Vegårshei: Lake, history and hiking trails

At 18 square kilometres, Lake Vegår is a distinctive part of the Vegårshei landscape. Its basins are called Vestfjorden, Nordfjorden and Sørfjorden. The lake’s fish species also give an impression of its natural environment: they include trout, perch, eels, Canadian brook trout and vendace, among others. Eels are protected.

Lake, water and protected landscapes

The protected Vegårsvassdraget encompasses rivers, lakes and wetlands and includes Vegårshei. It is also important for outdoor recreation. A different aspect of nature takes centre stage at Hovdefjell Nature Reserve, which protects an area of old-growth spruce forest with a high proportion of yew trees. Thus, the landscape includes not only bodies of water but also protected forest areas.

Church and local history

Vegårshei Church is a cruciform church dating from 1808 and was consecrated in 1810. The two dates mark different stages in its history: construction and consecration. An ornamented ceiling is a distinctive feature of the church. It is automatically listed as a protected heritage site and stands on an automatically protected medieval church site.

At Vegårshei Bygdetun, local history is brought to life in a different way. Individuals, groups, kindergartens and schools can visit the exhibitions there. The collection is displayed in twelve buildings at a small open-air museum. Themed Sundays are also held in summer, when visitors can experience the history of the area; dates vary.

Bathing area and cabins

In the centre of Vegårshei is Vaskarplassen, a municipal bathing area with a sandy beach, jetty, shelter, barbecue and toilet building. Volleyball facilities are also available. The sandy beach and jetty define the experience by the water, while the volleyball facilities add a sporting option for visitors.

The cabin at Knollen is in the centre of Myra and can be used free of charge by individuals, groups, schools and kindergartens. If you are planning to use it for a longer period, check the local arrangements. Different usage limits apply at the Orrestaua cabin: it is open all year round and intended for free day visits; overnight stays in the cabin are not permitted. From there, the view extends across Ettevann, west towards Hovdefjell and north towards Grønfjell.

Hiking trails and navigation

The Vegårshei hiking map shows marked trails, viewpoints, bathing areas, roads, tractor tracks and unmarked trails. For 2022, it lists 25 different marked hikes. Some may no longer be marked, but the trails still exist and can be used with the help of maps. Keep this distinction in mind when planning: a route may still exist even if its markings are no longer guaranteed.

Discover more destinations: Vegårshei, Grimstad, Arendal, Lillesand, Bykle, Risør, Gjerstad, Tvedestrand.

For the regional travel overview: Aust-Agder.