Kjeåsen Mountain Farm is situated on a mountain side, 530 meters above Simadalsfjorden at the innermost part of the Hardangerfjord.
The mountain farm is now vacated, but people do live there in summer who maintain the beautiful cultural landscape around the farm.
Visit Hardangerfjord – Visit Sunnhordland
Visit Hardangerfjord and Visit Sunnhordland are the official destination companies for the Hardangerfjord area.
Kjeåsen Mountain Farm
It is known that Kjeåsen has been inhabited from as early as 1650 AD. and perhaps even earlier than that.
The road to Kjeåsen was built in 1974. Until then, those who lived there or were going to visit Kjeåsen had to walk the steep and exposed trail from the fjord up to the mountain farm. For those who lived on the farm, it was a hard life. The children’s road to the school was long, dangerous and tiring. In summer, the children went to and from school in Simadal every day, but in the winter they stayed with relatives down in the valley.
Kjeåsen is today a popular place to visit for both locals and tourists, and the view from the viewpoint and down to the fjord and the surrounding mountains is fantastic.
NOTE – It is not allowed to enter the private properties at Kjeåsen. Respect privacy.
The road to Kjeåsen Mountain Farm
Eidfjord in the eastern part of the Hardangerfjord is a great base for nature experiences and activities.
Kjeåsen is one of the most popular places to visit. To visit Kjeåsen, you must travel from Eidfjord to Simadalen from where the road up to Kjeåsen starts.
From Simadalen you can drive the steep road up to the parking lot which is close to Kjeåsen Fjellgård. From there there is a short walk to the viewpoint where you can enjoy the great view down to Simadalsfjorden and to Eidfjord and the innermost part of the Hardangerfjord.
NOTE – You need to drive on a steep and narrow road and through a 2.6 kilometer long tunnel up to Kjeåsen. The tunnel is also steep and narrow. Due to this, traffic to and from Kjeåsen is regulated so only one direction can be driven at a time. There may be some waiting time because of this. You need to have this in mind when planning the drive in both directions. It is forbidden to walk or bike through the tunnel.
SEASON – Summer, see Visit Hardangerfjord website.
WINTER – The road up to Kjeåsen is closed during winter.
The Hardangerfjord Area – What to See and Do
The Hardangerfjord area, the orchard of Norway, is known for Summer Skiing at Folgefonna Glacier and a spectacular fruit tree blossoming in spring.
Lake Bondhusvatnet and the Bondhusbreen Glacier in Kvinnherad was one of the first places the English tourists visited when they discovered Norway in the mid 1800´s.
Drive in the Hardanger area and see the Vøringsfossen Waterfall in Måbødalen in Eidfjord, the Låtefoss Waterfall in Oddadalen and all the other great waterfalls in the Hardangerfjord area.
Odda, in the heart of Sørfjorden, has now transformed from an industrial town into an adventure town. Trolltunga Active and Trolltunga Adventures are based at Odda, and offers guiding and equipment rental. Some of the adventures they offer are Trolltunga hikes, the Dronningstien hike, Via Ferrata Trolltunga and Tyssedal, Fjord Adventures and Winter Adventures.
Combine a fjord cruise on the Hardangerfjord with a trip to Måbødalen to see the mighty Vøringsfossen Waterfall from the new viewing platform and viewing bridge built in connection with the Hardangervidda National Tourist Route.
The Hardangerfjord is located in the county of Vestland, near Bergen, in the middle of Western Norway. Bergen is the second largest city in Norway and is known as The Gateway to the Fjords. Bergen is also the gateway to the Hardangerfjord.
References
Visit Hardangerfjord
Wikipedia
Hotels and Accommodation in Eidfjord
Hotel Vøringsfoss – Eidfjord
Eidfjord Hotel – Eidfjord
Vik Pensjonat – Eidfjord