Biking around the Oslo Airport Gardermoen

The hotels around Gardermoen are a good starting point for bicycling in Nannestad. The destination for today's trip is Lake Bjertnessjøen, which is located in Romeriksåsen. This is a large hiking area that is used in the summer- and wintertimes and is excellent for bicycling. The area south of the airport is a ravine valley and not suitable for bicycling. For that reason, there will be a bicycle distance on Nannestadveien with some traffic, but it quickly turns to dirt roads along Engervegen. Further on, you will pass Nannestad church before the gravel road continues through Låkedalen. It is nice to see river Leira flowing by. Farms, fields and meadows dominate the landscape.

From the cross at Rustadsaga you will notice a rise into the forest. Sheep and cows are a common sight in the roadway – this is their home range. Although there is a bit of a climb here, it increases gradually and the gravel road is great to bicycle on.

When you arrive at Bjertnessjøen it is quiet, calm and idyllic. Several benches make it easy to find a pleasant place to take a break. Remember to pack a lunch – it is not possible to buy any food along the way. Note that Bjertnessjøen is a source of potable water and therefore is it prohibited to swim here.

The hiking trail continues around the water and there is a nice view of the Romeriks landscape. The trip is moderately demanding with its altitude, and it is good to have some bicycling experience on gravel and in traffic as it is 2-3 km on a busy road.

Fact box

Start/end point: Hotels around Oslo Airport Gardermoen

Distance: 43 km

Time: approx. 4 hours round trip

Total number of altitude meters: approx. 500

Surface: 60% gravel, 40% asphalt

Rating: Medium

Bicycle type: Hybrid bicycle suitable for gravel and electric bicycle

Safety: Mostly minor roads with little traffic, but a few km with more traffic must be expected

Season: April – October (may vary depending on snow conditions)

Reservation

This route was last tested in August 2022. Changes and deviations may occur in service offers, road standards, traffic volumes and traffic patterns.

Link to digital map and navigation:  

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40678117

 

5. Bicycle tour on Romerike, starting from Lily Country Club

Easy bicycle tour on the country road around Kløfta – past the golf course, church, warehouse, fields and meadow.

Tour description

The hotel Lily Country Club is surrounded by the Miklagard golf course just outside the center of Kløfta. From this point there are good opportunities for bicycling trips in the local area.

You will cross highway E16 by the underpass and after a short time you come to Ullensaker church, which is beautifully situated on a hill with a view of the surrounding area. The bicycle route follows Wergelandsveien on low-traffic asphalt roads.

Those who want another alternative can bicycle “Den Wingerske Kongeveg” on the north side of the church. It eventually turns into a narrow path – which is bicycle able but watch out for walkers. The path is rough, but after a couple of kilometres it enters the asphalt road again.

The area is characterized by agriculture with farms and fields on all sides. The route runs in open countryside and is slightly hilly. There are no major challenges along the road but be careful where the route meets Trondheimsveien to the south. You cross an occasionally busy road. The pedestrian- and bicycle path takes you further in the direction to Kløfta, with shopping center and pleasant cafes.

You cross the train line with its own underpass, and it goes through residential area back to the hotel.

Fact box

Start/end point: Lily Country Club Hotel, Kløfta

Distance: 16 km

Time: approx. 1 hour round trip

Total number of altitude meters: approx. 160

Surface: 95% asphalt, 5% gravel

Rating: Easy

Bicycle type: All bicycles

Safety: Mostly low-traffic minor roads and pedestrian- and bicycle paths

Season: April – October

Reservation

This route was last testet in July 2022. Changes and deviations may occur in service offerings, road standards, traffic volumes and traffic patterns

Link to digital map and navigation: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40276397

Bike Tour: The Strawberry Route from Ås to Drøbak

Start the tour at Ås station, passing through the courtyard at Ås Town Hall where you can experience the sculptor Odd Tandberg's work "Life's Force" and the town hall in a light functionalist style, designed by the architect Bjart Mohr, before arriving at the University and Vitenparken.

NMBU has one of Norway's most exciting park facilities where most plants and vegetation are labeled.

