Kategori: Coastal trails

Hike Filtvet to Holmsbu

There is a scheduled ferry (B21) to Filtvet brygge in the summer. It is a very good starting point for the coastal path further south towards Tofte. Filtvet lighthouse stands as a majestic landmark and is an open gallery in the summer. The bay is known for its white beach and restaurant Vilma Sjøbad. At Ekrebukta there is also a small beach. The route continues along small roads, gravel roads and over rocky outcrops. There are several beaches and bathing bays where it is nice to have a break. The signage can be somewhat variable. At Ramsvika, it is recommended to continue along Ramsviksveien – the path is quite overgrown at the end of the rocky cliffs. Tofte is known for its long industrial history and the smoke from the pipes at Tofte was a sure landmark for a long time. Tofte Cellulosefabrik was a wood processing factory that was founded in 1897 and was among the largest cellulose factories in the world. Production was discontinued in 2013. The workers' housing you pass is built in classic British brick style. There are shops and eateries in the centre. Exciting polar history awaits in Hurumhavna. Here lie the remains of the polar ship Maud, which was transported back to Norway in 2018 after being underwater for 80 years. This ship was built for Roald Amundsen's expedition through the Northeast Passage.

The stretch from Tofte to Rødtangen is a wonderful nature experience. The start is a simple along gravel road into the Preisserstranda bathing area. Then the landscape becomes a little more demanding, and it goes up quite a bit. Remember to turn around for the great view back towards Tofte and the beach you just passed. There is a signposted shortcut to Sandbukta or further out towards Østnestangen lighthouse. The trip continues towards Sandbukta where there are several beaches. The markings are not always so easy to follow here and it is a bit steep in some places. The same also applies after Sandbukta before you reach the gravel road that leads to Ertsvika. Here there is a nice beach and you can see the steep rock face to the west. It gives a clue to the route ahead, which is steep and occasionally roped. There is a nice view when you get up. Stay tuned, it's way down.

At Knatvoldstrand there is a campsite, beach and benches. It continues along cottage roads and paths for a short distance by Haraldstangen. There is a variety of paths, dirt roads, woodlands and cozy bays further on. At Solfjellskjæret there are several paths and options for choosing a path – if you follow the path along the sea you will eventually come past the cabin area and to Breivik Bay. From here you can follow Nebbaveien to Rødtangen – recommended if there is high tide and a lot of wind. Here is Rødtangen Camping with a long, fine beach and a beautiful view. If the water is low and the conditions are calm, you can walk across the rocks towards the Rødtangen lighthouse – this is somewhat hilly and partly marked with painted arrows. Take with you the restored fog clock at the far end of Nebba – which dates from 1903 and was built in Swiss style. Rødtangen is an old beach resort and today a popular holiday destination.

Now the route follows winding minor roads where there may be some holiday traffic. Along the way, you can take in Holmsbu Resort, which has summer catering, grave mounds from the Bronze Age, Støa summer gallery and Holmsbu Art Museum, which is wonderfully situated in the forest with art by the painter Henrik Sørensen. It is possible to turn off the road and follow the hilly path up the hill and then arrive in the center of Holmsbu via the wooden stairs. In Holmsbu, life can be enjoyed with an ice cream on the pier with a great view over the Drammensfjord. Here there are also shops, several places to eat and a cozy beach hotel. Feel free to also visit Holmsbu Church, known as the artist's church, which is located on a hill up the hill and has a colorful and artistic interior, and concerts on selected Sundays during the summer months.

To get here: 

Bus: Bus to Filtvet, Tofte and Holmsbu. Check entur.no or ruter.no 

Boat: During summer months boat B21 to Filtvet from March – October from Aker Brygge – Son. Check entur.no or ruter.no 

Coastal hike: Skiphelle beach to Ramme farm

Start the day with a swim at the family-friendly, shallow beach at Skiphelle before embarking on a family adventure along the coastal path to Edvard Munch's universe at Ramme. The trip, which takes about an hour and a half one way, is filled with both exciting history and beautiful nature experiences.

Bring a hammock and take a break at the secluded Kjeppestadbukta beach and set aside plenty of time to explore the cultural destination Ramme Gård, which includes a visitor farm, farm shop, café, and art museum.

On the way back, you can choose a different route that goes through a beautiful forest landscape.

Fjord and forest in one day!

Hiking facts:

How to get there: By car/bike to Skiphelle beach, south of Drøbak.

