Bykle is a mountain district in upper Setesdal with approximately 970 inhabitants and an area of 1.467,3 km2. Its main industries are tourism, hydro-electric power, local government and service industries. Hovden is situated in upper Setesdal, about 800 metres above sea level. The scenery here is beautiful with mountains, open country, water and birch woodland. Nature has provided perfect conditions for recreation, relaxation, and peace and quiet but also for challenges in and on the water, on land and in the air. Hovden is perhaps best known as a winter sports resort with a long winter and a stable winter climate. The winter normally starts with about 20 cm of snow sometime in November and lasts until the beginning of May.
Summer in Hovden is also wonderful. The area offers good fishing, swimming – not just at Hovden Badeland but also along the river and in lake Hartevatn, activities such as rafting, climbing and canyoning and last, but not least, the high mountains offering fantastic walking. In the summer, a new 9-hole golf course will be open. Hovden is a good starting point for walks from cabin to cabin.
HOVDEN
Hovden is located in the northern Setesdalen valley, along the Norwegian National Road 9 and the river Otra, on the eastern shore of the lake, Hartevatnet. The village sits about 25 kilometres north of the village of Bykle and about 4 kilometres east of the village of Breive. Fjellgardane Church is located in Hovden.
The Hovden area is a big winter tourism area since it is located up in the rocky Setesdalsheiene mountains and near many lakes such as Skyvatn, Holmavatnet, and Vatndalsvatnet.
Hovden has many leisure activities in the winters, especially skiing and ice fishing. There is a major ski resort in Hovden which also includes a water park and spa. In the summers, tourists come to see the nice scenery, high mountains, fishing lakes, and hiking paths. The Ørnefjell Golf Course is a 9-hole golf course in Hovden. The area has Scandinavia’s southernmost occurrence of wild reindeer. In the autumn, the area is known for its abundance of bilberries, lingonberries, and cloudberries.
HOVDEN BADELAND
Welcome to joy and laughter, warmth and well being in the indoor and outdoor swimmingpools with + 30 degreese all year. Hovden Badeland is an eldorado for children of all ages! Enjoy our slide, obstacle river, waterfall, Jacuzzi, baby pool, sunbeds and rest chairs. Cafe on the wet and the dry side.
HOVDEN MUSEUM of IRON PRODUCTION
This museum is built around a reconstructed blast facility, and illustrates the extraction of coal and iron in the early Middle Age. Experience the museum without texting! Exciting effects such as sound, light, smoke and scent create an atmosphere of a thousand years ago. “The Viking” tells you his story in Norwegian, German or English. For visitors outside the summer season, please contact the tourist information we lend you the key so you can help your self!
HULDREHEIMEN
In the middle of Bykle Parish you find Huldreheimen. This country courtyard was collected by Dr. Anton Raabe and the actor Tore Segelcke, and donated to the Bykle muncipalety in 1948. The courtyard includes old houses from the 14th – 18th centuries and inventory from Setesdal.
LISLESTOG
The country coutyard Lislestog, located across the road from the Bykle church, is another collection of old buildings. In addition, a new building has been set up in the traditional style. Here you find the skills centre “Lus og Loye”. The exhibition “Norwegian sweaters throughout the ages” shows old and new sweaters, knitting machines and pattern variations.
BYKLE TRAIL (BYKLESTIGEN)
5 km south of the centre of Bykle is the Byklestigen, close to Otra. The trail is first mentioned in 1770 and was, until 1879, the only route to and from Bykle from the south. It is about 1 km long and runs steeply up the mountain and was probably quite dangerous in the past. Today, the path has been restored, and there are illustrated information boards with text in Norwegian, English and German. The walk will take around 30 minutes. Enjoy the scenery!
THE VATNEDALEN DAMS
The two dams in Vatnedalen are among Northern Europe´s highest dams. They are situated to the west of Berdalsbru about 15 km south of Hovden. The Vatnedal dam is 120 metres high built stone upon stone is one of the largest in Norway. More than 4 million cubic metres of mass were required for the dam which contains the Vatnedalen lake. A road leads you right to the top of the dam. Information signs are posted in the car park.
HEGNI OUTDOOR AREA
This wonderful area where river Otra meets the Hartevatn lake offers a wide range of activities: Hiking paths, fishing from land and boat, beach and playground. The beach volley ball and the trampette is especially popular – among the adults as well as the children! On bright summer days the temperature in Hartevatn often reaches + 20 degrese. You can use the barbecue provided, free of charge – the wood is ready. You can hire a boat or a canoe, and purchase a fishing licence. Hegni is only a 15 minutewalk south from Hovden centre.
BYKLE CHURCH
This is the oldest and most distinct church in the Setesdal Valley. It is constructed of logs, and has been restored several times. The church with altar was built in 1619, and was completely renovated in 1804 when two galleries and a spire were added. The floorboards in the galleries and the timber in the armoury ceiling were orginally used in an older church. In 1826, the church was decorated with traditional Norwegian rose painting by Aslak Wasshus and K. Å. Byklum.
