PØK-BLOK: Family holiday in Norway - Tuddal and Finnskogen

This year, we planned our two weeks summer holiday on last-minute-random principle, based on the weather forecast. As usually in Norway, the best weather was in May, but in July, there is a lot of rain. Originally we wanted to visit south-west of "iconic" Norway, but instead we ended up in Tuddal (west from Oslo) and in Finnskogen (east from Oslo). And it was great!

Tuddal area

Because of unstable weather, we did not camp, but rented a simple cabin next to lake Bonsvatn. It was perfect base for our daily trips in the area.

Our cabin

First day we decided to reach Gaustatoppen, a mountain with "best" view in Norway. Belma hiked up, while I and Lukas used the service of this "underground tram", that was built inside the mountain in 1950s by NATO. Very cool and claustrophobic experience. The whole scheme is on the next picture.

Gaustatoppen can be crowded, but it is worthy. The view is really good.

In the evening I fished a little in Vindsjåen. The area around looks great for hiking.

Next day was rainy, so we drove to Rjukan, a hydroelectric town located in very deep valley of river Måna. There is a great industrial museum Vemork, exhibiting the machine hall of once then biggest hydropower station and the heavy water cellar, the place of one of the WWII most renowned military operation.

Part of the machine hall

...on the way to museum

Next day was sunny! We drove a few km through Vikdalen to Våtjønntoppen gapahup, Belma hiked to Ørnenuten, while I and Lukas were encountering the sheep and worked with the grill.

The view from the gapahuk. Very nice place.

In the evening I hiked to Langetjønn to fish. This is the view towards Våtjønn.

Another day, another sunny day! We drove to Bondal. Belma hiked to Bonsnos and we explored the old farming village.

Bondal

refreshment along the road

Last day, on our drive back to Oslo, we stopped in Rjukan again and spent 3 hours on Rjukanbanen, a historical railway from 1909. We travelled by the train from Rujan to Mæl station, next to lake Tinnsjø, where the train originally led to the majestic ferry Ammonia.

The train stopped at Mæl station

Mæl station

The ferry. Place for 18 train wagons and almost 200 people.

Finnskogen

I have read about this area several times, but never visited. 120x40 km of forest and water along Swedish border, settled by finish people in 17th century. My colleague Oddrun was born there and provided me with some inside tips what to visit there. And as the weather forecast was relatively OK, we drove there... and were surprised a lot with the beauty and calmness of this area.

First two nights we spent in this cabin from 1875 (Langmovollen), near Nordre Fløgen lake (that surprised me with very solid perch and pike) . Those old cabins are nice, but hitting your head into something is relatively common while staying there...

Nearby Kynna river offers great family friendly paddling, so we spent half day exploring the northern parts. There is perfect network of camping places along the whole river.

On the way to the next cabin we crossed some nice rivers. On the left is Ulvåa river close to its inlet to Flisa river. On the right is 180m long wooden bridge across Glomma river in Flisa. The water levels were high - that was great for paddling condition on Kynna river.