Hike length: 10 kilometers round trip

Local tip: Along the coastal path, several interesting information signs have been put up, including about the German cargo ship DS Donau. In 2024, there will also be a "pole hunt" along the coastal path, which can be a fun motivation for children.

Fossils in Slemmestad

Octopuses, trilobites and 900 million years of history

Slemmestad is located in the middle of the Oslo field and is a treasure trove for anyone interested in rock and fossils. In the middle of Slemmestad you can see the history of geology from bedrock to volcanic rocks. The "team package" we see here is in the correct order with the oldest at the bottom and the newest at the top. This is especially because elsewhere the layers are folded or worn away.

The giant Oslo field stretches from Langesund in the south to Lake Mjøsa in the north and tells the earth's history through 900 million years. Here you see countless types of rocks, minerals and remains of prehistoric animals. The reason for this is that the entire Oslo field sank several hundred meters into a grave, while the surrounding areas were worn down to the bedrock by ice age, erosion and the ravages of time.

Fossil hunting

The fossils can be seen all over Slemmestad. It's just a matter of knowing what to look for! Learn more at our signposted geology locations. The Geology Center has made guide booklets with maps that supplement the information signs you find along the way. This can be downloaded from the Geology Center or viewed digitally at www.geologisenteret.no

It is first and foremost the exciting geology that exists, but we also recommend taking a trip into the Geology Center's Trilobox to look at exhibitions of the area's fossils, rocks and minerals.

The fossils are from the time periods Cambrian, Ordovician and Silurian, from 540 to 420 million years ago. At that time, Slemmestad's seabed was in a relatively shallow sea. Animals and plants abounded here. Some are similar to those we know today, while others look completely foreign. You will find both graptolites, trilobites and spectacular octopuses.

Slemmestad is facing major changes in the future and will be developed from an industrial site to a vibrant coastal town. This is probably the largest site development project in the inner Oslofjord. Make your visit to Odden. A recreation area where you can swim, fish and eat your packed lunch while enjoying the fantastic view all the way to Oslo.

The coastal path to Vollen

After an exciting fossil hunt in Slemmestad, we recommend that you follow the marked coastal path north towards the idyllic town of Vollen. The coastal path takes you past several blue flag beaches, fossil points and through pleasant buildings and is accessible to all.

Vollen is characterized as the best-preserved beach resort in the inner Oslofjord. Here you will find several nice shops, galleries, restaurants, the Oslofjord Museum, Vollen Marina with activities such as diving and jet skis. Nice beach with frisbee golf and reuse library. There is a fast boat between Aker Brygge / Drøbak and Vollen and Slemmestad.

Access:

The summer boat B22 / B21 from Aker Brygge / Son during the school holidays and weekends during the summer. For timetables check www.ruter.no

Bus to Slemmestad. Disembarkation at Toern. www.ruter.no

Free parking at Slemmestad Commuter parking on Vaterlandsveien.

Chill out in nostalgic Holmsbu

«Chill out in nostalgic Holmsbu»

Holmsbu and Hurum have attracted bathing summer guests and famous painters since the 1870s and are today a favorite holiday resort with whitewashed houses.

Holmsbu village

From the early 18th century, Holmsbu has been a center for shipping and trade. Towards the end of the 19th century, steamships arrived daily with bathers, and in the 20th century, Holmsbu housed Norway's largest and most stable artist colony. Today, lively Holmsbu offers a variety of experiences and is the starting point for trips of many kinds. A perfect starting point for weekend trips and day trips where you can experience delicious food with views of the harbor, concerts, art, exploring the coastal path and walking in the primeval forest.

Find peace in the sunset breeze. At the floating sauna you can enjoy the revitalizing combination of steaming sauna and refreshing sea bath all year round! And Badehotellet provides a good bed and tasty meals.

The artist colony

The unique light and landscape at the southern tip of Hurum has been immortalized by many artists. It all started with Oluf Wold-Thorne renting a room in Holmsbustøa. His friend Henrik Sørensen came to visit in 1913, enjoyed himself so much and then lived in Holmsbu almost every summer for the rest of his life with several renowned painters, referred to as "the Holmsbu Painters". They painted beautiful decorations in Holmsbu church in the 1950s and 1960s.

