Sirdal
With more than 3,000 cabins and holiday homes in total, Sirdal is a popular ski resort. Here you can choose from five ski fields and around 124 miles of groomed and marked cross-country trails. If you want to try something different – imagine steering you own dog sledge into the wilderness ...
In summer, the beautiful and varied walking terrain in Sirdal makes it an ideal base for hikers of all levels. The Stavanger Trekking Association (STF) has an extensive network of marked trails in the Sirdal area and neighbouring mountain regions. In total the local hiking network consists of more than 621 miles of trails, with more than 40 cabins to stay in. If you follow the marked trail from Øygardstøl near Sirdal, you can reach the impressive Kjerag – a massif towering 3,280 feet up from the Lysefjord.
If you rather feel like climbing a mountain, however, more than 100 bolted routes can be found in Sirdal. The largest climbing areas are located in Hunnedalen, Liland and Sirekrok. Here you will find plenty of options for both rock climbing and bouldering – whether you are an absolute beginner or hard-core athlete.
The Suleskar road, from Suleskar in Sirdal to Brokke in Setesdal, is known as Southwest Norway’s highest altitude road connection, with the road’s highest point reaching 3,444 feet above sea level. The road offers a varied scenery and has become an eldorado for motorbike enthusiasts.
A larger part of Sirdal is located in the SVR Conservation Area. This is where the southernmost wild reindeer breed in Europe has its home. The purpose of the conservation area is to maintain a large area where the reindeer can graze, and to minimize the disturbance made by humans.
There is nothing more satisfying than settling into a mouthwatering meal of local, fresh and hearty dishes after a day out in the wilderness – and the foods in Sirdal have historically catered for an appetite induced by the great outdoors. The top three dishes served in the area are reindeer roast, lamb roast and fried trout, often accompanied with wild berries and mushrooms that are growing locally.
Are you a history buff? Then you should visit Sirdal Mountain Museum in Kvæven where you can learn more about life in Sirdal in the last century.
Source: VisitNorway