Walking with Alpacas

Alexandra Martinsen and Bjørn Brændshøi, two passionate alpaca breeders with more than 10 years experience. We breed alpacas for their luxurious wool and also for their mild, gentle presence which makes them perfect for human interaction. Alexandra is a teacher and she uses the alpacas in her work with children with extra needs. Bjørn is an engineer and focuses on breeding techniques and farm management. Our goal is to let people experience the wonderful alpaca up close and personal and we love seing sparkles in our visitors eyes when they do!

What we’ll do

You will be met by your host who will take you into the alpaca shed and into their field and let you meet the alpacas up close and personal. You will be taught what alpacas are, their origin, their history and of course why we have alpacas today and what we use them for. You will then help out by putting halter and leads on the alpacas, before each and one is given the responsibility for one of the alpacas for the rest of the activity, which takes approximately two hours in total. You will be able to pet the alpacas, take selfies and otherwise get a true and close connection with these very special creatures. We will then walk the alpacas on a scenic nature path in typical Norwegian landscape; fields, woods and hills – please wear clothes and footwear accordingly! We can adapt to visitor special needs. During the whole walk, your host will tell and talk about the alpacas adapted to your liking. We can arrange a typical Norwegian outdoor lunch on our camp site in the woods, using bondfire (if season). Contact us to plan such an outdoor lunch session accompanied by the alpacas! Contact us if your preferred date is not available when booking. Please note that we need to take the weather into account as this is an outdoor activity. If it is raining, it will not be fun for anyone (including the alpacas!).

What else you should know

Remember that the alpaca walk will be outdoors, in the nature. You will need to dress accordingly. Wear warm clothes if cold, especially gloves (you will be leading the alpaca) and hiking boots.

What to bring

Warm clothes (including gloves!) – if cold

Hiking boots or similar – if wet/snow

Water bottle – if hot

Welcome to us and our alpacas!

 

Member of Visit Greater Oslo 

 

 

Visitor Centre Wetland, Northern Øyeren

Welcome to our child-friendly hands-on exhibition at Visitor Centre Wetland, Northern Øyeren, the largest inland delta in Northern Europe.
Our overall aim is to get children of all ages interested in nature, especially wetlands, and enjoy nature which in turn hopefully will turn them into guardians of our nature and contribute to its future protection.

Description of the centre

Our award-winning visitor centre is a 300 m2 building filled with exhibitions (lots of interactivity for children), a café and a small shop for the visitor. The main focus in the exhibitions is regional nature and wetlands. The wetland centre is open every weekend all year and also during some holidays and through the summertime. The centre lies on the threshold to one of the largest ramsar site in Norway and has a beautiful view into the Northern Europe’s largest inland delta. The visitor centre has beautiful surroundings and a walk path following the river through a nationally protected timber floating site (Fetsund Lenser). Our centre has approximately 25 000 visitors per year and around 3.000 children are joining our education programs each year.

We are open during weekend all year around
Saturday 12:00-16:00 and Sunday 11:00-16:00
Welcome!

Walking with Alpacas

Have you ever walked with an alpaca or cuddled and fed one? Now you have the opportunity!

In VisitGreaterOslo you have many opportunities to experience alpacas.

Whether you want to go hiking or join in the feeding, see and experience them up close.

With us you have many experiences that offer activities with these beautiful animals.

Romerike

Alpaca hiking in Sørum

Alpaca hike Killingmo Farm

Alpaca hiking in Hurdal at Nilsstua 

Rånås Gård – experience a "living farm" with alpacas and other animals.

 

Asker and Bærum

Bergvang Visitor Farm – experiences on a farm with alpacas and other animals.

Welcome to us!

Members of Visit Greater Oslo 

Tenting in Asker and Bærum

5 nice tent sites in Asker and Bærum

Accommodation in nature is a great opportunity to get out and create new great memories. Feel the magic of nature's silence, the birds' song, the stream's stream and the morning light that tickles your eyes. We have selected 5 beautiful tent sites in the open that are suitable whether you are alone, with friends, with children and family.

Remember warm clothes, good footwear, headlamps, follow the fire rules and bring all waste back.

Tour suggestions:

1. Østernvann or Lathus, Fossum

2. Burudvann, Lommedalen

3. Rabben and Elnestangen, Vollen, Asker

4. Sandbukta, Tofte, Asker

5. Kjekstadmarka, Asker

The right of public access gives us fantastic opportunities to use the nature around us, as long as we take into account landowners, each other, plants and animals. Feel free to familiarize yourself with this before you go on a trip.

Infields are areas such as courtyards, house plots, cultivated land and similar areas where public traffic will be a nuisance for the owner of the land.

