Volda: Trails, Lake and Culture
Accommodation in Municipality of Volda
Volda brings together several interests for planning a trip: the municipality has ski centres, hiking opportunities and places where you can learn about the region’s history. Outdoor activities are also varied, ranging from a riverside trail to games and exercise facilities in the centre. Which of these interests matters most to you and your family can help you decide whether Volda is the right destination for your trip.
Exercise and outdoor activities
In the centre of Volda, Stadionparken has a climbing park, skate park, ball court and dirt park. There is also an exercise park with equipment, a kangaroo area and a children’s road track. The paved paths are intended for tricycles, bicycles and pedal cars. Road signs and markings also give children the opportunity to learn about traffic rules. If you want to include a range of activities in your stay, you’ll find several different options in this one park.
For hiking, the municipality of Volda’s Stikk UT! programme lists 27 varied destinations across the municipality, including three new hiking destinations. The stated season runs from 1 May to 31 October. An app shows the destinations with maps, photos, trail descriptions, parking information and difficulty ratings from easy to challenging. This lets you get an idea of the different hiking options in advance and choose according to the stated difficulty level.
The Elvadalen til Årneset trail runs from the centre of Volda along the river on a good gravel path to Årneset on Rotevatnet. The starting point, route and destination are clearly specified; the trail description does not give a distance or time estimate. If you also need equipment for hiking or sports, you can borrow it free of charge from the municipality’s two BUA lending centres: one is in the samfunnshuset in the centre of Volda, and the other is in Grobygget in Hornindal.
Lake, swimming spots and Paddeland
Hornindalsvatnet is considered the deepest lake in Europe. It is 514 metres deep at its deepest point and covers an area of 50.5 square kilometres. There are several swimming spots at the lake; in the centre of Hornindal, you’ll find a bathing platform and a diving tower. If you’d like to include swimming spots in your trip plans, these details can help you find your way around the lake and the centre of Hornindal.
Paddeland is located by Lisjevatnet. There is a huge toad that visitors can climb on. Along the road, toad tunnels and guide fences help toads move safely between bodies of water and other parts of the area. You can reach Paddeland via Kvivsvegen (E39) and the turn-off onto Fv41; follow the signs for “padder”.
Culture and regional history
Anders Svor-museet is located by Hornindalsvatnet, surrounded by a sculpture park. The building dates from 1953 and is dedicated to the sculptor Anders Svor. In contrast, the Sivert Aarflot-museet in Ekset, in the municipality of Volda, focuses on the history of a popular educator and printer. Sivert Aarflot (1759–1817) was a teacher, popular educator, writer, researcher and printer; he lived in Ekset, ran a printing press there and founded the first printing press in rural Norway.
Volda Bygdetun also offers a glimpse into local history: several events are held there throughout the year, giving visitors the chance to explore the buildings and take part in various activities. Boats have been built in Bjørkedalen for more than 1,000 years. These two themes offer different points of interest for travellers who are curious about crafts, buildings and people’s lives as well as outdoor activities.
Dalsfjord Fyrmuseum tells the story of the people who built lighthouses, beacons, navigation markers, mooring facilities and harbours along the Norwegian coast. The exhibition includes Brune-Buda, Korsfurtunet and a beacon. The museum can be reached by car or boat and visited as a stop on a cycling tour around Dalsfjord.
More interests for your trip
If you’re interested in the night sky, Kometland is home to Norway’s largest amateur observatory. It is located in the woods above Klepp in Volda, and a lit footpath leads there. At Andaneset, an old dynamite store has been renovated and converted into a sauna. Volda also has several ski centres and beautiful areas with opportunities for touring. These options add further interests to consider when planning your trip, alongside hiking and culture.
For more information about the area, you can also visit the pages for Volda and Lauvstad.
For an overview of the wider destination, visit More Og Romsdal.
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