Walks and hikes
Everywhere in Tysnes you will find roads through the forests, paths for long and short walks and mountains to climb. Here are some selected options.
Tysnessåto 752 m
Tysnessåto is the highest mountain peak on Tysnes, and from the top there are fantastic views in all directions. There are many paths to the top, and the shortest (and steepest) goes from Myrdal. If you are in good shape you will go straight to the top from here in less than an hour. Parts of this trail has stairs built by sherpas.
If you want a slower and less challenging route, you can go from Solheimsdalen, where there is a car park at the end of the road. There are also marked paths from Dalen, Gjerstad and Skaret. If you have someone to pick you up by car, we will recommend taking one route up and another one down.
Ramnanuten 266 m
A hike that gives you great value for your efforts. There is a marked trail from Tysnes school, and you can reach the top in about 30 minutes. From Våge harbor it is walking distance to the starting point, so this is the perfect trip for boat tourists in Våge.
The trip is mostly on a path, but there are also some rocky sections. If you want to go down a different route for variety, you follow the path on the north side of the summit (opposite from where you came up).
The End of the World
Yes, in the Godøysund area we actually have a place with the somewhat curious name The End of the World. This is an easy hike in beautiful surroundings by the Bjørnafjord, which the whole family can enjoy. A nice walk all year round.
Start by walking over the Godøysund Bridge (an experience in itself). Then take the second path to the left. Follow the path until you come to a tree that has toppled. You then turn 180 degrees down to the left. Soon you will come to a small bridge that takes you over to Maurholmen. Enjoy the peace of the forest between crooked pine trees, before you arrive at the beautiful End of the World. Feel free to have a picnic on the nearby beach
Blåbærhaugen 297 m
Hiking destination in Onarheim that is suitable for the vast majority of people, as it is a gravel road all the way. There is quite a bit of an ascent, but no more than that many do this walk with a pram.
The start is at the car park on the way to Storesætre.
At the top you will be rewarded with a fantastic view of the Onarheimsfjorden and Kvinnherad. If you sign the book at the top "Turboka", the local business Alsaker Fjordbruk will sponsor Onarheim sports team with NOK 10.
Day trip cabin "Miklastofa"
On the west side of Kyrkjevatnet in Uggdal, is Tysnes municipality's beautiful day trip cabin. It is free for everyone to use, and has a universal design. The surrounding area invites you to relax, and there is a bathing jetty, a freestanding lean-to shelter and toilet close by. Inside the cabin there is a lovely mezzanine with a great view of the lake and the church, books (in norwegian), a freestanding wood burning fireplace, benches and more. Here you can enjoy a packed lunch sheltered from the weather and wind.
It doesn't take many minutes to get to "Miklastofa", and there are several different routes to choose from. You can park and start the tour from Uggdalseidet (at the south end of the lake), at the end of Heningen (past Optimera) or from the riding track at Myklestad (past Uggdal church).
Steinåsen 216 m
An easy hike that suits most people. Follow the forest road that starts to the left of the industrial building close to Malkeneskrysset, where there is a large car park.
The forest road is a round trip, and you can walk in both directions to find the sign for Steinåsen (which is a detour). It takes less than an hour from the start until you are at Steinåsen.
Hovlandsnuten 727 m
Hovlandsnuten is perhaps the mountain peak on Tysnes that gives you the most spectacular views. You can almost sit and dangle your legs and look down on the villages of Hovland and Tveit, while you admire the pointed Kvinnherad mountains on the other side of the Onarheimsfjord.
There is a marked path from Skaret, a parking space by road 78 between Lunde and Nymark. First a slightly steep, but nice, forest road to Vasstøl, and then a very steep path (3-400 metres) further towards Hovlandsnuten. It is slightly flatter just before the top. As an alternative, you can go from Vasstøl via Idlekleiv and Etlådna (also signposted).
Another well-marked route runs from Årbakka. Park at the old yellow garage a few hundred meters south of the exit for Årbakka Handelsstad on road 78. Then walk north on the county road and turn off at Liavegen, and follow this uphill. At the top, at the end of the road, are two stone barns. Go through the gate and follow the path behind the barns.
Gjerstadstølen 333 m
A støl area, which is a nice destination for the whole family. There are marked paths from Dalen (shortest route), Solheimsdalen and Gjerstad.
From Gjerstadstølen, you can, among other things, go on to the hiking destinations Svartavatnet and Tuvefjellet, or all the way to Tysnessåto.
Støl: For centuries, the summer pastures in the mountains were a vital part of Norwegian agriculture. At most, you could find more than 100,000 mountain farms around the country.The mountain summer pastures made it possible for farmers to take advantage of the entire rough grazing land.
Teiglandsnuten/Vestrefjellet 340 m
This hike is within walking distance from Våge. At the top you have a magnificent view in all directions. It is especially wonderful to look down on Våge and the surrounding islands, with the ferry coming and going.