The tour continues past Brønnerud School and Korsegården, where there used to be an inn and coach station that you can now experience at the Follo Museum. Along the cycle path towards "Jordbærbua," there are several easily visible and signposted burial mounds from the Iron Age.

One of these is located at Søndre Holstad, where legend says that Herløg Rishaug was swallowed, and she can be heard singing for her beloved every St. Hans and Christmas. If it is the season and Jordbærbua is open, we recommend a stop for what must be called the area's sweetest berries.

Continue the tour through Drøbak Golf Club, down to the open-air museum at Follo Museum, where you can experience the old coach station from Korsegården, solve a museum mystery, or let the children play in the scenic playground before rolling down to Drøbak center and the square.

In Drøbak center, there are several cafes and experiences for all ages. Or how about a refreshing swim in Badeparken after the bike ride?

Facts:

The tour takes place on developed walking and cycling paths. Suitable for most people.

Length: 12 km in relatively flat terrain.

Transport: Regular trains from Oslo S and Moss to Ås. Bus 510 between Ås and Drøbak. Check EnTur.no for timetables and tickets. You can also take boat B21 or B22 back to Oslo during the season.

Experiences along the way:

Ås station

Ås Town Hall

NMBU

Vitenparken

The legend of Herløg Rishaug

Jordbærbua

Drøbak Golf Club

Follo Museum

Experiences in Drøbak center:

Tregaarden's Christmas House

Drøbak Aquarium

Badeparken

Hike Nesset to Hvervenbukta

There is a bus to Nesset, at the bottom of the Bunnefjord, and from there you follow the road and signs in the direction of Breivoll. Nesset was a lively and important hub in Follo from the end of the last century when the steamboats transported travellers from all over Follo to the capital. Breivoll Gård is a beautiful green area with a farm café, kayak rental, DNT accommodation and a popular hiking area with potholes and a sandy beach and a number of activities are arranged on weekends. The forest here alternates between rich deciduous forests, low-herb forests with lots of hazel and shrunken pine forests on the hills, and there are many important vegetation types as well as a rich wildlife.

Continue past the beach north to the right on the gravel road that takes you into the forest, past green pastures with horses and onto Strandveien past white-painted picket fences and cozy summer cottages. Old boathouses, boats and piers are close along the coastal path and there are nice places to take a break along the way and observe the rich bird life. Pass the marina along Kjæresveien before we slope steeply up to the right through the residential area and eventually come out onto Nebbaveien which is followed further.

Scheduled boat traffic on the fjord started in earnest in the 1860s, when steamships became more common and it took 1h15 minutes by boat from Oslo to Nesset at the bottom of the Bunnefjord. Nebba is one of the old steamship piers with nice benches. Follow the signs that now lead to the Sherpa stairs, which consist of 278 steps. This was done by hand with simple tools such as pickaxes, skewers, sledgehammers, hammers and chisels over the course of 18 working days and 300 tons of stone were used. The trip goes in steep terrain and is rewarded with a view of charming Sjødalstrand at the top.

The monks on Hovedøya ran salt extraction on Sjødalstrand and had a herb garden here. Wild herbaceous plants still grow wild here. Today, the place is characterized by the beautiful plum garden with local production of jams, chutneys and plum pies by hand according to traditional recipes.

The trip continues into the black forest towards Svartskog and eventually over into a paved road with dense spruce forest. Before embarking on the slopes down Roald Amundsen's road, you can continue straight ahead for about 100 meters and see if Svartskog kolonial is open on weekends. Homemade pastries and good coffee are served here.

The sculpture of Roald Amundsen with his dog stands majestically on the rocks with his gaze southwards, and to the right behind him is the entrance to Uranienborg. He is best known for leading the first expedition to arrive at the South Pole in the race with Scott. Here Roald Amundsen planned his expeditions and on the pier the polar ship FRAM was prepared before departure for the South Pole. His home is now a museum where guided tours are arranged in the summer and on weekends. The house was built in 1908 and stands exactly as he left it when he died in a plane crash in the Barents Sea while searching for his friend's expedition in 1928.

The trip continues through Amundsen's garden on a path and eventually onto Ingierstrandveien past beaches and older cabins. After Prosted, we turn off from the road and follow the marked path to the upper right – it can be a bit demanding and then follow the Line Path through the forest along the power line north to Ingierstrand.

