Guided hike to Grettestølen - Wild Voss

About

Inger Marie is the milkmaid of Grettestølen. She wishes us welcome and tells us about the ancient tradition of mountain farming. Inger Marie serves us a delicious two-course lunch made of locally crafted food from Selheim Gard and the mountain farm.

Reservations, questions or inquiries:
Please call Øystein on +47 93484041 or email us at post@wildvoss.no.

Trip outline
Voss has over 300 mountain farms. Most of them are not in operation anymore. Old paths, stone fences and building remains are gradually overtaken by vegetation and slipping out of memory. By joining this trip, you will contribute to keeping alive the knowledge of a cultural heritage dating back over 4000 years.

We start our hike at Selheim Gard, at the beginning of Raundalen Valley. Lars and Hilde own and run both the farm and Voss Gardsslakteri, a butcher’s shop where they manufacture high-quality meat products. Focusing on animal wellbeing and “untraveled meat”, they promise you will taste the difference in quality.

Our guide takes you on a hike that follows an old, hidden path up the steep, forested hills towards Grettestølen. Along the way we take short detour to marvel at the view of the Raundalen valley entrance, with its impressive river gorge. During the hike you will learn about the traditional ways of farming in close relations with the surrounding nature.

Arriving at Grettestølen, Inger Marie welcomes us and shows us around. She works as a milkmaid during the summer months, tending and milking the cows. The cows are likely to present themselves, too. Inger Marie will explain to us some of the old mountain farming traditions of producing butter and sour cream. At Grettestølen, these old traditions are brought back to life by combining old skills and modern tools.


Lunch is served in the old log cabin. You can tell that the old log walls of the living room have endured for centuries, providing a unique atmosphere for our delicious meal. We get to sample several of the Selheim Gard meat products, as well as some traditional dairy that Inger Marie has made. This meal has both a heart and soul!

The way back to Selheim will either follow the path we took on the way up, or the easier trail leading to the gravel road back down to the valley. Another variation on the return is to hike down into the Raundalen valley, for a scenic round trip.

Season and availability
Daily departures between June 23 and August 20.

Reasons to go
We dare say you won’t find a similar trip in this region. We take you to a traditional mountain farm where you will be served high-quality food in a cosy, historical atmosphere. Learn about traditional mountain farming from the milkmaid Inger Marie. The hike to Grettestølen is relatively easy and will give you a lovely nature experience and marvellous views of Voss and its surroundings.

Practical details
We meet outside our office at Tre Brør Café near the town square at 9.30 a.m. After presentations and going through our equipment, we head to the train station. The 10 o'clock local train takes us to Kløve, where the hike starts. The train ride takes 10 minutes. It is also possible to go directly to the starting point by private car.

We’ll be back in Voss around 3.30 p.m. The hike takes around 5 hours, depending on route variation.

Physical requirements
This hike covers forested hills, gravel roads and a few meadows. The old path has some steep sections, with very limited exposure. We can easily adjust the route according to conditions and the fitness level of the participants. This trip is suitable for healthy people with some hiking experience.

Necessary equipment
On this hike you will need the following equipment:
• Sturdy hiking shoes or hiking boots.
• Waterproof clothing (shell layer).
• Small rucksack (20 litres).
• An extra t-shirt and an extra sweater.
• Beanie or a cap.
• Sunglasses and sun lotion
• Some snacks and a water bottle.
• Trekking poles are recommended.
Prices and terms
The price for adults is NOK 1990 per person. The price for children aged 8-14 is NOK 1390 per person. We have discounted prices for families and groups of four people or more. Minimum age is 8 years old. Please note that bookings must be made 24 hours in advance. For last-minute bookings, please contact us directly.
Group sizes: 2-8 participants.
Included in the price:
• An experienced guide during your whole trip.
• Tour of Grettestølen by the milkmaid Inger Marie.
• Table reservation at Grettestølen log cabin
• Two-course meal of locally crafted traditional food, served in an authentic atmosphere.
• All necessary safety equipment.
• Round trip train tickets from Voss to Kløve.
• Unlimited access to warm clothing such as gloves, beanies, woolen sweaters and socks.

Not included in the price:
Transportation into and out of Voss

By booking this trip, you acknowledge that you have read and agreed upon Wild Voss terms of service and Risk and liability statement.

Please note: The traditional mountain farming at Grettestølen is scheduled to open on June 23, 2020. A lot of refurbishing and re-equipping is currently in progress. Once fully operational, dairies such as butter and sour cream will be produced at Grettestølen. The mountain farm may not be fully operational by June 23, but this will not limit this trip from running as intended.

Grettestølen trip details:

Total distance: Roughly 4 km.
Estimated duration: 5-6 hours round-trip, depending on route variation.
Total ascent: 450 meters.
Trip grading: Easy to Moderate
Family friendly: Yes, suitable for kids aged 8 and above.