Outfield can be explained as anything that is not infield; forests, mountains, bogs and coastal areas, which make up most of the region.

1. Østernvann and Kråka, Fossum, Bærum

Østernvann is a popular hiking destination in Bærumsmarka, just a short bike ride or walk from Fossum. There are several good tent and hammock places around the entire lake, but there are most visitors where the hiking trails come up in the south and east. On the upper side, there is a nice, large open space along the gravel road that is well suited for a tent trip with the little ones. Nice hiking trails along the entire water. Østernvann does not have toilets, waste disposal and established campfire sites that many other places have.

Less known is the tent site near Lathus, known as Kråka on the west side of Bogstadvannet. Here there is an elongated lawn, a small sandy beach, nice campfire and barbecue and two nice outdoor toilets. Nice starting point for canoe trips on Bogstadvann and up Sørkedalselven. Good sun conditions all day with a view to Bogstad Golf Course and Holmenkollen. On the way to the square, follow the Lysaker River towards Bogstad, past Hammarbrua and Osdammen. The water from the dam in Hammarfossen was used to drive a large hammer to hammer out nails, plates and other objects in iron. The tent site is located at the end of Fossumveien past the site with timber storage. Keep on the walking path to the right along the water when the road splits.

Both lakes are scenic and easily accessible by both car and public transport such as bus to Fossum and Metro 2 to Ekraveien.

2. Burudvann, Lommedalen

Burudvann is a gem in the countryside, with a spacious fine sandy beach, good sun conditions and several nice headlands to set up tents and hammocks. The spaces by the dam are most popular. There is a network of hiking trails full of blueberry heather as an alternative to the forest road. On the east side, the Lions have set up a lavvo a few km inland, then take the first hiking trail to the right. Cage water has a lot of fish. Among other things, trout are released here, but bream is also a frequent occurrence on the hook. Respect the fishing rules and buy a fishing license in advance.

Burudvann has a floating jetty with diving board, toilet, dining table, fixed grill, bathing jetty, nice fire place and rubbish bins. Suitable for bringing a canoe. Easy access from free parking at Burudveien. About 1 km walk along the forest road. For those who want a longer trip, continue the road towards the north end of the water where it is also nice to camp and smaller people.

3. Rabben and Elnestangen, Vollen in Asker

With proximity to Vollen, this is a great place to combine a tent trip with the small town experience, a trip to the Oslo Fjord Museum and a good brunch the next day at one of the pleasant cafes in the city center. Bring Frisbee and play frisbee golf on the green areas in Svelvikbukta towards Arnestad school a stone's throw away from Elnestangen.

Nice tent sites on the headlands along the coast, which were once a storage site for ice blocks when the area supplied the major cities in Europe with ice. Access to toilets. Beautiful sandy beaches both in Vollen and the other way towards Sjøstrand.

Easily accessible by public transport; the bus to Slemmestad or fast boat from Aker Brygge to Vollen. By car, take off from Slemmestadveien by Vollen sports park and follow the road to the car park near the music kindergarten.

Take a detour from Vollen to the sports field at Slemmestad Ungdsomsskole; see the 400 million old fossils of squid and snails in the rock wall along the long side of the course and learn about the unique geology in the Oslo belt and visit Trilobox in Slemmestad center with an exhibition from the geology in the area.

4. Sandbukta, Tofte in Asker

Sandbukta is a popular hiking destination for swimming and outdoor life at the far end of the Hurum Peninsula. Locals believe it is the Oslo Fjord's finest part of the coastal path. Sandbukta is protected as a nature reserve, with a tent site in the beach zone northeast of the bay, regulated as an area for open space and swimming area.

The surrounding areas have burial mounds from the Bronze Age, rich animal and plant life and you may be visited by seals from the colonies on the small islands outside. Remember fishing rod, good opportunities to secure today's dinner. Access to toilet and renovation.

Follow the coastal strait from Sagene west of Tofte, over Preiserstranda and over Østnestangen (in some places it is so steep that ropes have been laid).

Otherwise, the area has several pleasant campsites on Rødtangen, Knatvoldstranda and Solbærstøa and has throughout history been a favorite destination during the summer season for the people of Oslo and artists. Popular sights nearby are Rødtangen, the small town of Holmsbu and Filtvedt and the polar boat Maud which is located in the quay at Tofte.

