Top ten things to do in Hyllestad

1. Hike the spectacular Lihesten

is a famous landmark on the coast and is most likely one of the most photographed mountains in our region. The mountain has many different trails and you can spend several days exploring it. A trip to the popular Gygrekjeften takes approximately 5-6 hours. If you like to climb a bit you can go from Nipestien up to Gygrekjeften. The highest point is Risnesnipa with 777 meters above sea level. The trails can be demanding, but the view at the top is worth all the effort. Here are many small, idyllic places where you can really enjoy peace and quiet. Here you are guaranteed a spectacular view of the fjord.

2. Travel back in time at Kvernsteinsparken

The Millstone Park in Hyllestad is an outdoor museum in the largest stone quarry landscape from the Viking period and Middle Ages in Northern Europe. Stone was the “gold” of Hyllestad. Stonemasons worked at hundreds of stone quarries, carving millstone after millstone to be shipped out into the wider world. Currently the millstone was a fundamental item. There was no food without the millstone! If you wanted to eat bread or porridge, you first had to grind the grain using a quern stone or water mill to make flour. The millstone trade in Hyllestad was a good source of income – for those who owned the land and held the power.

Bring your family and participate in a wide range of activities. You can grind grains with millstones. You can also use the flour to make dough that you can fry over a fire.

In Kvernsteinsparken there is a Kvernstein troll who hides his treasures! To find the treasure, you must first walk the Troll-trail and solve exiting puzzles. For every correct answer, you get a tip about where the treasure is! If you find the treasure, you get to peek at the troll, but be aware, he might wake up!

3. Fishing and boat life

If you like fishing, you have come to the right place. Here you can fish from typical coastal areas to more sheltered valleys and moorland and a diversity in geology and plant cover. Hyllestad is very popular for fishing enthusiasts from all over the world. You can choose whether you want to join an organized fishing trip or rent a boat and travel on your own.

Hyllestad has a fantastic coastline with Sognefjord and Åfjorden flowing into the open sea. With thousands of islands and reefs, the coastline has been the vital core of Hyllestad in hundreds of years. Take a trip on the sea and sail in the ancestors' footprints and experience a bit of the richness and stories created in these unique waters. Rent a boat and go on your own, or even better: take the trip with a local guide.

4. Dream day at Indrefjord Gard

Bring your family to Hyllestad and Indrefjord Gard where you can get acquainted with animals and farm life.

At Indrefjord Gard, you can get to know the animals and explore the farm, beautifully located in Hyllestad. Step into the barn, where you can feed the animals, cuddle with rabbits, horses, and ponies. If you feel adventurous, you can even have a go at sitting on horseback.

Take the horses down to the shore, enjoy lunch around the fire pit, and experience the day at your own pace, alongside your children. The visit can also be combined with other activities – see more details at the bottom of the page.

5. Be a Norwegian - go hiking

For most of us, exploring mountains and nature is part of being Norwegian. When the spring comes and the snow melts, there is nothing better than taking advantage of our beautiful mountains. Whether it is in the mountains or hiking alongside the fjords and the sea, along Hyllestad you will find hikes that suit everyone. From a mountain that is only 350 meters above sea level, you can see over 60 km on a clear day.

In Hyllestad you will find many nice, idyllic roads with almost no traffic that are well suited for hiking. Sørefjordhytta, which is Hyllestad's day trip cabin, is a popular hiking destination. The cabin is located right by the trail to Hesjetiden, and there is a beautiful view towards Lihesten and over Åfjorden.

6.Visit Hjertebladhagen

Hjertebladhagen, situated in a rural area in Skifjord in Hyllestad, is a garden and home decor shop that’s quite out of the ordinary. Since Hjertebladhagen is just as much an experience as it is a shop, people of all ages come to visit, whether they're interested in gardening or not.

You can wander around the garden at Hjertebladhagen and admire the goods for sale in a natural and lush garden setting. Relax in one of the many seating areas in the garden and enjoy the stunning view of the fjord and the wonderful scent and sight of flowers, herbs and growing vegetables.

7. Go cycling in Hyllestad

Are you planning a cycling holiday? Then the Fjord Coast is perfect for you. You can cycle on beautiful country roads through idyllic and beautiful landscapes full of cultural history. How about combining the bike ride with exiting cultural experiences?

A nice trip with a small incline and a great view of the Sognefjord is from Hyllestad center or Leirvik through Lavikdal to Lavik and then along the Sognefjord back to Leirvik (approx. 50 km.)

If you have a mountain bike, you can cycle the Trondhjem postad route. According to many experienced mountain bikers, this is one of the most spectacular cycling experiences in this country. Originally, 19 stone bridges were built on the postal route between Dale and Leirvik, and many of them still stand as great examples of early dry masonry crafts. There are a few places on the 40 km long road that you might have to roll the bike. Sometimes you also must enter the paved RV 57, but most of the road is free from traffic and very idyllic. You can also do the postal route by foot.

Cycling along the Åfjord, a landscape shaped by stonemasons for more than a thousand years.

8. Discover Hyllestad from your kayak seat

Take the kayak between islets along the fjord and sea or on one of the many beautiful lakes in Hyllestad. Paddling is suitable for most people, young and old, and you get close to nature in a way you might not otherwise experience.

9. Cultural walk in Hyllestad

Join a cultural walk through Hyllestad together with Martha. Martha grew up in Hyllestad right after World War II and she has lived here most of her life. She will tell exiting stories about her childhood, about exploratory outdoor games, playful battles between children, and a dangerous trip up to Lihesten. It was a world without television and very few cars and telephones. The war was also fresh in memory. It was a life where the children had a lot of freedom and they became independent at an early age, but at the same time they had to help their parents who worked very hard to make ends meet. The guide Martha emphasizes that what she is telling is her version of what it was like living at Hyllestad at that time. Others may have experienced it quite differently. The guided tour is about 2.7 km long and with 8 stops. The road is easy to walk and with very little incline.

Experience historic places and intriguing history brought to life through video and audio stories in easy cultural hiking trails along the Fjord Coast. Using your mobile phone, you download the stories along the trail.