Samnanger: Hiking Trails, Culture and Winter Sports

Hiking at Kvernesvatnet and near Ådland

The trail to Prestakvilet starts at the car park by Ådland Church. At Kvernesvatnet, the day-trip cabin is set in an idyllic woodland area with various hiking destinations; swimming is also possible in the lake. Ådland is an old church site, and the church was first mentioned in written sources in 1329. This outing idea therefore combines a hike with a lake and a place with a long history.

The car park is about 1.6 kilometres from the centre of Bjørkheim, off FV7. From here, the trail to Prestakvilet is about 2.3 kilometres each way and takes roughly an hour at a leisurely pace. The old Prestavegen, where Prestakvilet is located, was once built so that the priest coming from Os could easily reach Ådland Church. Samnanger Turlag organises group hikes and makes it easier to explore the municipality’s natural surroundings independently.

History between Botavatnet and Bjørkheim

Botnahytto, a protected cultural and wartime heritage site associated with hunting and other outdoor recreation, stands by Botavatnet in Samnanger. From 1942 to 1945, the cabin served as a hideout for refugees and members of the Milorg and Saborg resistance groups from Os, Samnanger and Bergen.

Near Bjørkheim, Notaholmen is an old boathouse that was used to store fishing equipment and is now considered an important cultural heritage site in Samnanger. Together, Botnahytto and Notaholmen show different sides of the area’s cultural heritage: a protected wartime heritage site and a boathouse used to store fishing equipment.

Hardingfele and local music

Samnanger has a rich tradition of making Hardingfelen, and was also home to several respected fiddlers. One specifically named instrument is the Samnangerfela, a Hardingfele made by Johannes Bårdson Tveit. The broader instrument-making tradition and a single instrument with a known maker offer two points of interest for anyone interested in the area’s musical history.

Waterfall, mountains and winter sports

Fossen Bratte is a protected waterfall on the Eikedalselva in Eikedalen, with a free fall of about 80 metres. The Eikedalselva is part of the Samnangervassdraget and is permanently protected from hydropower development; this protection dates back to the 1986 river protection plan. At 1,299 metres, Tveitakvitingen is part of Samnanger’s highest mountain areas, on the border with Fusa.

Winter sports also shape these mountain areas, many of which are used for skiing. Eikedalen Skisenter is in the municipality, at the entrance to Kvamskogen, the mountain plateau between Samnanger and Hardanger, and has Northern Europe’s tenth-longest chairlift. Tourist traffic is particularly high in the east, where Samnanger extends to Kvamskogen. The mountain areas’ winter-sports appeal complements the hiking and swimming opportunities at Kvernesvatnet.

Getting around and finding a hotel

Tysse is the administrative centre of Samnanger and has shops and a service centre. County Road 49 runs from Kvamskogen through Eikedalen, past Tysse and Haga, via Gullbotn to the E16 at the border with Bergen, and through Samnanger. If particular shops are important for planning your trip, it is best to check what is available in advance.

When looking for hotels in Samnanger, it helps to first decide what your trip will focus on: are you most interested in hiking, cultural history or winter sports? Plan the rest of your trip around the experiences that matter most to your stay.

Discover more destinations: Samnanger, Tysse, Bømlo, Lindås, Tysnes, Odda, Austrheim, Øygarden

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