Hjelle by Oppstrynsvatnet

Hjelle lies at the eastern end of Oppstrynsvatnet. The lake lies like a mirror between steep mountain slopes; from Hjelle, views stretch far across the valley and up to the mountains. Hjelle has a long tradition as a travel destination: the first tourists arrived here by steamship in the 1890s.

The old road and cultural history

The old Gamle Strynefjellsvegen road begins at the landing stage in Hjelle. In 2009, it was designated a protected road. Its mountain section is characterised by hand-built walls of carefully hewn stone and long rows of guide stones. The landscape along the road offers various opportunities for hiking.

A road monument in Hjelle commemorates the opening of a section of Strynefjellsvegen in 1894. It is called «Pål-akkorden» and bears the name of the foreman, Paul Andersen, as well as the names of the other members of the work crew. In this way, the history of road construction is also tied to the people who took part in the work.

A much older trace of the area's history is a rarely documented ring-shaped assembly site from the early Viking Age, which was investigated archaeologically at Hjelle. Together with the road monument, this find points to different periods in Hjelle's history.

By the lake and on the trails

On the peaceful Oppstrynsvatnet, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and rowing are offered in Hjelle as quiet activities. Those interested in hiking will find various opportunities along the Gamle Strynefjellsvegen. This means that the water activities are on the lake, while the hiking opportunities relate to the landscape along the road.

Near Hjelle, the Segestad farm sits on a projecting mountain ridge at the entrance to Glomsdalen, in open high-mountain terrain. The farm is considered a cultural treasure and offers insight into the way of life of mountain farmers just a few generations ago, who settled in remote mountain regions and lived off the land.

The trail to the farm begins at Glomnes. From Hjelle, first follow an approximately 1 km farm access road to get there; the subsequent ascent usually takes about an hour. For clarity, these are two separate measures: the distance describes the access road, while the time refers to the ascent.

Historic places in Hjelle and the surrounding area

Gamlebutikken in Hjelle dates from 1882. Coffee and lunch are served there in a local atmosphere. Hjelle Hotel was built in 1896 in the Swiss chalet style, is one of the historic wooden hotels in Western Norway and continues to offer an authentic experience of early tourism.

The large Glomnesfossen waterfall on Oppstrynsvatnet is also near Hjelle. During the spring snowmelt, it is particularly impressive well into summer and autumn. To reach the waterfall, turn right onto the old road shortly before the tunnel at Hjelle, drive past the hotel and then turn across the river towards Glomnes. There is a paid car park shortly before Glomnes. This lets you take both the directions to the waterfall and its seasonal highlight into account when planning your visit.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Blaksæter, Oppstryn, Innvik, Stryn, Olden, Utvik, Briksdalsbre, Loen

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