Mountain hikes
& experiences close to us

Oldedalen valley, where Melkevoll Bretun is, has been called Norway´s most adventurous hiking valley.
With Melkevoll Bretun as your base, you can experience many spectacular glacier and mountain hikes. You can also do day trips to many attractions in the Nordfjord area.

On the page Sauna & Activities you can read more about experiences on Melkevoll Bretun.

FAMILY FRIENDLY GLACIER- AND MOUNTAIN TRIPS

Briksdal glacier and Brenndal glacier are family friendly day trips. Both trips starts from Melkevoll Bretun;
Aabreek gard is 10 minutes walk away and here you go to the Brenndal glacier, or you can park on the parking spot they have 2 minutes drive from Bretun. Melkevoll Bretun is also a starting point to Briksdal glacier. Go directly from our campsite or parking area.

BRIKSDAL GLACIER
(130-350 METERS ABOVE SEA LEVEL, TOTAL 2 HOURS)

• 50 minutes walk (one way) from Melkevoll Bretun.

Briksdal glacier is one of the most visited nature attractions in western Norway.
You walk on a nice road all the way, from you pass the restaurant in Briksdal. There is also a possibility for transport with open cars up to the glacier. The trip goes through a beautiful landscape where the sight of waterfalls and glaciers may take your breath away. The road is easy to walk because farmers in Oldedalen created roads and bridges for easy access here, more than 120 years ago. If you do not want to walk, you can go by a open car, more information about these “Trollcars” on the link under.

Finally, you cross the border to Jostedalsbreen National Park, and get to Briksdal’s glacier lake, where you can see the glacier stretching up towards the plateau 1500 m.a.s.l.

Brenndal Glacier (85-300 M.A.S.L, Total 3-4 HOURS)

1.5 km back down the main road from Melkevoll Bretun you find Aabrekk farm on the right hand side. Here you can find a small parking area and the starting point for the trip to «Brenndalen» and Brenndal glacier. 

The first part of the hike leads through a forest. The path first starts uphill, then it flattens. Brenndalen is a so-called hanging side valley, the mountain sides are steep. In the valley, you gain a great impression of the glacier, rivers, mountains and waterfalls. It offers a simple hike through a silent, idyllic region, adequate for young and old.

Mountain trips to small cottages - a bit steeper

In the old times the farmers had areas in the mountains where they kept some of their animals, as well as cut gras in the summer. Many of these places have small cottages that the farmers own.
These small areas in the mountains have become popular to visit; a bit steeper but not as long as a full hike to the mountaintops.
Some of the trips we recommend in Oldedalen, is “Yri sæter” that has its start point at Yrineset - Yri Outdoor.
And “Kvam-sæter” with it´s startingpoint at Kvame.
At Gryta camping you can go to “The Gytri valley” and a beautiful waterfall called “Gytri fossen”.
In our campsite reception you can get a hiking map where these trips are described. Ask for local advice!

Even if these are easier trips, they are still challenging, especially “Kvamsætra” can be steep.

Mountain trips - to the top of the mountain!

From Melkevoll Bretun you can start several fantastic hikes in the mountains, many of these trips are for the more experienced mountaineer.
The most popular are the trip to Oldeskaret, and to Mt. Kattanakken; both have the startingpoint at Melkevoll Bretun. You can also take the hike all the way over the mountain to Stardalen, - be aware it is a long roadtrip for pick up on the other side of the mountain.
Another pearl is the walk to “Flatsteinbu”, the starting point for this trip is at Kvame in Oldedalen.
At Oldevatn camping you can start the trip to Klovane. Ask for local information there.

Oldeskaret  (CA. 1100 m.a.s.l 4-5 hours ) 

This trip has been called “Norway´s most beautiful up hill walk” !

