Grøa: Gardens, History and Nature

Grøa brings together garden culture, archaeological heritage and outdoor activities. If you are looking for a hotel in Grøa, these varied themes provide a practical framework for shaping your stay around your interests: Phillipshagen offers seasonal garden design, Løykja has archaeological finds and burial sites, and there are also hiking trails and the Skorga. This means the area cannot be reduced to a single attraction; garden visits, hikes, winter ski trails and swimming each offer a different focus.

Phillipshagen Throughout the Year

Phillipshagen is an English-style landscape garden with more than 50 plant species. Its oldest rhododendrons are especially striking: they have grown into almost a forest, and their flowers reach several metres high. The plants flower mainly in June and July; the exact flowering time can vary. In autumn, Phillipshagen is known for the colours of its foliage; the progression of autumn colours also varies. Flowers and foliage therefore provide different seasonal highlights, influencing when to visit. Benches, tables and a pavilion are among the garden’s amenities; these facilities may change.

Ski Trail and Hike

Grøa IL’s lit ski trail is a floodlit loop for the darker months. It runs between the steep foothills of Trollheimen and the flat valley floor, where farmland and residential areas are located. After the first short climb, the route passes a floodlit ski-play area. A different option is the Knutsliøya (Grøa) hike: a clearly visible path runs parallel to the river to the ruins of an old settlement. When planning, you can choose between a floodlit loop ski trail for the darker months and a hike with a historical destination.

Archaeological Heritage in Løykja

The Løykja burial ground contains more than 200 monuments of various kinds. The finds date from the Roman period to the end of the 10th century, providing a broad time frame for the area’s archaeological history. Multilingual signs stand along the path. As the signage may change, it is best to check the current information before visiting. Løykja cemetery offers another personal perspective: Barbara Arbuthnott and other people from her life story are buried there. The burial ground and cemetery thus offer different insights: one into a history of finds reaching far back in time, the other into specific people from Barbara Arbuthnott’s life story.

Swimming at the Skorga

You can swim in the Skorga River near Grøa and see the Vinnu, Fossa and Skorga waterfalls.

Sunndal as the Wider Context

Within the wider destination of Sunndal, Leikvin Cultural Heritage Park includes the Sunndal bygdemuseum as a visitor centre, an Iron Age burial ground, a botanical garden, a mill house and Løykja cemetery. The Sunndal bygdemuseum was founded in 1935 under the name Leikvin Bygdemuseum and has grown to include 13 buildings that illustrate many facets of Sunndal’s history. In Sunndal, Grøvudalen and Torbudalen are starting points for hikes in Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park. The regional theme therefore encompasses both cultural history and hiking information.

Discover more destinations: Gjøra, Ålvundeid, Ålvundfjord, Øksendal, Sunndalsøra

Back to the wider travel overview: Sunndal.