksvei 41 and Fylkesvei 42 meet in Hynnekleiv. The area is also located at the former Sørlandsbanen station of the same name. These are two distinct details to bear in mind when planning your trip: today’s road junction and the historic railway station. The former station is part of the area’s history.

More to explore in the wider destination of Froland

The wider destination of Froland has more cultural and hiking experiences to offer. Frolands Verk was founded in 1763 and operated as an ironworks until 1867. After that, operations shifted to forestry and a sawmill. The main building has been protected since 1924; together with the farm complex, garden, and surrounding open-air area, it forms a museum site. This history adds to the cultural and historical perspective shaped by the fish weirs at Hynnekleiv, without conflating the two places.

Allmannavegen is also in the wider destination of Froland. The old road has been in use since the Viking Age. The Froland section is about 20 kilometers long, and the marked route follows the original road wherever possible. Cultural heritage sites and cultural landscapes line the route, including burial mounds, barns, old settlement sites, and hay meadows. Information boards are also placed along the route. This gives you the chance to explore a longer historic trail in Froland with several types of cultural heritage, while Hynnekleiv is primarily associated with the river, rapids, and fish weirs.

Discover more destinations: Froland, Mjåvatn, Frolands Verk, Mykland

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