The starting point for this trip is next to Melkevoll Bretun´s reception building. You continue over the bridge towards the big cabins, and continue into the woods, from here you can follow the marked path. After approx. 30 minutes walk you come to a quite steep area. The path is good and created by professional sherpas from Nepal who has made steps of stone in the most challenging areas. Just follow the path, and after a while you´ll come to spectacular views towards Briksdal glacier, as well as a crack in the mountain called “Gløvre”. After this you will approach what is called “Oldeskaret”. You come to two small waters and a stone cottage “Jarbu”.
From here it is possible to walk all the way over the mountain to Høyset and Stardalen. If you do this you need to have pick up on the other side.
We recommend to walk up and return back to Melkevoll Bretun for a day trip.
If you continue to Stardalen, you will pass the second water “Storevatnet”, Haugabreen, and approach Haugastølen. (5-6 hours walk). From here you need pick up, and the drive back is through Stardalen, Byrkjelo, Innvik, Olden and to Oldedalen. (1,5 hour drive).

Mt. Kattanakken (130- 1450 m.a.s.l. / Total 5-8 hours)

You follow the way to the Briksdal's glacier and turn to the right before the second bridge across the river. It is a sign post here with information about Kattanakken. First, its easy terrain to walk, follow the markings; until you reach Sauskårholten after approx two hours walk. Here is a great view over Oldedalen valley. People without much experiences in hiking or those who have no head for heights, are advised to reverse at this point, before the steeper more exposed part of the trip starts. Walking further will lead to a high ridge that are exposed. Ask us for tips for this trip in the reception, or seek out information in hiking guides. Mt. Kattanakken is a trip for people with experience in mountain hiking.

Flatsteinbu (30-1400 m.a.s.l., total 5-6 hours)

The tour starts at the parking lot of Kvame. It takes about an hour to Kvamsseter, from where you can start ascending up to the leading edge of the glacier, passing Kvamsdalen. There you arrive at the self-service cottage called Flatsteinbu.
For organized trips: With the aid of a glacier guide, you easily reach the glacier's plateau, which is comparatively close to the highest glacier elevation. From there you get to the Jostedalen.

To get descriptions of this hikes visit this page: (Norwegian only)

Photo: Amalie Kvamme

Canoe & kayak at Olden lake “Oldevatn”

with Yri Outdoor or Briksdal Adventure

A few minutes drive from Melkevoll Bretun you find the beautiful spot “Yrineset”. This has become a popular place to hang out, and to have the view to Oldevatn and Melkevoll glacier. In the mainseason here here is a cafè, and you can rent canoe or cayak, or sauna.

Briksdal Adventure also offer water sports like canoe and cayac and courses. Have a look at their pages linked under to learn more.

Daytrips

From Melkevoll Bretun you can learn more about the artist Singer and his work at Singerheimen in Olden.

From Melkevoll Bretun it is 30 minutes by car to Loen or Lodalen and the attractions here;
Hotel Alexandra, Via Ferrata and Loen Skylift.

In Stryn, 40 minutes by car from Melkevoll Bretun, there is a family climbing park Hydlaparken.
The Summerski Center and the old road at Strynefjellet is also about 40 min from Stryn.

Other suggestions to explore for a daytrip is Geiranger, Trollstigen, or to the coast area Refviksanden, Stadt, Vestkapp, Hoddevika. It´s couple of hours one way by car.

The local destination company have alot of information of what you can explore in Nordfjord and this area:

Attraction in Loen & Lodalen

Loen is about 25 minutes drive from Melkevoll Bretun.
Here you can find many different activities, like Loen Skylift where you find a resturant and hikingtrails on the top of the mountain. Hotel Alexandra has resturant and spa, as well as Loen Active with Via Ferrata and much more. If you go to Lodalen this is the startingpoint for the trip to Skåla (1848 m.a.s.l). Here you can see the beautiful green Lovatnet and Kjenndal glacier, as well as learn about the dramatic story of the valley.

Skålatårnet (1848 m.a.s.l) in Loen (Total 5-7 hours) 

For the experienced hiker this trip is a must, only half an hour drive from Bretun you can find the starting point to this special mountain on the way to Lodalen. 

Via Ferrata Loen

For those interested in spectacular views high up there - «Via ferrata» Loen could be interesting.

Hoven - Loen skylift (1100 M.A.S.L.)  

In May 2017 a new attraction and adventure area opens in Nordfjord. This is a spectacular pendulum path that has its starting point next to Alexandra Hotel in Loen, 25 minutes drive from Melkevoll Bretun. At the top of the mountain where the cabel car stops is the restaurant and great hiking trails.