Bjerkreim – Hiking, River and Culture

Bjerkreim brings together a marked circular hike, a church with a distinctive organ history and the Bjerkreimselva. For planning your stay, specific distance and time details are helpful; the municipality also offers further natural and cultural attractions.

Ramnafjellet: Start, Distance and Walking Time

The Ramnafjellet circular hike starts at Bjerkreim School, where there is also a car park. From the E39 in Bjerkreim, follow the turnoff towards Lauperak to reach the school and Bjerkreim Church.

The circular route is 10.2 kilometres long, with a stated walking time of 4 hours and 10 minutes. The trail is marked in red. The distance and walking time give you two specific details to help estimate how much time this circular hike will take when planning your day.

Church, River and Historic Buildings

Bjerkreim Church has a Ryde & Berg Orgelbyggeri Opus 51 organ. The instrument, with 14 stops, was installed in 2001. The Bjerkreimselva is a national salmon river; across the wider Bjerkreim destination, the river has a total of 54 kilometres of fishable water. At Gjedlakleiva, where the E39 crosses the river, fishing facilities are available for people with disabilities.

In the wider area around the destination, Åsentunet includes a dwelling house dating from 1740 and an outbuilding rebuilt to approximately the same period. This means historic buildings are another distinct cultural attraction, alongside the organ history.

Hiking and Landscapes in Bjerkreim Municipality

The wider Bjerkreim destination has a total of 520 kilometres of marked trails, 420 kilometres of which are in Bjerkreim Municipality. A hiking map shows marked trails through the municipality’s natural and cultural landscapes. One specific point of comparison is the marked trail to Storrsheia: it starts at the E39 by Storrsheivatnet, and the outward walk takes about 30 minutes. This time refers to the outward walk, while the 4 hours and 10 minutes given for Ramnafjellet applies to the circular hike.

Bjerkreim is one of five municipalities in the Magma UNESCO Global Geopark; the others are Eigersund, Sokndal, Lund and Flekkefjord. Vinjakula lies in the geopark’s northeast, on the border with Gjesdal. At 907 metres, it is the geopark’s highest peak and offers a panorama across a rugged gneiss landscape.

M/K Ørsdølen operates tourist services on the 17-kilometre-long Ørsdalsvatnet. The lake is a starting point for boat trips, hikes, summit tours and trips to abandoned farms and hamlets. The Gloppedalsura Via Ferrata leads into the heart of Northern Europe’s largest boulder field; the circular route takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. In winter, Stavtjørn has a ski lift, downhill runs and cross-country ski trails suitable for everyone.

Culture and Events

In the wider Bjerkreim destination, Kløgetvedttunet is a living farm and open-air museum with restored buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries. There are no regular opening hours. Guided tours for groups and individuals can be arranged by contacting the cultural office or the service department of Bjerkreim Municipality.

Bjerkreimsmarken takes place every year in Vikeså on the last weekend in September. The traditional market features exhibitions of animals and agricultural machinery, music and dancing by local performers, competitions, arts and crafts, and local food. Check the current event date before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Vikeså.

View the main travel guide: Bjerkreim.