You will find signs with a tour description in Indre Ve (just before the road up to Prestagarden, Teiglandsvegen 42). There is also a parking space here.
Kyrkjefjellet 332 m
Easy walk in nice terrain, where you on the top get a wonderful view of, among other things, the Onarheimsfjord and the mountain Hovlandsnuten. The start is from Skaret on road 78, on the east side of the road (opposite the road to Vasstøl).
A good tractor road takes you up to the pine forest, and further along a fairly dry and nice footpath. At a leisurely pace, it takes a around 30 mins. to the top.
Ådnastegen
Ådnastegen is an idyllic summer mountain farm, where you will find peace and quiet. It is a nice place to stop for a brake, before you go on to, for example, Tysnessåto, Etlådna or Hovlandsnuten. Having said that, Ådnastegen is a beautiful destination in itself!
There is a marked path to Ådnastegen from Skaret on road 78, via Vasstøl, and from Tverrelva. There is also a path from the Grovatnet.
Gjøvågsvarden 306 moh
The path starts approximately 50 m before the Gjøvåg/Kaldafoss junction. The first part follows a road from the 19th century. Just after an old bridge made of stone slabs, the path turns up to the right. It quickly climbs up a hill, to about 200 m above sea level, and a good view to the west and north. From that hill, the path flattens out somewhat up towards Gjøvågsvarden.
At the top you have a good view towards the island of Sotra, the city mountains in Bergen and towards Folgefonna to the south east. To the west you can look towards Austevoll, a number of islands protecting the island of Reksteren from the North Sea.
Grovatnet
Park at Skjolda at the end of the road in Solheimsdalen, and follow the gravel road onwards to the ski hut. Keep to the left and continue down the forest road. After around 2.2 km the path to Tysnessåto via Malkenesdalen goes up to the left. Do not take this path, but continue on the forest road. At the end of the road, the path crosses a bog before entering into a nice birch forest.
Grovatnet is a good starting point for other hiking destinations in the Tysnes mountains, for example Ådnastegen, Tysnessåto and Etlådna.
Salsborg 409 m
About 4.8 kilometers south on road 78 from Onarheim church (towards Hodnanes), there is a car park by the road. The marked path to Salsborg starts at the information sign.
The first part of the trip is up the steep Setrabrekko. Along the path, one alternates between walking through deciduous and pine forests, over bogs, and in steep and not so steep terrain. Near the top, you pass the idyllic Salsborgtjødno, a small lake. All along the way to the top there are wonderful views in all directions, and you can see almost the whole of the region of Sunnhordland.
Around the Fiskevatnet
An easy and idyllic trip that goes past both a waterfall, a river and a lake.
Park at Lunde center and the Bunnpris grocery shop. Find the path that starts directly behind the shop, between the kinder garten and the residential building. Follow the signs towards Bakkafossen.
From there, there is a path on both sides of the river from the waterfall, and down towards the idyllic Fiskevatnet. Then follow the path on to the main road by Grimsland or the memorial for the fallen in WWII, and take the road back to the shop.
There are some wet parts on this path, so it is a good tip to bring suitable shoes.
Ilefjellet 444 m
Ilefjellet is a popular destination, where you have a wonderful view down towards Våge and the Bjørnafjord.
From Våge you go through the housing estate of Vågsmarka, past the little pond Vågstjødna and on to the path to the top. From the south in Uggdal, you can walk from the parking space in Dalen, where the path is well marked. You can also walk from Andersland.
Hovda 268 m
Start at the information sign by the memorial for the fallen in WWII in Humlevik (west of Lunde). It is okay to park here . Or you can enter Sanddalen at Belt. In the latter option the hike is on a nice forest road, while the first one has slightly more demanding terrain.
At the top there is a wonderful view of Lunde, The Bjørnafjord, Os and Fusa.
The hill at Heie
A short and quick walk that gives you a beautiful view towards Uggdal and Bårdsund. Excellent place to admire the sunset, or hear the deer roar in autumn.
Park at the riding arena past Uggdal church, and walk in the direction of Heie. You will soon see the nice lake Kidno on your right. Turn right onto a dirt road when you have reached the north-west end of the lake (after passing a nice stone house). Continue uphill to the farm Lilleheie, go through the gate by the house, and turn right shortly afterwards. From here there is a clear path up the hill. Turn left when you have finished the climb in the forest, and there will be a clearing.
Tuvefjellet 589 m
First walk to Gjerstadstølen (see description above). The shortest and driest path is from Dalen, but there are also paths from Våge and Solheimsdalen. The last 250 meters of altitude are very steep up from Gjerstadstølen - look for the markings on the right side of the stream in the gorge which is furthest to the south on Tuvefjellet.
A slower and longer alternative is to follow the path from Gjerstadstølen towards Tysnessåto and turn south towards Tuvefjellet further up.