Holmsbu Picture Gallery with Henrik Sørensen's collections is nicely located in nature in Støa. The building itself was built by people from Holmsbu in large stones of Hurum granite that have been found in ura on the site. The building's location and shape harmonize with the surrounding landscape and the art that was created there. It is open from June to September and Hurum art group also holds summer exhibitions in the small houses at the bottom of the road. Parking for car.

Medevial grave and early settlement

The country's oldest Medieval Grave can be found by continuing the road towards Rødtangen – at the top of the hill after the «spa hotel» you can see the sign for the Bronze Age tombs. A dolmen tomb is a tomb from the Neolithic (4500 – 1800 BC). The tomb is made up of large, standing stones that have formed the walls of a burial chamber. Above these has been a large stone that has served as a roof. Next to it are also burial mounds from the Bronze Age. In the older Bronze Age, the dead were placed in the coffin fully clothed and with various objects.

«Norway's most beautiful rainforest» in Holtnesdalen.

Holtnesdalen nature reserve is especially beautiful in the spring carpeted with whiteweed. Here is unique primeval forest, deciduous forest and carpets of wildflowers. Nature is magical with a deep and lush ravine, high sharp rock walls, narrow paths, and wild and beautiful rainforest. The stream divides the valley into two parts and creates deep, dark valley depressions – with ferns and deciduous forest in the valley bottoms, and more coniferous forest at the height between them. You can start the trip from the Picture Gallery which is the shortest and easiest, or the more demanding route by following the road further towards Rødtangen, take Holtnesveien. Follow to Holtnes and turn right and follow along the fields inwards to the large wide oak. Follow the signs to Holtnesdalen nature reserve. This stretch leads to steep and rugged sections that can be avoided by starting at the image gallery.

Local taste experiences

Hurum is home to farms known for their good products. Many sell goods straight from the farm in season. In Holmsbu you can get the farmer's vegetables from Bergsmyrene Gård, the steak from Biffgården or Grønnsletta and edible flowers and cut flowers at FioriBlomster.

 

Polar expeditions and coastal history

The Hurum Peninsula had a central position when ships were the link between both sides of the Oslo Fjord. Today it consists of beautiful untouched coastal landscape and charming villages.

Amundsen – first man to the South Pole

Roald Amundsen secretly planned the South Pole expedition when he built the ship "Fram" and the members of the expedition became the first in history to reach the South Pole point on December 4, 1911 ahead of the Scott expedition.

Roald Amundsen's polar ship "Maud" which he used on his second expedition to the Arctic was built at Anker & Jensen's shipyard in Vollen. The boat was launched in June 1917 and christened by Amundsen himself with a lump of ice.

Amundsen's next expedition across the Arctic Ocean is planned and in the summer of 1918 "Maud" finally sails from Oslo towards the northeast passage. Attempts were made to drift across the Arctic Ocean without success, and attempts were made to reach the North Pole by plane. The boat remained behind in the ice when the crew returned. In 1990, Asker municipality bought the boat from HBC for 1 dollar. After 80 years on the seabed in the northwest passage, the ship was transported home to Vollen in August 2018.

We start the tour at the Oslofjord Museum in Vollen. Vollen has a long and rich boatbuilding tradition. At the museum you can experience recreational boat collection and activities related to the recreational use of the Oslo Fjord. The kids can build boats with rubber engine and test them in the pool.

The trip continues to Tofte to Sagene Boat Harbor where Maud is stored. Discover the polar ship, see the fascinating construction technique and take part in the proud Norwegian polar history. Here is also a small collection of items found at the boat as well as a copy of the plane «Kristine». These have limited opening hours. The boat can be viewed around the clock, all year round.

Watch the film about the story of MS Maud HERE

Local history

Tofte Cellulosefabrikk was built in 1897 and became a cornerstone company locally. Tofte grew up as the largest town in the area with a strong working class culture and has several buildings that describe industrial history. Filtvet has been a port since the Middle Ages where goods have been unloaded and timber and ice exported to the major cities in Europe. There were once three iron mines here and after the mining ceased, Filtvet became a customs post for shipping in the 1780s. Filtvet consists of charming small houses, rose gardens, Filtvet Lighthouse with art exhibition in summer and the iconic Villa Malla with the white sand bay. Here there is rental of water activities in the summer.

Tour suggestion: Round trip along the coastal path to Sandbukta. 7.5 km

Trip in varied terrain with fantastic views. Follow the coastal path south to Østnestangen and Sandbukta. Enjoy the beautiful sea view from the lighthouse and see one of the country's oldest Viking tombs. The trip back goes via the forest along the tractor road back to the starting point. This stretch is described as the Oslo Fjord's most beautiful coastal path stretch with rich fauna and wildlife. The trip is sometimes very hilly and demanding.

Coastal path – hike Vettre-Vollen-Slemmestad

Distance: about 11 km Duration: 2.5 hours one way.

Best season: March-November but works well all year round and parts of the trip can be nicely completed by bike.

From Slemmestadveien there is public transport: Bus route 251/252 Oslo-Slemmestad-Hurum

The tour starts at Vettre (bus stop) – make your way down to Kråka Pub and the coast. Continue to the right towards Blakstad and below the main building follow the blue-marked coastal path along the water and stay on it until you make it to Asker Seilforening, feel free to take a detour around Børsholmen.

Then follow Blakstad Bryggerivei up to Slemmestadveien and turn left, follow it to Sjøvollbukta and enter the residentail area, follow the path along the bay at the bottom of the houses until it comes up again on the other side of the bay. Feel free to take the detour down the penninsula behind where there are nice outdoor areas, a bench for relaxation and great views of Nesodden and Oslo.

Continue along the main road to the center of Vollen. Vito´s is a popular seaside restaurant for refreshments, and the small galleries and shops have a wide selection of jewelry, art, interior and fashion. Did you know that Roald Amundsen's polar ship Maud was built in the Maud Bay where the Oslofjord Museum is now located –  get to know the maritime history around the Oslo Fjord. Close by is Tjuvholmen, which was Asker's trial.

Continue behind the Oslo Fjord Museum past the Svelvik villa (which also has the country's oldest outdoor bowling alley in the garden) and resume the blue-marked path. If you have a Frisbee you can play Frisbee golf on the headland and towards Arnestad school.

The path follows the upper side of Arnestad Bay and meets Sjøstrandveien. Walk through the settlement before it opens to Sjøstrand bathing place (Blue Flag 2019). Continue the marked trail – you pass several swimming areas, and many places where it is nice to take a break and look out over the fjord. Also look for the geological signs that tell a little about the nature and geology of the area that is a distinctive part of the Oslo belt.

Be aware of some construction work past Veas – follow signs and be careful. In the rock wall below, just before the pier on the left side of Bjerkåsholmen, it is possible to see fossil imprints of squid and snails, but even better is to make the trip on the far side of the sports court at Slemmestad Ungdomskole (about 2 km further).

At the junction of Bjerkåsholmen / Anna Bøes Vei, keep left – follow the path between the sea and the houses (over a private plot – agreement to cross has been made) continue towards Kutangen, follow the small roads and paths to the right up through the forest to the back of the Slemmestad factories / Norcem plot. In the small raod behind Circle K Slemmestad (Crossing Slemmestadveien / Rustadveien) – about 200 meters up the hill there are geological signs and fossils of squid and snails in the mountains. Continue down the main road, turn left and left again – follow Vaterlandsveien down to Slemmestad pier.

Slemmstad MEK is cultural center on the right hand side hosting many concerts, lectures and cultural events. The Cement Museum tells the story of cement extraction and life in Slemmestad. Trilobox is a geology center with exhibitions and is a dissemination arena for the teaching of Slemmestad's amazing geology and life in the sea 400 million years ago. Here you will find trilobites and other exciting fossils. In addition, you will find the nice bakery Plenum Café and the Kalk gallery and art workshop.

Possiblity to return by boat to Aker Brygge at the afternoon on weekdays (except from the holiday periods) – boat schedule.

Hike to Sem lake and Sem saw mill

«Semsvannet tour. The locals' favorite and a fantastic hiking area all year round »

Semsvannet is the local favorite tour for the citiziens of Asker for Sunday excursions, a great area with a cultural-historical environment that is suitable for everyone. 

Upper Sem and NaKuHel

The tour starts at the exit car park at Sem, right behind the Crown Prince Couple's residence. Here at Øvre Sem there are traces from the former agricultural school and now we find Øvre Sem Gård, Holtsmark restaurant and NaKuHel here. In summer, the area is bustling with activity and the bees make honey in their cubes. In "Smia", hikers meet over a cup of coffee and something to bite into with self-produced honey.

Make the trip around Semsvannet towards Tveiter Gård. In the bend at Svartdalen is the hatchery where fish fry can grow robust before the fish are released into the wild. Up below the hill and by Tømmervika are large boulders from prehistoric times, great for climbing and hiding. On the other side of the water, the bridge is past Tveiterfossen, where it is possible to enter behind the waterfall if the water flow is not too great. The trip goes past grazing cows and horses.

Bryggerhuset is a nice stop on the way. Voulunteers serves freshly brewed coffee and fresh baked goods on occations.

Continue the walk along the road around the end of the water. At the crossroads, we take a detour down to Sem Sagbruk. Follow the forest road to the right; Holtmarksvei and Nedre Bergvei to Sagdammen.

Operations at Sem Saw

Beautifully located by the Askerelven on Sem, the Asker museum has a unique collection of industrial cultural monuments. The buildings are located by Sagdammen and by Høveldammen, places where the waterfalls for hundreds of years have given power to businesses based on wood.

The operation of Sem saw and planing started in 1612, and today it is a living industrial cultural monument belonging to the Asker museum. In the 16th century, the upswing saw was introduced in Norway. This was an important technical innovation as the log had previously been split using an ax and wedges. The sawmills came to Asker around 1600, and Sem saw came into operation in 1612. It was a battle for wood, because the farmers also had a duty to procure coal for Bærum ironworks; in addition, a lot of timber went to salt cooking and lime burning. The work on the saw was seasonal and dependent on the water flow in the river in spring and autumn. The timber was cut in the autumn and sawn into planks, before it was stacked for drying and driven up for splitting and planing at Høvleriet in the winter. The work was heavy and demanding, and accidents could happen; nevertheless, the saw was a safe and permanent workplace.

Jon ran the sawmill with his brother and here you can hear an interview with Jon Barlund about Sem Sawmill.

The trip goes back along Semsveien back to Sem Gjestegård. Note; no sidewalks so be careful

Asker Turlag and Asker museum have marked a new path to connect Saga and Høvelen, and return to the exit car park without walking on the road.

Alternative starting point; the car park below Grendehuset by Saga. It takes you over the burial mounds and down to Høvelen. Enjoy a cup of coffee boiled on the fire to the sound of the waterfall noise, or continue the path along the fence to the beautiful Holstmark property until you reach the garden at Nedre Sem. Then you see Semsvannet! And you can continue "Semsvannet round" or choose paths in all directions….

Saw-day. Open visit to Sem Sag

You can get a live storytelling on a Sunday every year in the early summer (stay tuned at www.askermuseum.no). On Sagdagen, the Asker museum opens the waterfall and starts the water-powered circular saw from 1890 at Sem sag. Then you can see how to cut timber in ancient times. You can also see the strangest, technical devices that Albert Seheim, Asker's answer to Reodor Felgen, used in his workshop to make skis and wheels.

The timber that was to be split and planed was driven up to the planer, some turning upwards along Semsveien.

This is a wonderful outdoor area all year round. Here you can have great bike rides, waffle rides and wheelbarrow rides around the water or a summit trip to Skaugumåsen, ski trips in Vestmarka and ice skating on the water. You choose.

Bergvang Besøksgård is among the children's favorites and is a short drive away. Open visitor farm on weekends. Watch the animals being fed. Tour riding, visit the alpaccas, pony riding, husky sledding and children's birthdays are arranged.

If you come from out of town, there are great accommodation options in central Asker and Vettre and many nice restaurants in Asker Sentrum.

Access:

Car to the exit car park at Øvre Sem or the car park below Grendehuset by Saga. Bus to stop Grana. Bus 760 from Asker or Sandvika.

Coastal Art Galleries

Asker offers a golden opportunity to combine visits to the producers of local food with historical monuments, coastal galleries, beautiful beaches and restaurant visits. The long coast invites swimming, fishing, boating and outdoor activities.

In Hurumlandet we find traces of settlement dating back to the Middle Ages.In the mild climate, the apples grow juicy and tasty. The farm shops have a good selection of local food from their own and other farms such as apple juice, eggs and meat, local drinks and some interior design. Here you meet the local people and the hosts on the farms and can get good tips for cooking.

Short-distance local food

Several producers in Asker are proud suppliers to some of the country's best restaurants. Are you planning a men's meal with friends? Shop with the farmer himself. You can get lovely short-aged meat at the farms in Hurum such as Værby, Grønnsletta and Biffgården and organic vegetables full of flavor at Bergsmyrene and Hauger Gård.  Check out our interactive map of the producers. 