5. Skapertjern, Kjekstadmarka in Asker

Skapertjern is a fine forest lake and a popular hiking destination in the south of Kjekstadmarka. The water is surprisingly large. The tent sites on the headland in the southeast and by the dam in the southwest are most popular. Large and beautiful tent site in the far north by Tjernsløkka, with boulders and beautiful grassland. There is a wide and nice forest path along the entire east side of the water, which makes more nice tent sites well accessible. Fishing and swimming are popular activities for young and old. Remember fishing rod, fishing license and respect the fishing rules.

Parking space at Myrvoll at the end of Skapertjernveien in Lier. 10 minutes walk, 0.8 km into the water. Nice gravel forest path all the way in. If you want a longer trip, follow the blue-marked path from Gjellebekk P (5 km) and Damtjern P (6 km).

Our tips for more fun;

Bring a nail knife, make bark boats (or bring plank scraps from home) and have a boat race with a nice prize for the winner

Make nature farm with cone animals

Bring twine and a paring knife, then you have everything you need to make a bow and arrow. Free to be a Native American chief 🙂

Walk on the shore along the coastal path, collecting mussels. Did you get enough to cook soup for supper? Add a box of tomatoes, chili, garlic, shallots and white wine or apple juice. Salt and pepper. Bon apetite.

**Good hiking**

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.

Hunting and fishing

 Akershus is rich in hunting and fishing grounds. In terms of hunting, the region offers everything from tradional Norwegain elk hunting in densely forested border country to beaver trapping along the river Glomma. Glomma and Vorma rivers offer a variety of fishing opportunities and a broad range freshwater fish. The most popular species are pike, grayling and perch, while smaller tributaries and numerous tarns are wellstocked with trout. Using our large network of contacts, we at the “Utmark” department for Akershus and Østfold can put you in touch with specialists in providing hunting and fishing experiences and/or traditional accomodation. We can also assist in organising trips. For an overview of backwoods activities, accomodation, fishing guides, boat hire, maps etc., visit our wesite at http://www.bopalandet.no/ or http://www.fiskeland.no/

Hike to Skaugum

Make an excursion to the "Crown Prince's Backyard". Well at the top you can see their yard at Skaugum. From Skaugumåsen you have one of Asker's most beautiful views. This has been a favorite destination for locals for more than 100 years.

There is a steep hike up to the peak. Some people think the trail is a bit scary with smaller children, but the kids show great joy in getting to the top – so give it a try. It's worth it.

From the parking lot at Sem follow the path around the Holtet manor house belonging to Skaugum, before passing the large pressure pool for Asker's water supply and arraiving by the information board for the Skaugumsåsen nature reserve.

The ridge is the northernmost growing site for mistletoe that are protected in Norway. It is evergreen and feeds on other trees.

Now the ascent begins, and then the path follows som up-and-downs to the top. Enjoy the view from the Drøbaksundet to Oslo.

Finish the tour with a visit "Smia" where NaKuHel has home-made food, grows vegetables, has a gallery with art exhibitions and somethimes arrange themed events.

We wish you a nice trip.

Practical information:

The tour goes southeast in the West Marka. Starting point Sem "utfartsparking", between Semsveien 180 and 191 at Sem Gjestegård / Nakuhel or a little further down at Jansløkka school.

Public transport: Bus 706 from Asker or Sandvika / Holmen, Grana stop.

Hiking distance: 2.2 km round trip from Sem to the hiking destination on the hill (348 m asl). Terrain: Heavy climb from Sem to the top of the hill. 

Member of Visit Greater Oslo

Tour proposals starting at Losby Gods

Losby Gods is a great starting point for many trips in the summer; walking, jogging and cycling.

We would like to give you some suggestions for trips in Losby's deep forests and Østmarka's exciting nature. The suggested tours are mostly on forest roads or footpaths, the dotted lines show paths. These paths are blue-marked, and the number of km is indicated on the map.

The times estimated in the descriptions do not include time for stops/breaks, but only the time it takes to walk or cycle the route.

REMEMBER; Blue markings are summer trails. Red markings are cross country skiing trails for winter.

Over several centuries, Losby Gods has been the center for exciting excursions, activities and good food and drink for visiting guests. Feel free to take the opportunity to eat something good here before or after the trip. In the Losby Pavilion, they can tempt you with homemade buns, freshly baked waffles, coffee, soft drinks, ice cream and chocolate. If you want more food, grilled hamburgers and sausages are served after 12.00.

Farmvisit with animals and pony riding

Horseback tour riding

We welcome you on horseback rides for young and old. Basic riding skills are an advantage as we ride in rough terrain for parts of the trip. If you are new to this, you can bring a tenant if you wish. We plan the trip according to level and wishes. See Facebook Rånås Gård for more information and booking.

From 500, – pr. hour

All riding, and horse care is at your own risk!

Welcome!