Autumn trip to Lomsdal/Visten National Park
Lomsdal/Visten National Park (Njaarken vaarjelimmiedajve) offers many sightings, adventures and experiences. One of the highlights is Lomsdal in Velfjord, Brønnøy Municipality.
This hiking destination can be perceived as challenging so we were both excited and a little bit anxious as we had decided to take the trip to Lomsdalen and back in one day. However, our worries turned out to be without reason.
If you come from afar, I recommend checking out accomodation in Velfjord. Nevernes is the gateway to the National Park. At Nevernes you will also find Nevernes Havn - Centre for Coastal Culture, with an exhibition dedicated to Lomsdal/Visten. The sidefjord Storbørja is where you start walking, and transportation by boat to Storbørja is necessary. The crossing takes about 10 minutes, and if you contact Nevernes Harbour in advance they can help you organize boat transportation. It is also possible to rent a boat in Hommelstø at Velfjordferie or Fjordholt Feriehus. Boat from Hommelstø will take app. 20-30 minutes longer than from Nevernes.
Storbørja. About 50 meters from the dock there is an old bench, here is the last place you have phone-signals. After completing the tour, you can send text messages for the boat from here.
Right from the pier you can easily follow a path on the right side of the river. The terrain is relatively easy (except for a short climb up to Nordmarka - before Sæterdalen). The path is easy to follow, at least to the old settlement at Strompdalen. We did the distance from Storbørja to Strompdalen in app. 1 1/2 hours. Strompdalen is an excellent place to take a break.
1. Fairly steep hill up to Nordmarka. 2. View towards Strompdal, the mountain Breivasstinden in the background 3. Strompdal
From Strompdalen the path continues behind the old house and the remains of Knut Strompdal's botanical garden. Pretty soon you will be able to see the river Lomselva and also Medheia, which is the beginning of Lomsdalen. A little bit further you meet the beautiful waterfall Breivassfossen and the river Breivasselva, which you must cross by walking across a suspension bridge. The female part of the delegation found this a little scary.
1. View towards the river Lomselva and Medheia in the distance. 2. Across the suspension bridge at Breivassfossen
From the bridge the tour continues along the river Lomselva. With the exception of a rocky area this part has very easy terrain. Then follows some steeper hills up to Medheia.
1. The last stretch before Medheia. 2. Medheia with its countless small lakes known as "Lomstjønnan"
It takes about one hour to walk from Medheia to Lomsdalen. Despite the many small lakes the terrain is very easy. The path is not so visible at this point, but it is pretty obvious where you should go, and rows of stone markers also shows the direction the entire way. When you hear the noise of a waterfall it is strongly recommended to take a little detour from the path to see the mighty Medheia falls. Even with little water flowing in the rivers at the time, it was one of the highligts of this trip.
From the waterfalls of Medheia it is not far to the old farm in Lomsdalen. After 30 minutes you come to a private cabin with a cozy fireplace. An excellent place to make dinner before returning home. From the cabin it is only 10 minutes to see what was once the farm in Lomsdal.
1. Medheia with numerous lakes (Lomstjønnan) 2. Tons of blueberries. 3. The cabin in Lomsdalen
Because of much photographing we spent almost 4 hours to Lomsdalen. For the trip back we turned up the pace a notch and spent app. three hours. There are so many beatifull impressions, and in my opinion the most beautiful scenery is in the fall. This trip took place in late September, just before the hunting season.
© velfjord.no 2009
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