The animals on the farm

Come and visit the animals on our visitor farms Bergvang and Solli Gård. Get to know our four-legged friends and join in feeding the animals.

At Bergvang you can ride horses or ponnies, dog sledding tours and meet the soft alpacas. At Solli great hiking opportunities and fresh pastries await in the farm café. Tour riding and pony riding for the little ones. 

Restaurant experiences with a local twist

What's better than quality time with friends and family and not having to do the dishes afterwards? The restaurants and hotels in Asker maintain a high standard in a pleasant setting for both visitors and locals. Enjoy good food and good company in a pleasant setting whether it's an informal evening or a special celebration. At Wettre and Kråka Pub there is both entertainment, quiz nights and locally brewed beer and gin are served.

 

Coastal path Tofte to Rodtangen

This tour is referred to as the Oslo Fjord's finest and most pristine coastal stretch. Along the trail you will find a number of beautiful swimming and fishing spots as well as historic burial sites from the Stone Age. The trail runs mostly near the water's edge with formidable views.

The trip starts at Sagene boat harbor in Tofte. Take time to look at Roald Amundsen's polar ship M / S Maud, which he had built for his second expedition to the Arctic. She is now stored in the Sagene harbor. Then follow the path along the water until you reach Østnestangen. Here you can take a detour to the left to the lighthouse on Østnestangen. Or take the path to the right towards Sandbukta and Rødtangen.

Østnestangen and Sandbukta are parts of a nature reserve with varied geology, flora and wildlife. Rare red-listed species such as Mistletoe grow here and you can walk in deciduous forests.

The beaches are like pearls on a string with Sandbukta and Ertsvika as the finest, surrounded by clear-cut boulders. The path on to Knatvoldstranda is quite hilly and a bit challenging. When it's time for ice cream and refreshments, it can be bought from the kiosk at Knatvoldstranda camping and cabin rental during opening hours.

Solfjellåsene and Haraldsfjellet nature reserve have large deposits of yew and calcareous vegetation with rich and rare flora. Take a detour to Haraldstangen and enjoy the fantastic view before following the Coastal Path further.

Rødtangen – a favorite summer place

In 1857, a pharmacist and a lawyer rowed the long way from Drammen to Rødtangen to swim in clean seawater. This was the start of a stream of bathers to Hurum who from the 1870s arrived with the scheduled boats from Oslo and Drammen.

Rødtangen was an important unloading station for Drammensfjorden and the lighthouse has probably been there since the 18th century. Today you can see the fog bell on Nebba and hear «Olea tell about life on Rødtangen and the fog bell». Scan QR code on site.

Rødtangen is a favorite summer place, with a few permanent residents. Here is also a campsite and a shallow beach perfect for families with small children.

The area is rich in cultural monuments. Two dolmen tombs from the Stone Age and well-preserved burial mounds from the Bronze Age are among the most important finds. Both the dolmen graves and the burial mounds were built to be visible from the fjord. Signs along the path provide good information about the cultural monuments.

The trip is hilly and occasionally in quite steep terrain, but suitable for most people, but remember to pack a packed lunch and plenty of drinks. One way, the trip is 7 km and takes about 3 hours. Many people go one way and take the bus or taxi back. If you want a longer trip, you can continue to idyllic Holmsbu where you can round off the day with a great meal in the center and spend the night at Badehotellet.

Access:

Parking at Tofte. Parking at the bottom of Sagene valley or parks by the marina. For timetables and bus times, see Ruter.no

Hike Holmen to Sætre

From Holmen, via Slemmestad to Sætre and Sandspollen bay

The coastal path from Holmen is easily accessible by bus. Feel free to stop by Holmen Fjordhotell, which is beautifully located down by the water with a jetty, beach and restaurant. After just over a kilometre, Hvalstrand Bad is like a gem by the fjord. This bathing facility dates back to 1934 and both the diving tower and the restaurant building are in typical functionalist style. The hiking trail continues around Leangbukta past Thon Hotel Vettre and through Løkenesskogen Nature Reserve on paths and eventually on cozy small roads out to Konglungen. Strandsitterhuset is the oldest house on Konglungen. The building was moved here from Oust in Bærum and the family who lived here made their living from the sea. Today the house is a museum and here you can enter and see how the family lived. Over the headland, the hiking trail goes down to Spirebukta and further past Løkenes Gård. Kråka Pub is located on a farm and has an open Friday pub. Here is also the Wettre Brewery. Just after Blakstad Hospital, the outlet of the Asker River is crossed. There has been salt production here and the first time salt from Asker was documented is in the 1300s. Salt was important for preserving food before the time of refrigerators. Salt was also a means of payment and was used to pay taxes. The village of Vollen is idyllically located right down by the fjord. There are several nice eateries, a nice beach, kayak rental and the Oslofjord Museum is located here.