Ingierstrand Bath is an icon in modern architectural history and was one of the two most important sea baths along the Oslo Fjord since its opening in 1934 and could have up to 120,000 visitors a season. Guests were transported by steamboat from the capital. Today it is a popular recreational area with diving towers, beach, rocks, grassy areas and beautiful pine trees in the hilly terrain.

You can continue the trip along the road to explore the popular beaches Sandbukta and Bestemorstranda – but we put the trip back up into the forest on the marked path to avoid the road. The path comes out on Ingierstrandveien again and we follow it to the junction and go down towards the sea over the river to Ljansbruket.

After rounding the promontory along the road to Hvervenbukta, follow Mastemyrveien under the E18 towards Kolbotn for return by bus or a stop at Quality Hotel Entry for a good meal or pleasant stay.

To get here: 

Bus towards Drøbak. Stop: Nesset. Check entur.no or ruter.no

Biking in Vestmarka

The bike ride starts in Sandvika by the fjord and follows the Sandvik River over the Løkkebrua bridge. After a 4 km climb you reach Tanum Church, where the gravel road takes over and leads you through farmland to Ringi Farm – known for its apple juice and great views.

Further into Vestmarka you will encounter forests, lakes and new climbs. Furuholmen and Gupu Farm offer homemade food, and around Gupu there are shelters and campfire sites. Some parts can be rocky, but for the most part the gravel roads are good.

At Semsvannet you can swim on the small beach and eat homemade food at NaKuHel Smia or Bryggerhuset. At Øvre Sem Farm you can enjoy Sunday brunch, accommodation and a shop with local crafts. Bergvang Farm is nearby. Visit the animals at the open farm and café on weekends.

The tour ends in Asker, where you can cycle back to Sandvika, take the train back, or continue to the next farm tour through Lier.

Hike Lysaker to Sandvika

From Lysaker station, via Høvikodden to Sandvika

From Lysaker station, follow the signs under the motorway towards Lysaker and up the slopes at Lagåsen. At Polhøgda is the home of the famous polar explorer Fridtjof Nansen, which today is the office of the Fridtjof Nansen Institute. The large garden, where i.a. Nansen's grave is located, is open to the public. In the quarter around Aker are Imprints; a ceramic sculpture park with the largest collection of ceramic works in Scandinavia today. Holtekilen is passed and the tour continues on small roads through residential areas, past the Strand Restaurant and on to Sarbuvollen. This was formerly a homestead. The name comes from Saltbuvolden, which refers to the production of salt, which was an important source of income for the farmers. Salt was boiled here until 1690 – then it became cheaper to import salt. Today, Sarbuvollen is a popular beach and outdoor area.

The coastal path continues along the sea on nice walking paths. At Høvikstranda, the factory Høvik Glassverk was established in 1855 and glass production took place here until 1933. Several of the old buildings have been preserved and are today part of the Veritas/DNV centre. At Dampskipsbrygga, scheduled boats arrived from the Rådhusbryggene in Oslo and at Svartodden old workers' housing from the mid-19th century still stands. Docks, benches and green areas make Veritas Park a popular recreation area. The path further along Høvikodden is full of nice swimming spots. The Henie Onstad Art Center is located at the far end of the headland. The museum was donated by Sonia Henie and Niels Onstad and has a café and a large sculpture park with a fantastic view of the fjord, and indoors there are constantly changing exhibitions.

The path continues past Solvik boat harbor and can be a bit difficult to find. Sjøholmen cultural center is both a café and a gallery and in the park there are many benches and a playground. To get into Sandvika, the road heads back a little, over the motorway and along the pavement for the last stretch. Malmskrivergården is a farm yard from 1640. Here lived the Malmskriveren who controlled the loading and unloading of ore from Southern Norway to Bærum's Works. The beautiful brick buildings Bærum Town Hall (Magnus Poulsson) and Brambanigården is located in the middle of Sandvika. Here it is a short distance to the bathing areas at Kadettangen and Kalvøya. The boat Rigmor is located here and offers ferries to the islands and mini-cruises in the summer. If you walk along the river Sandvikselva, past many beautiful sculptures, you come to Løkke Bro. It is Norway's first cast iron bridge and famous as a motif in a painting by Claude Monet when he visited Bjørnegård at the end of the 19th century. The hiking trail goes south past the 22 July monument on the other side of the river to Kjørbo Gård – which dates back to the Middle Ages.