WILDLIFE ACTIVITIES
Mountain climbing, canoeing and wildlife activities. Rowing boats and canoes for hire.
CHAIR LIFT
Take the chair lift to the peak of Mt. Nos, 1.160 metres asl. The view of the mountains and plateaus of Hovden is breathtaking, and the lift ride is a great start for your mountain wald – whether it is short of long. You can also take the chair lift back down, instead of walking. Subject to weather conditions.
MOOSE SAFARI
Take the opportunity to experience the king of the forest in his true element! We will leave in a minibus at twilight. The guide will tell us about the attractions of Bykle and Hovden, and answer all your “moose questions”. You will also get the chance to taste moose soup. Moose guarantee!
SKATING RINK
Norway’s highest-lying skating rink is located in the centre of Hovden! Here you will find a 400-meter track for long-track speed skating as well as separate areas for play, bandy and hockey. You can hire skates and other equipment at Hovden Badeland.
HOVDEN HUNTING AND SHOOTING CENTRE
The targel range center has many different ranges for trapshooting, a service building with a weapon shop, a gunmaker workshop, education rooms and a room with a open fireplace. The centre offers courses in shotgun shooting, hunting licence courses, big game hunting, rifle shooting and guided hunting by appointment.
HIKING
With a point of departure in Hovden, you can follow the T-marked trails, and walk from “cabin to cabin”. Sloaros and Tjørnbrotbu, which are the two nearest cabins, are popular destinations also for day trips.
High up in the hills, between Bykle and Western Norway, you’ll find a thrilling and unique relic of ancient culture. Almost 1000 years ago, runes and figures were carved into soapstone at the Skutesteinen at Storhedder. Access to Storhedder is difficult, but definitely worth the trip!
Short walks in the areas adjacent to Hovden. The carriage way up to Galten, 1,200 metres above sea level and down again. A cinder track runs alongside Otra. This trails are floodlit in the winter. Footpaths and county roads provides varied opportunities for walks. A sketch map of Hovden shows where you may walk.
Take a walk along the oldest route through Bykle. Ålmannvegen was used a a principal route until the 19th century, and in several places, its traces are still visible. Between Bykle and Byklestøylane, the trail has been cleared and marked.
SKIING
Hovden have ski facilities and slopes for everyone. No matter whether this is your first time on skis or you are an experienced skier, you will find your favourite slope here. Children and beginners will love Tusseland. Here, they can play and learn in a safe environment. Free lift pass for children under 7 years using a helmet. Children are safe in hands at the ski school or the children´s club. The instructors speak German, English, Danish and of course Norwegian. In Bukkerittet snowboardpark you find lots of rails, fun-boxes, big jumps, quarterpipe and halfpipe. The skibus runs daily during the winter season. Hovden Ski Centre offers you a total of 22,6 kilometres of descent, a vertical drop of 410 metres, two 4-seat express lifts taking you to the top, 4 ski tows and a 2-seat lift. This is a place for the entire family, whether you are a ski or snowboard enthusiast.
Welcome to our world-class cross-country trails! They run through varied forest terrain up to breathtaking mountain expanses. The skiing season lasts from November to May.
Would you like to learn the basics of skiing or just give your technique a finishing touch? At Hovden, you can choose between two ski schools. You may get instruction in cross-country as well as alpine skiing and snowboard.
In collaboration with the Kristiansand Orienteering Club, every winter we set up 25 posts in the skiing terrain. The orienteering posts have varying degrees of difficulty, offering challenges for everyone!
Crowded slopes, packed cafeterias, endless lines to the ski lifts, streets thronged with people and convoy traffic in the ski trails. Does it sound familiar? Why not let the wind take you across the open expanse, without having to worry about where the track or the lift ends. This is snowkiting!
Bukkerittet (the Buckride) – the Hovden terrain park – has one of Norway’s widest selections of rails and boxes. Adding some jumps, wavepipe, some excellent windlips and forest pistes, a skating hall and lots of young people, you get a good idea of snowboarding at Hovden!
FISHING
At Hegni outdoor area where Otra river meets the Hartevatn lake, there are fishing from land and boat. Hovden is divided into several fishing licence areas. Before you give angling a go, you have to pay a fishing fee at the post office. Then you can purschase a fishing licence for the desired area. These licences are for sale at the tourist information and some hotels.
GOLF
Hovden Golfclub is a golf course with 9 holes and a variation of difficulties. Located at Ørnefjell Golfcourt. Eagle Mountain Golf Course (Ørnefjell Golfbane) the name says it all: You´re high up in the mountains, amid wild and beautiful scenery. The course is situated on the banks of the river Otra, 10 minutes drive from Hovden or Bykle. This is a real mountain golf course, and at 720 metres above sea level, it is one of the highest situated courses in Norway. Here you can play golf against a backdrop of snow-covered mountains and roaring rivers.