The old main road to Bergen, called Kongeveien, was built from Johnsrud in Lommedalen over Krokskogen to Krokkleiva and Sundvolden. Asbjørnsen and Moe's stories and poetry are taken from Krokskogen. At Krokskogen, finnish people settled in the 1600s occupying themselves with raising animals, logging and coal burning. From the mid-1850s, Krokskogen with its Queen and King views, Krokkleiva and Sundvolden hotels was a famous tourist attraction, not only in Norway, but far beyond the country's borders.
The stories are many. Along the way, there was heavy traffic and robbers could be lurking. In 1716, the Swedes, on their war advance, were stopped by a bloody battle on the Northern Cliff. And the superstition has created many stories and legends.
Tour description:
The tour starts from Gamleveien at Bærums Verk. Parking is available across the river. Also nice to arrive by bike from Oslo / Bekkestua over Steinshøgda, from Kolsås subway station or up along the river Lomma from Sandvika.
Bicycle route; Bærums Verk – Krydsby – Johnsrud – Langebru – Midtskogen – Kleivstua. The trip is approx. 17 km. The tour takes approx. 4 hours on dirt road. Easy to ride but pretty much uphill to Langebru. Along the way, several bulletin boards with interesting, historical information have been set up.
Start at Gamleveien. It runs parallel to and west of Lommedalsveien. The landscape varies from detached houses to fields, fields and meadows. Here it is really beautiful and you know you are on the right path when you see Krydsbybakken on your left. When you reach Lommedalen golf club and Øvre Jonsrud farm on the left before the farm onto the toll road. This is the King Road itself, which in earlier times was part of the main road between Christiania and Ringerike. It is steep up the first few kilometers, but at Steinsvollen the terrain flattens out, and it is quite easy from there to Kleivstua. Here, you can drop off your bike and take a short hike up to King's View (1.5 km). From there there are magnificent views.
Bærums Verk:
It is recommended to pay a visit to the beautiful Bærums Verk at the beginning of the excursion. At this historic trading post, artists and exciting small shops bring to life 18th-century workers' housing and offer handicrafts, glass and woodwork. The sculpture park has beautiful statues of Norway's foremost sculptors and is one of Bærum Verk's highlights. A better lunch in the small red-painted log house at Værtshuset Bærums Verk is a nice treat.
Overnight stay:
Kleivstua is a nice hotel that fits nicely to have a good meal and a good night's sleep before the tour continues the next day. Kleivstua consists of 18 houses with a total of 42 rooms built up as a pleasant courtyard. Delicious food, nice view and cosy atmosphere.
Remember to bring along enough to drink and snack (bicycle pump and tyre patches)