CLICK ON OUR INTERACTIVE MAP BELOW TO SEE THE WHOLE ROUTE AND POINTS OF INTEREST:

To get here

by Bus – Most westbound buses stop at Lysaker station. Check entur.no or ruter.no 

by Train – Most westbound trains stop at Lysaker station and in Sandvika. Check entur.no or ruter.no 

City bikes and scooters are available for rent in several places.

Distance Oslo – Fornebu 7,5 km
Distance Sandvika – Fornebu 7,8 km

The tour has been prepared by Visit Greater Oslo for a cultural heritage project supported by Akershus Municipality.

4. Bicycle tour on Romerike, starting from the Quality Airport Hotel Gardermoen

Varied round trip east of the airport along the Pilgrimsruta and with long distances on nice gravel roads in the forest.

Tour description

This tour begins at the hotels located east of the airport. Feel free to stop by the iconic Kepler star and see it up close. It is a great eye-catcher for everyone driving to the airport. At the Modern Activity Center it is possible to test e.g. Norway's roughest wind tunnel.

The bicycle route continues eastwards and eventually northwards along the National Bicycle Route 7 Pilgrim route which runs all the way from Halden to Trondheim. It is signposted with red signs and runs on a separate bicycle path through fields and forest.

It leads into the forest on nice gravel roads. You eventually cross the highway, but apart from that it is quiet and calm and almost a magical atmosphere when the forest gets denser. It also goes through fields and farmyards and the surface becomes more of a cart track and path, but still completely bicycle able. Past Hauerseter there is asphalt and low-traffic roads through residential areas, before it becomes gravel again. Look for both blueberries and raspberries along the roadside.

The last part of the trip goes along an walking and bicycling path back to the hotels.

The route passes Hauerseter train station and can also begin and end from here.

 

Fact box

Start/end point: Hotels east of Oslo Airport Gardermoen

Distance: 22 km

Time: approx. 1.5 hours round trip

Total number of altitude meters: approx. 240

Substrate: 60% asphalt, 40% gravel

Rating: Easy

Bicycle type: All bicycles except mountain bicycle

Safety: Safe bicycle paths and non-trafficked gravel roads

Season: April – October

Disclaimer

This route was last tested in July 2022. Changes and deviations may occur in service offerings, road standards, traffic patterns and volumes.

Link to digital map and navigation:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40242398

Bicycle tour on Romerike, Jessheim/Kløfta round trip

Two different options between the Ullensaker locations Jessheim and Kløfta. Choose between a country road through forested areas or the "commuter route" on pedestrian and bicycle paths – or both!

The trip is described as starting from Kløfta but could just as easily start from Jessheim. The eastern part of the tour is signposted as National Cycle Route 7 and is part of the Pilgrims Route that runs from Halden to Trondheim. The landscape is characterized by a lot of cultivated land with farms and great cornfields. A few kilometres go through a forested area where it is a bit uphill. There is moderate to little traffic here. At Gystad, it is pleasant along Gamle Algarheimveg with a dirt road and through a residential area.

From Jessheim there is some bicycling through the traffic, but the pedestrian- and bicycle path begins quite quickly, and it takes you through the roundabouts to the south and eventually on fast, nice roads with a great view of the open Romeriks landscape. This distance is popular with commuters, so there are often several other bicyclists here. You will find rest area along the way.

The old road into Kløfta has little traffic and the route passes shopping center Romeriksenteret before ending at Kløfta train station.

Fact box

Start/end point: Jessheim station/Kløfta station

Distance: 22 km

Time: approx. 1.5 hour round trip

Total number of altitude meters: approx. 200

Surface: 98% asphalt, 2% gravel

Rating: Easy

Bicycle type: All bicycles

Safety: Low traffic on country road and pedestrian- and bicycle path

Season: April – October

Reservation

This route was last tested in July 2022. Changes and deviations may occur in service offerings, road standards, traffic volumes and traffic patterns.

Link to digital map and navigation: