Discover Strand: Preikestolen, Trails and Culture

A stay in Strand can focus on nature trails, water activities or cultural attractions. Preikestolen lies within the municipality of Strand; Jørpelandsholmen, Jørpelandsvågen and Solbakk also offer specific starting points for planning your trip. If you’re looking for a hotel in Strand, it helps to first map out the places you plan to visit and how much time you’ll need.

Preikestolen and riverside trails

Preikestolen is a 604-metre-high cliff. The trail there passes through marshland and forests and includes stone steps built by Nepalese Sherpas. The hike is 8 kilometres in total and takes about four hours for the round trip. As conditions on the trail can vary, use this as a guide for planning and check conditions in advance. The Preikestolen car park is open 24 hours a day, year-round. As opening arrangements can change, check the latest information from the operator before setting out.

The hike to Jørpelandsfossen offers a different route: it starts in Jørpelandsvågen and follows the river. The two trails offer different experiences: the Preikestolen route takes in a cliff, forest and marshland, while the route to Jørpelandsfossen follows the river. Check local information for detailed conditions on the trail to the waterfall.

Jørpelandsholmen and getting around

Jørpelandsholmen has a 1.7-kilometre circular trail around the island, designed to be accessible. The island also has a 12-hole disc golf course, a large playground and bathing spots. It is well equipped for visits by boat, kayak or small craft. These options let you tailor your visit to the island without making the circular trail the sole focus of your itinerary.

There are also practical points of reference: Jørpelandsvågen has a motorhome parking area with 26 spaces and a guest harbour with 30 berths. Frilager has outdoor equipment collection points in Tau and Jørpeland. These details complement the trails and cultural attractions with specific places to visit in the area.

Culture, gardens and history

Villa Rosehagen is a lively cultural venue offering food and drink, historical interpretation and cultural events. The historic wooden villa has a rose garden whose collection dates back to the 13th century and is considered the largest rose collection in the Nordic region. A visit to Flor & Fjære begins with a boat trip to the island of Sør-Hidle. The garden was created over three generations.

A prehistoric rock carving site dating from around 500 BC is located at Solbakk in Strand. It includes almost 30 depictions of ships and eight sun figures. Solspeilet, an eight-metre-high artwork reminiscent of an Egyptian pyramid, stands on Klungholmen. It is decorated with historical symbols, runes and, among other things, ornaments from the Oseberg ship, and is surrounded by twelve standing stones. These places offer different cultural perspectives: prehistoric depictions at Solbakk and an artwork featuring a variety of symbols on Klungholmen.

Mølleparken was laid out during the period when the mill was in operation, around the director’s residence, which was associated with Tou Brug. Strandadagene is an annual event in Jørpeland featuring cultural contributions and a range of activities for visitors of all ages. The programme may vary from year to year; if you’d like to plan your trip around it, check the dates and current programme.

Different ways to plan your trip

When planning, you can compare the time required and your interests: the hike to Preikestolen is 8 kilometres in total and takes about four hours for the round trip, while the circular trail on Jørpelandsholmen is 1.7 kilometres long. The trail to Jørpelandsfossen follows the river, while Solbakk, Klungholmen and Rosehagen offer other, cultural experiences.

Discover more destinations: Tau, Strand, Jørpeland, Idse, Kvitsøy, Eigersund, Sokndal.

Go to the main travel overview: Rogaland.