The trip continues to Elnestangen. Here it is possible to spend the night in the DNT cabin Driver's Residence. Elnestangen nature reserve is a great outdoor area with lots of paths and benches. The next stop is Sjøstrand; from the late 1800s to the mid-1920s, the Sjøstrand area was an important storage and export place for natural ice. Today it is a popular beach. The last stretch towards Slemmestad goes on a hilly path through the forest. One of the chimneys and the four largest silos remain as memories from the cement period – the others have been demolished to renew Slemmestad. Slemmestad is a central location for the Oslo field with rich deposits of fossils and a wide range of rocks from the earth's primeval and ancient times. At the library there is an organic café and Trilobox with fossils, rocks and minerals. If you want to explore fossils more, Fossildalen and the area around Slemmestad stadium can be recommended. There is a scheduled boat to Aker Brygge from the pier. At Odden is the porter's house (the residents here were the concierge and caretaker of the director's residence) and the cave (just for decoration – a water pipe was led here to create the illusion of a water source).

The path further is hilly, both up and down over Slemmestadåsen, and can be experienced as somewhat demanding. There is a nice view of Nærsnes and picnic benches along the way. The trail goes down to Grundvig. To avoid private land down towards Grundvikveien we must follow the upper road. Go back a little and up the "hut road" at Hiken. You will come up to an old ice dam rich of bird life from around 1860 at Morberg. Continue through the forest, or the path along Sundbyveien down onto Grundvikveien towards Graffstrandsa. Continue following the coastal path to Nærsnes. In several places there are signs that tell about ice ponds and how ice was exported at the end of the 1800s. Propsen is a nice little beach and at Nærsnes you can stroll on the cozy small roads. To avoid the main road, the coastal path goes through residential areas and up through the forest – take in the Flådda viewpoint along the way.

At Ramton camping there is accommodation, swimming area, golf and mini golf, jetty, rocks and kiosk in the summer. Høvikvollen is the next cozy recreational area and beach. The trail continues past Fagertun bathing area to Båtstø – this is a nice little place with a marina, swimming area and white houses. There are cozy small roads on gravel and asphalt, and at Tittutåsen there is a nice viewpoint with a bench. At Åros, the coastal path goes over the hill through Ivers vei to avoid the busy Hurumveien. Skogsborg recreation area has large grassy areas, beach and kayak rental. Here it was a holiday home for industrial workers in Slemmestad. The walk continues towards Beston bathing place. From there, it is not far to Sætre – here you will find a city beach, several restaurants and a bus terminal.

The round trip along Sandspollen starts on a pedestrian and cycle path out of Sætre and continues on a small road across Engene. This was the location of the Engene dynamite factory from 1876 to 1976. The production of nitroglycerin gave the workers headaches, which eventually passed. Throughout the holiday, it was not uncommon for them to put a bit of nitroglycerin in their hat brim to avoid getting used to it again after the holiday. The old factory is not accessible to the public. Continue on small roads past farmyards, Kongsdelene church and several small lakes. Where Verpenveien turns into a path, it becomes more hilly. The coastal path around Sandspollen passes many nice bathing spots, viewpoints and is at times very hilly – especially around Kinnartangen. It passes historic sites – such as Nesset Battery and Færgestad. The fjord has been essensial through times to unite the two sides and the brave ferry woman Jacobine was rowing the priest, the doctor and school children better than any man across the fjord in all weather – rain or storm. Here is information about the underwater wall that was built in 1879 to block boat traffic and ensure that boats on their way into the fjord had to pass in front of Oscarsborg Fortress's cannons. The wall is 1500 meters long, and is also called the Jeté.

The trip returns back to Sætre the same way or extend your stay at Wærpen holiday homes to enjoy the area more days.

To get her by bus: Bus to Holmen and Sætre. Check schedule at www.entur.no 

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