Eidshagan is a lovely circular walk that starts at Eidsfoss Church and takes you through varied woodland, past beautiful viewpoints and fascinating historical sites.
The walk is approximately 4 km long and takes around one hour at a normal walking pace. It’s just as suitable for a pleasant afternoon stroll as it is for a vigorous workout – feel free to do it several times.
Eidshagan hike trail was developed with funds from the county municipality, in cooperation with AS Eidsfos Verk and Project Eidsfoss development.
1. Stone fence
A stone fence appears in several places along the path, and in some places you can also see remnants of steel wire and barbed wire. This was probably a fence for communal grazing for the surrounding smallholdings.
2. Kikut
From this vantage point, you can see both Lake Eikern and Lake Bergsvannet. There is plenty of space to take a break, and simple wooden benches have been set up around the campfire site. The wooden sculpture standing here was created by the local sculptor Harald Oredam, who, amongst other things, created the sculpture in front of the Oslo Concert Hall.
3. Kullstua
It is unclear why this old tenant farm was called Kullstua, but it may be linked to the prevalence of charcoal kilns in the area. Charcoal burning was carried out collectively by smallholders and tenant farmers, amongst others. The production of charcoal for Eidsfos Verk provided an important source of supplementary income for the strained finances of tenant farmers. Please note that the farmyard is privately owned, and follow the path around the outer edge.
4. Sandvik
This was the site of Sandvik farm, which was abandoned after the Black Death. The name derives from the fine sandy soil found here. During the ironworks era, Sandvik was a gathering place for the families at Eidsfoss. Joint picnics, dances and other gatherings were held here. The Eidsfoss Music Festival was also held here in its first year, when it was called the Sandvik Festival.
5. Bunker
This Norwegian-built defence structure was constructed before the Second World War. The machine-gun emplacement that stood here was aimed at the road down the slope of Geitekleiva on the opposite side of Lake Eikern.
Help us look after the footpath
To ensure the footpath remains open, safe and pleasant for everyone, we’d really appreciate it if you could do your bit along the way.
You can help by:
- Breaking off branches or clearing away small plants that are encroaching on the path.
- Taking all your rubbish home with you – don’t leave anything behind along the footpath.
- Letting your dog do its business out in the woods, and avoiding leaving dog waste bags along the path.
- Showing consideration and being extra mindful of the risk of forest fires.
Together, we can keep the footpath in good condition and accessible to everyone.
Enjoy the hike!
